What are the permit fees in Eau Claire?

High initial application fee ($700) compared to neighboring cities

What are the key requirements for Eau Claire hosts?

Must provide off-street parking for every 3 guests

What should Eau Claire hosts know about local agent/contact person required if?

Local agent/contact person required if the owner resides further than 90 minutes away

What should Eau Claire hosts know about 7-day minimum stay was proposed?

7-day minimum stay was proposed but ultimately removed in final Dec 2024 vote

Eau Claire

Moderate

WisconsinUpdated Apr 8, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 8, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

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.

Restriction level

Severity 23

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

High permit fee: $700
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To operate an Airbnb or VRBO in Eau Claire, you must obtain a city short-term rental license for a $700 initial fee and an annual $300 renewal. You also need a Wisconsin State Tourist Rooming House license from the health department and must provide off-street parking for your guests. There are currently no minimum stay requirements or limits on the number of days you can rent per year.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$700

Processing time2-4 weeks

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1High initial application fee ($700) compared to neighboring cities
2Must provide off-street parking for every 3 guests
3Local agent/contact person required if the owner resides further than 90 minutes away
47-day minimum stay was proposed but ultimately removed in final Dec 2024 vote

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility4 rules

Eau Claire does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Eau Claire: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Eau Claire: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements13 rules

Eau Claire: 7-day minimum stay was proposed but ultimately removed in final Dec 2024 vote
Eau Claire STR warning: 7-day minimum stay was proposed but ultimately removed in final Dec 2024 vote

Application process7 rules

How to set up an STR in Eau Claire: To operate an Airbnb or VRBO in Eau Claire, you must obtain a city short-term rental license for a $700 initial fee and an annual $300 renewal. You also need a Wisconsin State Tourist Rooming House license from the health department and must provide off-street parking for your guests. There are currently no minimum stay requirements or limits on the number of days you can rent per year.

Fees & costs2 rules

Eau Claire charges a registration fee of $700 (one_time). Extended/additional fee: $300 (Annual renewal fee is $300).
Eau Claire: High initial application fee ($700) compared to neighboring cities

Taxes2 rules

Eau Claire charges a Room Tax of 0.08%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Major platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo typically collect and remit room tax for Wisconsin municipalities.
Wisconsin has a state sales tax of 0.05% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions3 rules

Eau Claire limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
Eau Claire enforces quiet hours: No set hours, but noise must not unreasonably disturb neighbors (9.56.070).
Eau Claire occupancy calculation: Limited by ATCP 72.14 based on floor space and bedroom count. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety requirements1 rule

Eau Claire requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Floor plan showing exit routes, Compliance with ATCP 72 safety standards.

Penalties2 rules

Eau Claire: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Eau Claire enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $200 - $500 fine. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions2 rules

Eau Claire: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Eau Claire exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, Properties with existing Conditional Use Permits are exempt from the initial $700 fee.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Eau Claire

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

Obtain State Tourist Rooming House License

Apply for a Tourist Rooming House (TRH) license from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), often administered through the local Health Department.

2-4 weeks$410

Documents needed

State application form
Health inspection fee

Official resource

Step 2

Register for Wisconsin Seller's Permit

1 week$20

Documents needed

Business information

Official resource

Step 3

Submit City STR License Application

Complete the online application for a Short-Term Rental License through the Eau Claire Planning Division, providing proof of your TRH license and a parking plan.

2-4 weeks$700

Documents needed

Floor plan
Parking plan
Proof of insurance
TRH License number

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes 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.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Eau Claire

Moderate

WisconsinUpdated Apr 8, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 8, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

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.

Restriction level

Severity 23

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

High permit fee: $700
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$700

Processing time2-4 weeks

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1High initial application fee ($700) compared to neighboring cities
2Must provide off-street parking for every 3 guests
3Local agent/contact person required if the owner resides further than 90 minutes away
47-day minimum stay was proposed but ultimately removed in final Dec 2024 vote

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility4 rules

Eau Claire does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Eau Claire: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Eau Claire: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements13 rules

Eau Claire: 7-day minimum stay was proposed but ultimately removed in final Dec 2024 vote
Eau Claire STR warning: 7-day minimum stay was proposed but ultimately removed in final Dec 2024 vote

Application process7 rules

How to set up an STR in Eau Claire: To operate an Airbnb or VRBO in Eau Claire, you must obtain a city short-term rental license for a $700 initial fee and an annual $300 renewal. You also need a Wisconsin State Tourist Rooming House license from the health department and must provide off-street parking for your guests. There are currently no minimum stay requirements or limits on the number of days you can rent per year.

Fees & costs2 rules

Eau Claire charges a registration fee of $700 (one_time). Extended/additional fee: $300 (Annual renewal fee is $300).
Eau Claire: High initial application fee ($700) compared to neighboring cities

Taxes2 rules

Eau Claire charges a Room Tax of 0.08%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Major platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo typically collect and remit room tax for Wisconsin municipalities.
Wisconsin has a state sales tax of 0.05% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions3 rules

Eau Claire limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
Eau Claire enforces quiet hours: No set hours, but noise must not unreasonably disturb neighbors (9.56.070).
Eau Claire occupancy calculation: Limited by ATCP 72.14 based on floor space and bedroom count. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety requirements1 rule

Eau Claire requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Floor plan showing exit routes, Compliance with ATCP 72 safety standards.

Penalties2 rules

Eau Claire: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Eau Claire enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $200 - $500 fine. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions2 rules

Eau Claire: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Eau Claire exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, Properties with existing Conditional Use Permits are exempt from the initial $700 fee.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Eau Claire

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

Obtain State Tourist Rooming House License

Apply for a Tourist Rooming House (TRH) license from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), often administered through the local Health Department.

2-4 weeks$410

Documents needed

State application form
Health inspection fee

Official resource

Step 2

Register for Wisconsin Seller's Permit

1 week$20

Documents needed

Business information

Official resource

Step 3

Submit City STR License Application

Complete the online application for a Short-Term Rental License through the Eau Claire Planning Division, providing proof of your TRH license and a parking plan.

2-4 weeks$700

Documents needed

Floor plan
Parking plan
Proof of insurance
TRH License number

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

4 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Obtain State Tourist Rooming House License

Register for Wisconsin Seller's Permit

Submit City STR License Application

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Eau Claire?

3Are there rental night limits in Eau Claire?

4What are the penalties for non-compliance in Eau Claire?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

4 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Obtain State Tourist Rooming House License

Register for Wisconsin Seller's Permit

Submit City STR License Application

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Eau Claire?

3Are there rental night limits in Eau Claire?

4What are the penalties for non-compliance in Eau Claire?

Disclaimer