Are there rental limits in Madison?

Strict 30-day annual limit on unhosted rentals (entire home stays).

What are the key requirements for Madison hosts?

Must have occupied the property as a primary residence for 12 months before starting.

What should Madison hosts know about corporate entities (llcs, trusts) cannot?

Corporate entities (LLCs, Trusts) cannot be the STR 'Operator'.

What should Madison hosts know about adus are only eligible if?

ADUs are only eligible if the operator lives in the ADU itself, not the main house.

What are the key requirements for Madison hosts?

Permit number must be visible in the first two lines of all online descriptions.

Madison, WI Short-Term Rental Rules...

Baseline Verification

100%

Basic verification complete

Verified: Feb 10, 2026

Summary

Short-term rentals in Madison require multiple permits, must be the operator's primary residence, and are limited to 30 days per year for unhosted stays.

Restriction Level

🚫

Prohibited

Score: 100 (lenient)

Why this classification:

•Primary residence required
•Owner-occupied required
•Strict night cap: 30 nights/year
•Limited to 1 property per owner
•Permit required
•Reporting required
•Tenants can host

In Plain English

To host a short-term rental in Madison, the property must be your primary residence where you live at least 183 days a year. You need a city zoning permit, a health department license, and a room tax registration. If you are not present during the guest's stay, you can only rent the home for a total of 30 nights each year.

At a Glance

Permit Required

Yes

Night Limit

30/year

Primary Residence

Required

Total Tax Rate

0.2%

Permit Fee

$100

Processing Time

2-4 weeks

5 Things Hosts Often Miss

Regulation Details

Eligibility(8)

•Madison allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Condo, Apartment, Multi-unit (host unit only).
•Madison: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
•Madison: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.

Requirements(15)

•Madison: Permit number must be visible in the first two lines of all online descriptions.
•Madison STR warning: Corporate entities (LLCs, Trusts) cannot be the STR 'Operator'.
•Madison STR warning: Permit number must be visible in the first two lines of all online descriptions.
•Madison STR warning: Strict 30-day annual limit on unhosted rentals (entire home stays).

Application Process(9)

•How to set up an STR in Madison: To host a short-term rental in Madison, the property must be your primary residence where you live at least 183 days a year. You need a city zoning permit, a health department license, and a room tax registration. If you are not present during the guest's stay, you can only rent the home for a total of 30 nights each year.

Fees & Costs(1)

•Madison charges a registration fee of $100 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $300 (A non-refundable $300 application fee is required for new permits; the $100 fee is the recurring annual permit fee.).

Taxes(2)

•Madison charges a City of Madison Transient Room Tax of 0.1%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit Madison Room Tax and State Sales Tax directly.
•Wisconsin has a state sales tax of 0.05% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & Restrictions(7)

•Madison limits STRs to 30 nights per year. This applies to unhosted rentals.
•Madison: Strict 30-day annual limit on unhosted rentals (entire home stays).
•Madison: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
•Madison occupancy calculation: Lesser of (2 per bedroom) or 12 total. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety Requirements(1)

•Madison requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Guest registry maintenance, Public Health inspection required annually, Clean linens and sanitary conditions.

Penalties(2)

•Madison enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $375 operating without health license fee. Second offense: Up to $1000 per day. Third offense: Permit revocation. Daily fine: $1000. Permit may be revoked for violations.
•Madison: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions(3)

•Madison: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
•Madison exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, Bed and Breakfasts (regulated separately), Hotels/Motels.

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Upgrade to Pro

Unlock: 4-Step Application Guide

Get step-by-step application guides and access to all 51+ markets.

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Other Wisconsin Markets

Sturgeon Bay

Wisconsin

Moderate

Sturgeon Bay requires a Short-Term Rental License, a State of Wisconsin Tourist Rooming House license, and a Door County Tourism Zone permit. Stays are limited to a maximum of 180 days per year, and the property must pass an annual fire inspection.

Permit requiredNight limits

0.1% total tax

Stevens Point

Wisconsin

Moderate

Short-term rentals in Stevens Point are permitted for owner-occupied properties, while non-owner-occupied units require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and a Portage County health license.

Permit requiredNight limits

0.1% total tax

Ephraim

Wisconsin

Strict

Short-term rentals in the Village of Ephraim are regulated under Ordinance 04-2022, requiring an annual Village license, a State of Wisconsin Tourist Rooming House license, and a Door County Tourism Zone permit. Rentals are subject to an 8% room tax and a minimum stay requirement of 7 nights in most residential areas.

Permit required

0.1% total tax

Door County

Wisconsin

Moderate

Short-term rentals in unincorporated Door County are regulated via a mandatory STR license and require coordination between Land Use Services and the Tourism Zone Commission. Hosts must also hold a Tourist Rooming House license from the Health Department and adhere to specific occupancy limits based on bedroom count.

Permit required

0.1% total tax

Madison

Baseline Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

5 Things Hosts Often Miss

Create a free account

Regulation Details

Eligibility(8)

Requirements(15)

Application Process(9)

Fees & Costs(1)

Taxes(2)

Limits & Restrictions(7)

Safety Requirements(1)

Penalties(2)

Exemptions(3)

Create a free account

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Upgrade to Pro

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Content

Other Wisconsin Markets

Sturgeon Bay

Stevens Point

Ephraim

Door County

Madison

Baseline Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

5 Things Hosts Often Miss

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Upgrade to Pro

Frequently Asked Questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Madison?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Madison?

3Are there rental night limits in Madison?

4What are the penalties for non-compliance in Madison?

Related Content

Other Wisconsin Markets

Sturgeon Bay

Stevens Point

Ephraim

Door County