How De Pere Handles Short-Term Rentals: A Practical Guide
De Pere maintains 93 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with short-term rentals. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where De Pere falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Taxes & Fees
De Pere taxes short-term rentals the same 10 percent room tax it charges hotels, due to the city clerk monthly, and adds real money for owners who fall behind: a 25 percent forfeiture, or $5,000, whichever is less, once the tax goes delinquent, plus interest and a notification duty owners must meet.
Key details: Room tax rate: 10% of gross receipts. Payment schedule: Monthly to the city clerk. Late payment forfeiture: 25% of prior year's tax or $5,000, less. Interest on unpaid tax: 1% per month on balance. Delinquency threshold: 30 days after return due date.
Falling behind on room tax draws a forfeiture of 25 percent of the previous year's tax or $5,000, whichever is less, plus one percent monthly interest on the unpaid balance; missing a filing deadline draws a separate late-filing forfeiture set by council resolution, and refusing a records audit adds a further five percent of the tax due at the time of the audit.
Short-Term Rental Permits
De Pere requires anyone who rents out a short-term rental more than ten nights a year to hold a tourist roominghouse license, and every operator must first register with the city clerk for a room tax identification number. The clerk's office administers both before a single guest checks in.
Key details: License required: Tourist roominghouse license after 10 rental nights/year. Registration: Room tax ID number for every rental address. Application signer: Owner, or authorized person responsible. Minimum stay, R1/R2: 7 consecutive days minimum. Minimum stay, other districts: 1-day minimum rental period.
Operating without the required tax identification number or, once past ten nights a year, without a tourist roominghouse license exposes an owner to the same forfeiture schedule the city applies to unpaid room tax under this section, up to 25 percent of the tax due or $5,000, whichever is less, plus interest at one percent a month on any unpaid balance and required inspection of the operator's records by the city clerk.
The Bottom Line
De Pere's short-term rentals rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming De Pere is broadly strict or permissive.
Keep in mind that De Pere can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.