Rental Property Rules in Milwaukee, WI (2026)
10 verified rental property rules for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Rent Control
Rent control does not exist in Milwaukee because Wisconsin state law (Wis. Stat. 66.1015) expressly preempts any local government from enacting rent control or rent stabilization ordinances. This 2011 statute prohibits cities, villages, towns, and counties from regulating the amount of rent charged for private residential or commercial property. Milwaukee landlords may set and increase rents without restriction, subject only to lease terms and general contract law.
Milwaukee Rent Control & Stabilization
Few RestrictionsWis. Stat. § 66.1015
66.1015 Municipal rent control, inclusionary zoning, prohibited. (1) No city, village, town or county may regulate the amount of rent or fees charged for the use of a residential rental dwelling unit. (2) This section does not prohibit a city, village, town, county, or housing authority or the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority from doing any of the following: (a) Entering int...
Just Cause Eviction
Milwaukee does not have a just-cause eviction ordinance. Wisconsin law (Wis. Stat. Chapter 704) governs landlord-tenant relationships statewide. Landlords may decline to renew a lease or terminate a month-to-month tenancy with 28 days' notice without stating a reason. For-cause evictions proceed through small claims court for nonpayment of rent (5-day notice) or lease violations (14-day notice). Wisconsin law preempts local just-cause eviction protections beyond what state statute provides.
Milwaukee Just Cause Eviction Protections
Few RestrictionsRental Registration
Milwaukee requires rental property registration and inspection through the Department of Neighborhood Services. The city's rental property inspection program requires landlords to register their rental units. Properties receive periodic inspections for building code compliance, and landlords must maintain habitable conditions. Milwaukee also requires a Certificate of Code Compliance for certain property transfers involving rental units. The DNS maintains a searchable database of registered rental properties and inspection histories.
Milwaukee Rental Property Registration
Some RestrictionsRelocation Assistance
Milwaukee does not require landlords to pay relocation assistance to displaced tenants. Wisconsin Act 76 (2018) preempts local relocation-payment ordinances, except in narrow cases tied to building condemnation under state-administered programs.
No Mandatory Relocation Assistance for Tenants
Few RestrictionsSecurity Deposit Rules
Milwaukee landlords follow Wisconsin's statewide security deposit framework. Wisconsin Act 76 (2018) and ATCP 134 require deposits to be returned within 21 days of move-out with an itemized statement, and Milwaukee cannot impose stricter local rules.
Wisconsin Sets Statewide Security Deposit Rules
Some RestrictionsWis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.02, 134.03
ATCP 134.02 Definitions. (3) "Earnest money deposit" means the total of any payments or deposits, however denominated or described, given by a prospective tenant to a landlord in return for the option of entering into a rental agreement in the future, or for having a rental agreement considered by a landlord. "Earnest money deposit" does not include a fee which a landlord charges for a credit c...
No-Fault Evictions
Milwaukee landlords may refuse to renew a lease without cause once the term ends. Wisconsin Act 76 (2018) preempts local just-cause eviction rules, so no-fault non-renewals are lawful provided proper notice is given under Wis. Stat. ch. 704.
No-Fault Evictions Allowed Under State Law
Few RestrictionsPass-Through Charges
Milwaukee cannot regulate how landlords pass through utilities, taxes, or capital improvements to tenants. Wisconsin Stat. §66.1014 bans rent control, and Act 76 (2018) preempts local pass-through restrictions, leaving lease contracts as the main constraint.
No Local Cap on Rent Pass-Through Charges
Few RestrictionsWis. Stat. § 66.1015
66.1015 Municipal rent control, inclusionary zoning, prohibited. (1) No city, village, town or county may regulate the amount of rent or fees charged for the use of a residential rental dwelling unit. (2) This section does not prohibit a city, village, town, county, or housing authority or the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority from doing any of the following: (a) Entering int...
Tenant Anti-Harassment
Milwaukee has a Tenant Bill of Rights that summarizes protections, but Wisconsin Act 76 (2018) sharply limits the city's ability to create stand-alone anti-harassment ordinances. Tenants rely on state landlord-tenant law and ATCP 134 unfair-trade-practice rules.
Limited Local Anti-Harassment for Tenants
Some RestrictionsSource-of-Income Discrimination
Milwaukee cannot prohibit landlords from refusing housing vouchers as a source of income. Wisconsin Act 317 (2017) preempts cities from extending fair-housing protections beyond the categories listed in state law, leaving voucher holders without local protection.
State Law Preempts Source-of-Income Protection
Few RestrictionsSection 8 Voucher Acceptance
The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee administers federal Housing Choice Vouchers, but Wisconsin Act 317 (2017) blocks the city from forcing landlords to accept them. Participation in the voucher program is voluntary on the landlord side.
Section 8 Vouchers Administered Through HACM
Few RestrictionsLooking for Milwaukee County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Milwaukee city rules.
Rental Property Rules in Milwaukee County →