Wisconsin Short-Term Rental Regulations by City

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.

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.

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.

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.

Short-term rentals in the City of Wisconsin Dells are regulated as Tourist Rooming Houses and require both state and local licenses. Hosts must pay a total lodging tax of 11.5% in addition to state sales tax and comply with annual safety inspections.

Short-term rentals in the City of Lake Geneva are heavily regulated under Chapter 18, Article XII, requiring both state and local licensing. Hosts are limited to renting for no more than 180 days per year and must pay an 8% room tax to the Geneva Lake Area Joint Room Tax Commission.

Eau Claire requires a city short-term rental license (Chapter 5.66), a state tourist rooming house license, and payment of an 8% city room tax.

The City of Kenosha requires a local lodging license, a state-level tourist rooming house license, and a 10.5% municipal room tax for short-term rentals.

The City of Bayfield regulates short-term rentals through a licensing system that requires both state-level certification and local fire inspections. Hosts must pay an annual $500 fee and collect a 6.5% Room Tax on all stays under 30 days.

The City of La Crosse requires an annual Short-Term Rental License, a County Health Department Tourist Rooming House permit, and compliance with local zoning and tax laws.

The City of Milwaukee regulates short-term rentals under the 'Tourist Home' license classification, which requires an annual fee and a safety inspection by the Department of Neighborhood Services. Wisconsin state law (Act 59) prohibits the city from banning STRs entirely if the stay is for more than 6 days, but Milwaukee imposes strict licensing and tax remittance requirements.

Short-term rentals in Whitewater, classified as Tourist Rooming Houses, require both a City of Whitewater license and a State of Wisconsin DATCP license.

The Village of Sister Bay requires an annual Short-Term Rental License for all properties rented for periods of less than 30 consecutive days. Hosts must also hold valid state health department licenses and a Door County Room Tax permit.

Short-term rentals (STRs) in Green Bay require a municipal permit (STRP), a state tourist rooming house license, and a yearly Brown County health inspection.

Short-term rentals in the Village of Egg Harbor are regulated by Chapter 220 of the municipal code and require both a Village license and a Door County Tourism Zone Commission (DCTZC) permit. Hosts must also hold a State of Wisconsin Tourist Rooming House license and remit a total of 13.5% in combined taxes.

The City of Oshkosh requires a Short-Term Rental License and a Room Tax Permit for any property rented for fewer than 29 consecutive days for more than 16 nights per year.

The City of Racine regulates short-term rentals as Tourist Rooming Houses, requiring a state license from DATCP and a local city business license, while adhering to Wisconsin state-level protections for rentals of 7-28 days.