Rental Property Rules in Milwaukee, WI (2026)
5 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...
Rental Registration
Rental property and rental units in Milwaukee must register with the city, but the ordinance limits what can be required to the owner's name, an authorized contact person, their address, and phone number.
Milwaukee Rental Property Registration Requirement
Some RestrictionsMilwaukee Code of Ordinances § 200-51.9 (Volume 2, Building and Zoning Code)
200-51.9. Registration of Rental Property and Rental Units. Notwithstanding the provisions of ss. 200-22.5, 200-51.5, 200-51.7 or any other real-property registration ordinance, the only information that shall be required to register a rental property or rental unit is: 1. The name of the owner. 2. The name of an authorized contact person, as defined in s. 200-51.5-2-a. 3. The address at which ...
Security 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...
Pass-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...
Repairs & Habitability
Milwaukee's property maintenance code requires landlords to keep rented dwelling units heated to at least 67°F during occupancy, with heating facilities properly installed and maintained under Chapter 275 of the city's Building and Zoning Code.
Milwaukee Rental Heat: 67°F Minimum Required
Some RestrictionsMilwaukee Code of Ordinances § 275-61(1)(a)-(b)
Every dwelling unit shall be supplied with a heating facility... Such facilities shall be properly installed, be maintained in reasonably good working condition, and be capable of adequately heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms contained therein... to a temperature of at least 67F. at a distance 3 feet above floor level when the outdoor temperature is at or above 10 below zer...
Looking for Milwaukee County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Milwaukee city rules.
Rental Property Rules in Milwaukee County →