Door County Short-Term Rental Regulations

New to short-term rentals? Jump to the compliance checklist →

Permit & Licensing

Wisconsin Tourist Rooming House (TRH) License (Wis. Admin. Code ch. ATCP 72; issued by the Wisconsin Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection)

This permit type does not require primary residence. Zoning restriction: In towns that have adopted the Door County Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, an accessory dwelling unit may only be rented for periods of 30 or more consecutive days.

Application Process

Anyone renting a Door County residential dwelling short-term for more than 10 nights per year must obtain a Wisconsin DATCP Tourist Rooming House license, which requires a one-time pre-inspection before initial licensing. The operator must also obtain a local license if their town or village has enacted an ordinance requiring one -- most Door County municipalities have (e.g., Town of Baileys Harbor, Village of Ephraim, City of Sturgeon Bay, which requires permits from both the Door County Tourism Zone Commission and the City itself). Under state law, a host must notify their local clerk in writing when the first rental within a 365-day period begins.

Tax Obligations

Combined rate: 13.5%-14.0% of gross rental income.

Rental Limits

Door County does not impose an annual cap on the number of nights you can rent.

Zoning & Restrictions

Short-term rental (under 30 days) is regulated primarily by individual Door County towns/villages (Baileys Harbor, Clay Banks, Egg Harbor, Ephraim, Gibraltar, Liberty Grove, Nasewaupee, Sevastopol, Sister Bay, City of Sturgeon Bay), each with its own ordinance, plus the State of Wisconsin Tourist Rooming House license. Under the Door County Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, accessory dwelling units in towns that have adopted county zoning may only be rented for 30 or more consecutive days. Wisconsin state law (Wis. Stat. Sec. 66.1014) prohibits any political subdivision from banning rental of a residential dwelling for 7 or more consecutive days, and if a political subdivision caps rentals of 7-29 day stays, that cap cannot be set below 180 days per year.

Insurance & Safety

Insurance

Liability insurance is required for the property's use as a short-term rental. No minimum coverage amount specified -- owner must maintain homeowner's or business liability insurance authorized to do business in Wisconsin, effective during all short-term rental periods and identifying the dwelling's STR use (per Town of Liberty Grove Ordinance 10-23 Sec. 6.M; representative of Door County municipal STR ordinances)

Safety & Operating Requirements

• One-time pre-inspection required before initial Wisconsin Tourist Rooming House (TRH) licensing (DATCP)

Penalties for Non-Compliance

• Any violation: upon conviction, a forfeiture of not less than $250.00 nor more than $1,000.00, plus applicable surcharges, assessments, and costs, per violation
• Each day a violation occurs or continues to exist constitutes a separate offense (additional forfeiture per day)
• Continued non-compliance can lead to a license revocation hearing before the Town Board

Penalty structure per Town of Liberty Grove Short-Term Rental Ordinance No. 10-23 (Door County, WI); representative of the municipal citation/forfeiture model (Wis. Stat. Sec. 66.0113) used by Door County town and village STR ordinances.

Compliance Checklist

Follow these steps to legally operate a short-term rental in Door County:

1. Meet safety requirements. One-time pre-inspection required before initial Wisconsin Tourist Rooming House (TRH) licensing (DATCP).
2. Obtain liability insurance. Required for property's use as a short-term rental.
3. Apply for Wisconsin Tourist Rooming House (TRH) License (Wis. Admin. Code ch. ATCP 72; issued by the Wisconsin Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection). Submit application + $296-$1,100 fee.
4. Register for tax accounts. Set up lodging tax accounts with Door County Tourism Zone Commission.
5. Collect and remit taxes. 13.5%-14.0% on all bookings.
6. Renew annually. $296-$1,100 renewal fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in Door County?

Yes. Operating a short-term rental — including an Airbnb or Vrbo — in Door County requires a short-term rental permit.

Does Door County require a short-term rental to be your primary residence?

No. Door County allows non-owner-occupied short-term rentals, so investment properties can qualify provided you hold the required permit.

How many days a year can you short-term rent in Door County?

Door County does not cap the number of nights per year you can short-term rent, though permitting, zoning, and occupancy rules still apply.

What taxes do you pay on a short-term rental in Door County?

Short-term rental stays in Door County are subject to a combined 13.5% in lodging taxes. This combines 5% Wisconsin State Sales Tax + 0.5% Door County Sales Tax + 8% Door County Room Tax + 0.5% Premier Resort Area Tax (Sister Bay or Ephraim village only). The host is responsible for collecting and remitting them.

What happens if you run a short-term rental without a permit in Door County?

Operating without a permit can cost up to $1,000.00.