Wisconsin short-term rental regulations

Wisconsin · The Badger State18 markets coveredUpdated Apr 19, 2026

Restriction mix18 markets

Prohibited1 · 6%

Strict1 · 6%

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Prohibited

Banned or owner-occupied only

1 market

STRs are banned outright or limited to owner-occupied stays only.

Madison

Wisconsin

Prohibited

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.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1000.2% tax

Strict

Heavy restrictions apply

1 market

Heavy regulation: caps, primary-residence rules, lottery permits, or night limits.

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...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $5000.1% tax

Moderate

Permit required · STRs broadly allowed

14 markets

Permit + tax registration required; otherwise STRs are broadly allowed.

Door County

WisconsinCounty

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...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1000.1% tax

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.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1000.1% 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...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $3000.1% tax

Wisconsin Dells

Wisconsin

Moderate

Short-term rentals in the City of Wisconsin Dells are regulated as Tourist Rooming Houses and require both state and local licenses.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $5000.2% tax

Lake Geneva

Wisconsin

Moderate

Short-term rentals in the City of Lake Geneva are heavily regulated under Chapter 18, Article XII, requiring both state and local licensing.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $7500.1% tax

Eau Claire

Wisconsin

Moderate

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.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $7000.1% tax

Kenosha

Wisconsin

Moderate

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.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $2500.2% tax

Bayfield

Wisconsin

Moderate

The City of Bayfield regulates short-term rentals through a licensing system that requires both state-level certification and local fire inspections.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $5000.1% tax

La Crosse

Wisconsin

Moderate

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...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1000.1% tax

Milwaukee

Wisconsin

Moderate

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...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1130.1% tax

Whitewater

Wisconsin

Moderate

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

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

0.1% tax

Sister Bay

Wisconsin

Moderate

The Village of Sister Bay requires an annual Short-Term Rental License for all properties rented for periods of less than 30 consecutive days.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $5000.1% tax

Green Bay

Wisconsin

Moderate

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.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $5000.2% tax

Egg Harbor

Wisconsin

Moderate

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...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Free permit0.1% tax

Permissive

Light-touch rules · STRs welcome

2 markets

Minimal restrictions: basic registration, no permit caps, no night limits.

Oshkosh

Wisconsin

Permissive

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...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1500.1% tax

Racine

Wisconsin

Permissive

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...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1500.1% tax

Wisconsin short-term rental regulations

Banned or owner-occupied only

Madison

Heavy restrictions apply

Ephraim

Permit required · STRs broadly allowed

Door County

Sturgeon Bay

Stevens Point

Wisconsin Dells

Lake Geneva

Eau Claire

Kenosha

Bayfield

La Crosse

Milwaukee

Whitewater

Sister Bay

Green Bay

Egg Harbor

Light-touch rules · STRs welcome

Oshkosh

Racine

Neighboring states & common comparisons