Short-Term Rental Regulations in Wisconsin

State Overview
Wisconsin does not preempt local STR regulation. Municipalities have authority to license and regulate short-term rentals under local zoning and licensing codes. The state imposes a 5% State Sales Tax (Lodging) in addition to any local taxes.

Cities in Wisconsin

City Permit Tax Rate Day Limit Primary Res.
Door County ✓ Required 13.5%-14.0% No limit No →
Lake Geneva ✓ Required 13.5% 180 days No →
Madison ✓ Required 15% 30 days–unlimited (varies by permit type) Required →
Wisconsin Dells ✓ Required 12.25% 180 days–unlimited (varies by permit type) Varies →

Wisconsin's STR Landscape

Wisconsin does not have a uniform STR framework, leaving regulation to individual municipalities. The state imposes a 5% State Sales Tax (Lodging) in addition to local taxes.

Regulation varies significantly across cities. Some cities (Madison, Wisconsin Dells) require primary residence, while others (Door County, Lake Geneva) allow non-owner-occupied rentals. Tax rates vary from 12.25% to 15%.

Popular Short-Term Rental Markets

High-demand markets in other states — compare their permit, tax, and day-limit rules:

Other States

Alabama 2 cities Alaska 1 city Arizona 8 cities Arkansas 3 cities California 28 cities Colorado 12 cities Connecticut 1 city Delaware 2 cities District of Columbia 1 city Florida 24 cities Georgia 6 cities Hawaii 4 cities Idaho 3 cities Illinois 2 cities Indiana 2 cities Kentucky 2 cities Louisiana 1 city Maine 4 cities Maryland 3 cities Massachusetts 6 cities Michigan 4 cities Minnesota 1 city Mississippi 2 cities Missouri 4 cities Montana 3 cities Nevada 1 city New Hampshire 2 cities New Jersey 5 cities New Mexico 3 cities New York 5 cities North Carolina 7 cities Ohio 3 cities Oklahoma 3 cities Oregon 3 cities Pennsylvania 4 cities Rhode Island 2 cities South Carolina 7 cities South Dakota 2 cities Tennessee 7 cities Texas 13 cities Utah 7 cities Vermont 2 cities Virginia 6 cities Washington 4 cities West Virginia 1 city Wyoming 1 city