Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Sturgeon Bay?

**Yes**, Sturgeon Bay requires a Short-Term Rental License, as well as a State of Wisconsin Tourist Rooming House license, and a Door County Tourism Zone permit. You need to obtain all three to legally operate a short-term rental within city limits, ensuring compliance with local regulations.

What is the TOT tax rate in Sturgeon Bay?

**5.5% TOT** is the tax rate for short-term rentals in Sturgeon Bay. Platforms like Airbnb typically collect this on your behalf. You need to verify that the tax is being remitted to the appropriate authorities. Contact the Door County Tourism Zone for details.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Sturgeon Bay?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in Sturgeon Bay, but they are subject to specific regulations. You need to obtain the required licenses and permits, and rentals are capped at a maximum of 180 days per year. Always ensure you comply with local ordinances.

How much does an STR permit cost in Sturgeon Bay?

**$100** is the annual fee for the Short-Term Rental License in Sturgeon Bay. You need to renew this license annually to continue operating your short-term rental legally. This fee is in addition to any other state or county permit fees required for operation.

How many nights per year can I rent my property in Sturgeon Bay?

**180 nights/year** is the maximum rental period allowed in Sturgeon Bay. You need to track your bookings to ensure you do not exceed this limit. Exceeding this limit may result in fines or the revocation of your short-term rental license.

Sturgeon Bay

Moderate

WisconsinUpdated Feb 10, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

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.

Restriction level

Severity 18

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in Sturgeon Bay, you must get licenses from the state, the county tourism commission, and the city itself. You are allowed to rent out your property for up to 180 days each year. You'll need to pay an annual $100 fee to the city and ensure your listing displays your permit number. While platforms like Airbnb collect the 5.5% Room Tax for you, you are still responsible for ensuring your property meets local safety and fire codes.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limit180/year

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$100

Processing time2-4 weeks

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1You cannot rent for more than 180 days in any 365-day period.
2A State of Wisconsin Tourist Rooming House license is a mandatory prerequisite for the city permit.
3You must have a permit from the Door County Tourism Zone Commission even if you use Airbnb/VRBO.
4The city permit number must be clearly displayed on all online advertisements.
5Only one booking is allowed at a time (no 'room-by-room' rentals to different parties).
6Maximum occupancy is strictly capped at 2 people per bedroom plus 2 additional people, up to 8 max.
7You must designate a local contact person available 24/7 who lives within 15 miles of the city.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility6 rules

Sturgeon Bay does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Sturgeon Bay: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Sturgeon Bay allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family dwellings, Multi-family units, Condominiums.

Requirements17 rules

Sturgeon Bay: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.
Sturgeon Bay STR warning: Maximum occupancy is strictly enforced based on bedroom count and septic/water capacity.
Sturgeon Bay STR warning: You must file a room tax report every month with the DCTZC even if you had zero bookings.

Application process8 rules

Sturgeon Bay: A physical inspection of the property is required by the state before you can get your municipal license.

Fees & costs1 rule

Sturgeon Bay charges a registration fee of $100 (annual).

Taxes3 rules

Sturgeon Bay: You must file a room tax report every month with the DCTZC even if you had zero bookings.

Limits & restrictions4 rules

Sturgeon Bay: Maximum occupancy is strictly enforced based on bedroom count and septic/water capacity.
Sturgeon Bay limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
Sturgeon Bay enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM.
Sturgeon Bay occupancy calculation: Limited by septic capacity or bedroom count as determined by health/fire codes. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety requirements1 rule

Sturgeon Bay requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Guest register must be maintained for one year, Inspection by Wisconsin DATCP required for state license.

Penalties2 rules

Sturgeon Bay: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Sturgeon Bay enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Varies by citation (standard range $100-$500). Daily fine: Each day of violation may be considered a separate offense. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions2 rules

Sturgeon Bay: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Sturgeon Bay exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), Hotels/Motels/B&Bs regulated under separate codes.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Sturgeon Bay

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

State Licensing

Obtain a Tourist Rooming House license from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).

2-4 weeks$110

Official resource

Step 2

County Tourism Zone Permit

Apply for a permit from the Door County Tourism Zone Commission (DCTZC) for tax reporting.

1 weekFree

Documents needed

DATCP license number

Official resource

Step 3

City STR License Application

Submit the Sturgeon Bay Short-Term Rental License application to the Community Development Department.

2 weeks$100

Documents needed

State license
County permit
Site plan
Proof of insurance

Official resource

Step 4

Fire Inspection

Schedule and pass a fire safety inspection by the Sturgeon Bay Fire Department.

1 week

Frequently asked questions

5 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

Sturgeon Bay

Moderate

WisconsinUpdated Feb 10, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 18

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limit180/year

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$100

Processing time2-4 weeks

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1You cannot rent for more than 180 days in any 365-day period.
2A State of Wisconsin Tourist Rooming House license is a mandatory prerequisite for the city permit.
3You must have a permit from the Door County Tourism Zone Commission even if you use Airbnb/VRBO.
4The city permit number must be clearly displayed on all online advertisements.
5Only one booking is allowed at a time (no 'room-by-room' rentals to different parties).
6Maximum occupancy is strictly capped at 2 people per bedroom plus 2 additional people, up to 8 max.
7You must designate a local contact person available 24/7 who lives within 15 miles of the city.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility6 rules

Sturgeon Bay does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Sturgeon Bay: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Sturgeon Bay allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family dwellings, Multi-family units, Condominiums.

Requirements17 rules

Sturgeon Bay: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.
Sturgeon Bay STR warning: Maximum occupancy is strictly enforced based on bedroom count and septic/water capacity.
Sturgeon Bay STR warning: You must file a room tax report every month with the DCTZC even if you had zero bookings.

Application process8 rules

Sturgeon Bay: A physical inspection of the property is required by the state before you can get your municipal license.

Fees & costs1 rule

Sturgeon Bay charges a registration fee of $100 (annual).

Taxes3 rules

Sturgeon Bay: You must file a room tax report every month with the DCTZC even if you had zero bookings.

Limits & restrictions4 rules

Sturgeon Bay: Maximum occupancy is strictly enforced based on bedroom count and septic/water capacity.
Sturgeon Bay limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
Sturgeon Bay enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM.
Sturgeon Bay occupancy calculation: Limited by septic capacity or bedroom count as determined by health/fire codes. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety requirements1 rule

Sturgeon Bay requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Guest register must be maintained for one year, Inspection by Wisconsin DATCP required for state license.

Penalties2 rules

Sturgeon Bay: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Sturgeon Bay enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Varies by citation (standard range $100-$500). Daily fine: Each day of violation may be considered a separate offense. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions2 rules

Sturgeon Bay: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Sturgeon Bay exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), Hotels/Motels/B&Bs regulated under separate codes.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Sturgeon Bay

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

State Licensing

Obtain a Tourist Rooming House license from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).

2-4 weeks$110

Official resource

Step 2

County Tourism Zone Permit

Apply for a permit from the Door County Tourism Zone Commission (DCTZC) for tax reporting.

1 weekFree

Documents needed

DATCP license number

Official resource

Step 3

City STR License Application

Submit the Sturgeon Bay Short-Term Rental License application to the Community Development Department.

2 weeks$100

Documents needed

State license
County permit
Site plan
Proof of insurance

Official resource

Step 4

Fire Inspection

Schedule and pass a fire safety inspection by the Sturgeon Bay Fire Department.

1 week

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

State Licensing

County Tourism Zone Permit

City STR License Application

Fire Inspection

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Sturgeon Bay?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Sturgeon Bay?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Sturgeon Bay?

5How many nights per year can I rent my property in Sturgeon Bay?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

State Licensing

County Tourism Zone Permit

City STR License Application

Fire Inspection

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Sturgeon Bay?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Sturgeon Bay?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Sturgeon Bay?

5How many nights per year can I rent my property in Sturgeon Bay?

Disclaimer