Madison furniture delivery: plan pickup and access

Specify carrying, placement, and setup

Ask the provider to describe where the crew will leave the furniture. Specify outside placement, carrying through the entrance, or placement in a named room. For a bed or table, describe the assembly you want and ask who supplies tools. Request packaging removal and old-item removal as separate tasks.

Send photographs of the furniture and its route into your home. Measure door openings, hallways, stair landings, and elevator openings. Ask the seller for item dimensions and whether legs or other parts detach. Share this information with the provider and ask it to confirm the carrying plan before you pay a deposit.

For a secondhand purchase, agree with the seller on a pickup window and who will release the item. Tell the provider whether the seller needs help carrying it out. Ask how the provider charges for a failed pickup, an item that will not fit, or a return visit.

Check applicable credentials and damage terms

Ask Motor Carrier Services which authority applies to your delivery arrangement, then ask the provider for the applicable credentials. Wisconsin DOT describes operating authority as permission to carry someone else's property for compensation. When Wisconsin grants intrastate property authority, it issues a certificate with an LC authority number. Contact Motor Carrier Services at 608-266-9900 with your route and delivery details. [4]

For interstate carriers hauling regulated commodities, Wisconsin DOT identifies the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration as the authority issuer. Tell Motor Carrier Services and the provider if the pickup crosses state lines so they can address the applicable credentials for that arrangement. [4]

Request proof of insurance and written damage terms. Ask what protection applies to the furniture, floors, walls, and shared building areas, and how you would submit a claim. Photograph the item before pickup and inspect it after placement. Record damage on the delivery paperwork and retain your photographs and messages.

Arrange curb access around the delivery window

Madison issues meter signs to reserve approved on-street metered spaces, including for large moving trucks. Call the Parking Division at 608-266-4761 with the proposed location; staff review locations before approval. Ask the crew how much curb space its vehicle needs, then agree on who will purchase, post, and remove the signs. [1]

The city offers half-day reservations from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and full-day reservations from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Occupancy before and after 1 p.m. requires a full-day reservation. Purchasers must post signs before occupancy for enforcement and remove signs and zip ties after use. [1]

For an apartment or condominium, ask the building manager about loading access, elevator reservations, delivery hours, and insurance paperwork. Give the crew those instructions before it accepts the job. Arrange for someone to open the entrance and answer the driver's call during the agreed window.

Confirm container placement before paying

Madison asks residents to place moving and storage containers, including moving trailers, on private property whenever possible. Street placement requires an online Street Occupancy Permit application. The city charges a flat $50 application fee, provides no refunds, and limits street placement to five consecutive calendar days. Confirm container availability before applying and paying. [2]

The city requires placement in front of the container user's residence. If no legal parking space is available there, you may use an adjacent space. Placement in front of an alternate address requires an acknowledgment letter signed by a resident. Check these conditions before the container company commits to a drop-off location. [2]

Containers must occupy legal street stalls. Madison prohibits placement in traffic, peak-hour, or bike lanes, loading zones, parking-restriction areas, bus stops, areas designated for specific uses, and the terrace between the curb and sidewalk. If you use temporary No Parking signs for a non-metered space, post them at least 48 hours before occupancy; city staff may require signs at some locations. [2]

Register and authenticate an account in the city's online permitting system. Select the Permitting tab, choose Apply for a Permit, and select Street Occupancy Permit. Ask the reviewer about the proposed address and required signs. For metered placement, the city charges meter-sign fees in addition to the permit fee. [2]

Plan the old furniture's exit and compare quotes

For an eligible property, complete Madison's large-item work order before setting furniture out. Choose a Sunday set-out date; city crews collect sometime during the following work week. Weather and seasonal operations can delay collection. If you need the old sofa gone when the new one arrives, request a removal quote. [3]

The city requires items to measure less than eight feet long, stay four feet from obstructions, and leave the street and sidewalk clear. City large-item collection excludes multifamily properties with more than eight units. Ask your property manager about disposal before directing a crew to carry old furniture to the curb. [3]

Compare quotes using the same task list. Ask providers to separate transport, carrying, assembly, and removal charges. Agree on who pays any city charges and whether the quote includes reimbursement. Keep the delivery window, seller contact, access instructions, and final price together so you can resolve questions during pickup.

Madison published meter reservation and sign fees

Choose your delivery arrangement

Your hiring checklist

1. Send pickup and delivery addresses, furniture dimensions, and access photographs.
2. Specify final room placement, assembly, packaging removal, and old-furniture removal.
3. Ask Motor Carrier Services which authority applies, then request the provider's applicable credentials.
4. Request written insurance and damage terms.
5. Confirm building access and elevator arrangements with the property manager.
6. Assign responsibility for curb-space arrangements and sign posting and removal.
7. Confirm the seller's pickup window and who will release the furniture.
8. Photograph the furniture before pickup and inspect it before signing delivery paperwork.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I budget for furniture delivery?

Obtain an item-specific written quote covering your route, access, carrying, and setup. Ask the provider to separate delivery charges from parking, assembly, and removal. Madison's published meter and container-permit fees cover city arrangements; obtain a separate price for the delivery work. [1] [2]

Can I reserve a metered space for the truck?

Madison accepts meter-sign requests for approved temporary uses, including large moving trucks. Call 608-266-4761 for location review. Use a full-day reservation if occupancy falls before and after 1 p.m. Assign someone to post signs before occupancy and remove them after use. [1]

Will the city collect my old couch on delivery day?

Plan around collection during the work week after your selected Sunday set-out date. Complete the large-item work order before setting the couch out. For same-day removal, ask the delivery provider for a removal quote. Multifamily properties with more than eight units do not qualify for city large-item collection. [3]

Should I ask every delivery provider for an LC certificate?

Ask Motor Carrier Services which authority applies to your delivery arrangement, then request the applicable credentials from the provider. Wisconsin intrastate property-authority certificates carry LC numbers. Wisconsin DOT identifies FMCSA as the issuer of interstate authority for carriers hauling regulated commodities. [4]