Menasha's Short-Term Rentals: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles short-term rentals a little differently. In Menasha, Wisconsin, there are 4 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.

Permit Requirements

Menasha regulates but cannot ban STRs under WI Act 59 (2017). DATCP tourist rooming house license may be required. WI Stat. §66.1014.

Key details: Licensing: Check Menasha rules. Bans: Prohibited by WI Act 59. DATCP: Tourist rooming house license. State Law: WI Stat. §66.1014.

Operating without license: $200 to $1,000/day varies by city. DATCP violations: separate enforcement. Safety violations: correction notice.

Taxes & Fees

Wisconsin state room tax is 5% (WI Stat. §77.98). Menasha levies additional local room tax. Platforms auto-collect in many jurisdictions. Total 10 to 14% typical.

Key details: State Room Tax: 5%. Local Tax: 6 to 8% typical. Platforms: Auto-collect in many areas. State Law: WI Stat. §77.98.

Non-remittance: penalties + interest per WI Dept. of Revenue. Tax evasion: misdemeanor charges.

Noise Rules

Short-term rentals in Menasha are licensed under Title 7, Chapter 14 of the Menasha Municipal Code and must comply with the citywide noise ordinance in Section 11-2-7. The STR ordinance at Section 7-14-4(A)(4) makes guest-created noise, disturbances, or nuisances an explicit ground for permit suspension or revocation, and Section 11-2-7(b)(2) makes any radio, instrument, phonograph, or sound device plainly audible at the property line between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. prima facie evidence of a violation.

Key details: Code Article: Title 11 Ch. 2. General Rule: Sec. 11-2-7. Audibility Test: Property line. Quiet Hours: 10pm-7am. STR Permit Code: Title 7 Ch. 14.

Tenants who create noise, disturbances, or nuisances in violation of city ordinance trigger a violation chargeable against the permit under Sec. 7-14-4(A)(4). The Menasha Police Department enforces Sec. 11-2-7 and 11-2-8 with forfeitures under Sec. 1-1-7. Repeated incidents can also trigger the chronic-nuisance-premises process under Sec. 11-7-8: three or more nuisance activities resulting in enforcement action within 12 months allows the Chief of Police to charge the cost of further police response back to the property as a special charge under Wis. Stat. 66.0628. The Administration Committee may, after a due-process hearing under Sec. 7-14-4(B)(1)(b), suspend or revoke the STR permit, and a revoked operator cannot reapply for at least one year under Sec. 7-14-4(B)(2).

Compared to other cities, Menasha takes a harder line on noise rules. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Parking Rules

Menasha Sec. 7-14-3(A)(2)(e) requires one off-street parking space for every three persons of permitted STR occupancy, with each space at least 9 feet wide and 171 square feet in area. If on-site parking cannot meet that standard, the permitted occupancy is reduced to match the available spaces, and 'no more vehicles shall be parked on the property than there are designated off-street parking spaces.' Citywide overnight street rules in Sec. 10-1-29 also bar overnight parking from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. November through March, with odd/even alternate-side parking April through October.

Key details: STR Parking Code: Sec. 7-14-3. Ratio: 1 space per 3 guests. Min Space Size: 9 ft x 171 sqft. Overnight Ban: Nov-Mar 2am-6am. State Authority: Wis. Stat. 66.1014.

Exceeding the on-site vehicle count or failing to provide the required off-street ratio is a violation under Sec. 7-14-4(A)(2) chargeable against the STR permit. The Menasha Police Department issues citations under Sec. 10-1-29 for unauthorized overnight on-street parking and 72-hour violations. Repeated parking-related complaints feed into the chronic-nuisance-premises framework under Sec. 11-7-8. After due process before the Administration Committee under Sec. 7-14-4(B)(1)(b), the city may suspend or revoke the STR permit, and a revoked operator must wait at least one year before reapplying.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Menasha actively enforces its parking rules requirements.

The Bottom Line

Menasha is tougher than many cities when it comes to short-term rentals. Out of the 4 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Menasha, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

All of the above reflects Menasha's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.