Wisconsin Short-Term Rental Laws by City (2026)
Short-term rental rules in Wisconsin are set city by city — a property that is legal to rent nightly in one town can be prohibited a few miles away. The table below covers 2 Wisconsin cities (2 human-verified against official sources), with each city's legal status, permit cost, and last-verified date.
Statewide short-term rental rules in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has a statewide short-term rental license: anyone who rents a residential dwelling for more than 10 nights per year must obtain a Tourist Rooming House license from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), and cities may layer their own licenses on top. The state's 'right to rent' law (Wis. Stat. 66.1014) preempts local bans — a municipality may not prohibit rentals of 7 consecutive days or longer, though for rentals of 7-29 days it may cap total rental days at no fewer than 180 per year. STR stays under one month are subject to the 5% state sales tax plus county sales tax and any municipal room tax (capped at 8%), which platforms like Airbnb must collect and remit when they process the payment.
| City | Status | Permit fee | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | Primary residence only | $300 | July 21, 2026 |
| Milwaukee | Permit required | — | July 21, 2026 |
Don't see your city? Browse all covered cities or request coverage with a Pro account.
This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Regulations change frequently — verify current requirements with each jurisdiction before operating. HOA and condo rules may prohibit short-term rentals regardless of city law.