Little Chute's Short-Term Rentals: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles short-term rentals a little differently. In Little Chute, Wisconsin, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Taxes & Fees

Little Chute's room tax law names 'owners of short-term rentals' as taxable operators, requiring a village permit and a share of the village's 10 percent room tax on every rented night.

Key details: STR owners named as: 'operators' under room tax law. Room tax rate: 10% of rental receipts. Permit fee: $20.00 per rental location. No-permit penalty: up to $200.00 per violation.

Failing to obtain the operator permit before renting draws a penalty up to $200.00 per violation, with each rental day counted separately; unpaid room tax adds a forfeiture of 25% of the tax due, capped at $5,000.00.

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

The Village of Little Chute has no dedicated short-term rental parking ordinance, so STR guests are subject to the same Village-wide parking rules as residents. The Village's published Overnight Parking policy prohibits parking on any Village street or in any Village-owned lot from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. between December 1 and April 1 each year. Residents and guests may request overnight parking permission through the Fox Valley Metro Police Department's online form, with each residence generally receiving up to seven (7) requests per winter season. Wis. Stat. Sec. 66.1014(2)(b) allows Little Chute to enforce this and other parking rules against STR guests because the right-to-rent statute preserves local parking authority.

Key details: Hours: 2:00 a.m.. Up to 7: Up to 7 overnight parking requests per residence per winter season via. Permission automatically void: Permission automatically void during inclement weather and snow events. Citations issued by: Citations issued by Fox Valley Metro Police Department, (920) 788-7505. Citations payable cash/check/money: Citations payable cash/check/money order only at 200 W. McKinley Avenue.

Overnight parking violations during the December 1 to April 1 window are issued by the Fox Valley Metro Police Department under the Village's general parking authority. Citations are issued under the Village Municipal Court bond schedule and are payable in cash, personal check, or money order at the FVMPD office at 200 W. McKinley Avenue or in the after-hours drop box. The Village's policy makes clear that 'insufficient driveway space does not qualify as a legitimate reason for consistent winter parking on roads,' so repeat overnight requests for STR guest cars can be denied. Repeated nuisance-related parking complaints can also be addressed under Chapter 28 of the Village Code and through Wis. Stat. Sec. 66.0413 abatement.

The Bottom Line

Little Chute'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 Little Chute is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Little Chute's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.