Local historic district, 1979
Junk Removal in Third Lake Ridge, Madison
Updated
Third Lake Ridge in short
- 2,676
- households in Census Tract 19.01
- 71.9%
- rent their home (Madison 54%)
- 1947
- median year built (Madison 1980)
- 41.9%
- in buildings of 5+ units (Madison 43.6%)
History and housing
What Third Lake Ridge is
- Third Lake Ridge is the oldest section of the Marquette neighborhood and Madison's largest local historic district, named in 1979 at the request of the Marquette Neighborhood Association as part of its revitalization plan. source
- Most of its buildings are vernacular expressions of Victorian houses, and there are groupings of mail-order housing on the eastern edge of the district. source
- Exterior work here is reviewed closely: in 2026 the Common Council heard an appeal after the Landmarks Commission denied a roof replacement at 1123 Jenifer Street. source
- Boundary
- From Blair Street to the Yahara River and from Williamson Street to Lake Monona
- Period of significance
- 1850 to 1929
- Local historic district
- 1979
- ZIP at its mapped center
- 53703
Styles the sources name: Italianate, Queen Anne, Arts and Crafts, Prairie, Dutch Colonial Revival, Early 20th Century Commercial.
The local numbers
Who lives here, and how long they stay
Renting is the norm in Third Lake Ridge. Of 2,676 households, 71.9% are renters (the city-wide share is 54%), and buildings of five or more units hold 41.9% of the homes. That matters because properties of more than 8 units have been outside the city's large item program since January 1, 2025. See what changed.
The housing is old even by Madison standards: the median home here was built in 1947, against 1980 city-wide, and 47.8% of homes predate 1940 (13% in Madison). Expect stone or block basements, narrow stairs and porches, which add labor time to a cleanout.
Turnover is high: 48.1% of households moved in during 2020 or later, against 38.8% in Madison.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year (2020-2024), Census Tract 19.01, the tract at the district's mapped center point (Census Geocoder). Tracts and district boundaries do not match exactly.
Rules that apply
Clearing out a home in Third Lake Ridge
As a City of Madison local historic district, Third Lake Ridge is under the Landmarks Commission: exterior alterations, new construction and demolitions need a Certificate of Approval, applied for before the building permit. Taking furniture and household contents out is not on that list. Tearing down a garage, shed, deck or porch as part of a cleanout is. See historic district cleanouts.
Madison's own program covers most houses and small buildings: file a Large Item Work Order, set items out on your chosen Sunday, under 8 feet long and 4 feet from trees, cars and poles, with metal and appliances in their own pile. Homes with private recycling pay $35 for big appliances and hot tubs and $15 for microwaves, grills and mowers. TVs and computers never go to the curb; the city can charge $30.
Third Lake Ridge is on the isthmus, where the city's August move-out is concentrated. In 2026 crews emptied carts daily and collected furniture without work orders from August 2 to 21, in the area from the Yahara River to N Allen St, over to Grant St and down to Haywood Dr. Check the move-out guide and the city's map for your block.
Self-haul options: the three city drop-off sites (residents only, one pickup-bed load a day) and the Dane County Landfill on Maahic Way ($15.03 up to 500 pounds in 2026).
Nearby historic districts
- Mansion Hill97.7% rent
- Marquette Bungalows71.9% rent
- Langdon Street97.7% rent
- Fourth Lake Ridge73.7% rent
- Jenifer-Spaight71.9% rent
- Orton Park71.9% rent
Districts sharing this ZIP code or census tract. Full list of Madison's National Register districts on Wikipedia.
Common questions
Third Lake Ridge junk removal questions
Do I need approval to tear down a garage in Third Lake Ridge?
Yes. Third Lake Ridge Historic District is a City of Madison local historic district, and the Landmarks Commission must approve demolitions, exterior alterations and new construction through a Certificate of Approval before you apply for a building permit.
Is Third Lake Ridge part of Madison's August move-out?
The city's move-out operation runs on the isthmus and near campus, from the Yahara River to N Allen St, over to Grant St and down to Haywood Dr. Third Lake Ridge Historic District is on the isthmus; check the city's move-out map for your block. In 2026 the operation ran August 3 to 21.
How many households rent in Third Lake Ridge?
71.9% of 2,676 households in Census Tract 19.01 rent, per the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, against 54% across Madison.
What does junk removal cost here?
National cost guides put a single bulky item at $60 to $150, a half truckload at $200 to $400 and a full truckload at $400 to $800. Madison's own large item pickup is free for homes on city recycling, by work order.
Clearing something out in Third Lake Ridge?
Tell us the address and what needs to go. A local crew replies with a price before anything is loaded, and handles the stairs, the sorting and the recycling.