How to get a short-term rental permit in Madison, WI (2026)
Madison requires Zoning Tourist Rooming House Permit (ZTRHP1) — the fee is $300, renewed annual. Here's how to get and keep it.
Permit at a glance
| Permit required | Yes |
|---|---|
| Permit name | Zoning Tourist Rooming House Permit (ZTRHP1) |
| Permit fee | $300 |
| Renewal | Annual |
Step by step
- 1
Confirm your property is eligible
Madison restricts short-term rentals to your primary residence, so confirm the property qualifies before applying. Madison does not publish a list of zoning districts where STRs are allowed or prohibited; instead the zoning permit (ZTRHP1) ties the use to the operator's dwelling. The STR must be the host's primary dwelling (their home for at least 183 days/year) while operating and for the 12 months before starting, so in practice STRs can exist in any legal dwelling unit citywide that is the operator's primary residence. Operators may be owners or renters whose lease explicitly allows it; condominium units need association approval (form ZTRHP1-C). Max guest occupancy is the lesser of twice the number of legal bedrooms or 12 people (children under 12 not counted). Properties renting only in 7-29 consecutive-night blocks may qualify for different rules through the Zoning office.
- 2
Apply for the Zoning Tourist Rooming House Permit (ZTRHP1)
Submit the Zoning Tourist Rooming House Permit (ZTRHP1) application to Madison and pay the $300 fee. $300 one-time non-refundable ZTRHP application fee plus a $100 annual permit fee (paid after approval; permit year July 1-June 30). Separately, the required Public Health Madison & Dane County Tourist Rooming House license costs $941.38 for a new 1-unit license (PHMDC annual fee $337.44 + state fee $41.44 + $562.50 pre-inspection fee; fee schedule effective May 4, 2026), and a City of Madison Transient Room Tax Permit must be obtained from the Treasury.
- 3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Madison. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.
- 4
Renew on schedule
The permit renews annual — set a reminder so it never lapses, since operating on an expired permit typically triggers fines.
STR rules change without warning.
Get an email the moment Madison changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
Watch Madison for changes →Free monthly digest · same-day alerts from $5/mo · cancel anytime
Keep going
Verified July 21, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with Madison before applying.