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Short-Term Rentals in Milwaukee, WI (2026)

13 verified short-term rentals rules for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Permit Requirements

Milwaukee requires a Tourist Rooming House (TRH) license from DNS for all STRs. State TRH license from Wisconsin DATCP also required. Properties with 5+ rooms need a hotel license instead.

Milwaukee Short-Term Rental License Requirements

Heavy Restrictions
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Noise Rules

Milwaukee short-term rental operators must comply with Chapter 80 noise rules. STR guests cannot create noise audible beyond the property line after 10 PM, and hosts bear responsibility for guest conduct.

Short Term Rentals: Noise Rules

Some Restrictions
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

STR hosts collect Wisconsin room tax (Wis. Stat. §66.0615), state sales tax, and Wisconsin Seller's Permit required. Milwaukee may levy an additional local room tax.

Milwaukee STR Taxes & Fees

Some Restrictions
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Parking Rules

Milwaukee STRs must provide off-street parking per the zoning code or comply with the Overnight Parking Permission program. Guests cannot block alleys or driveways.

Short Term Rentals: Parking Rules

Some Restrictions
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

Milwaukee STR occupancy follows the state rooming house cap of two guests per bedroom plus two, and overall building occupancy limits set by the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code.

Short Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits

Some Restrictions

Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 72.01–72.025

ATCP 72.01 Authority and purpose. This chapter is promulgated under the authority of ss. 97.605 (1) (c) and (d), 97.613, 97.615 (2) (b), 97.62, and 97.625 (1) (b), Stats., for the department and its agents to prescribe rules for a lodging facility and to enforce these rules to protect public health and safety. ATCP 72.02 Scope. This chapter applies to the license holder of any lodging facility ...
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Insurance Requirements

Milwaukee requires Tourist Rooming House licensees to carry liability insurance with minimum coverage of $500,000 per occurrence naming the City as additional insured on the application.

Short Term Rentals: Insurance Requirements

Some Restrictions
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Night Caps

Wisconsin Statute 66.1014 caps municipal night restrictions at a minimum 7-consecutive-night stay standard. Milwaukee cannot impose annual rental day caps on licensed STRs under state preemption.

Short Term Rentals: Night Caps

Some Restrictions
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Registration Rules

Milwaukee requires all short-term rental operators to obtain a Tourist Rooming House License from the City Clerk and a state DATCP permit before listing on any platform.

Short Term Rentals: Registration Rules

Heavy Restrictions
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Presence Rule

Milwaukee does not require an owner or host to be physically present during a short-term rental stay, since Wisconsin Act 59 (2017) preempts cities from forcing primary-residence or on-site host rules for stays of six or more nights.

Milwaukee STR Host Presence Not Required

Few Restrictions

Wis. Stat. § 66.1014(2)

66.1014 Limits on residential dwelling rental prohibited. (2) (a) Subject to par. (d), a political subdivision may not enact or enforce an ordinance that prohibits the rental of a residential dwelling for 7 consecutive days or longer. (b) If a political subdivision has in effect on September 23, 2017, an ordinance that is inconsistent with par. (a) or (d), the ordinance does not apply and may n...
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Milwaukee cannot restrict short-term rentals to a host's primary residence. Wisconsin Act 59 (2017) and Wis. Stat. §66.1014 expressly bar municipalities from limiting rentals of six or more nights to owner-occupied or primary-residence properties.

No Primary-Residence-Only Rule for STRs

Few Restrictions

Wis. Stat. § 66.1014

66.1014 Limits on residential dwelling rental prohibited. (1) In this section: (a) "Political subdivision" means any city, village, town, or county. (b) "Residential dwelling" means any building, structure, or part of the building or structure, that is used or intended to be used as a home, residence, or sleeping place by one person or by 2 or more persons maintaining a common household, to the...
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Extended Home Share

Milwaukee allows extended home-share rentals lasting six or more nights as a matter of state law. Hosts can use Airbnb-style platforms for week-long or month-long stays without facing primary-residence caps, though Ch. 105 licensing and lodging-tax obligations still apply.

Extended Home-Share Stays Protected

Few Restrictions
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Repeat Violator Strikes

Milwaukee can suspend or refuse to renew a tourist rooming house license when an operator accumulates repeated nuisance, noise, or building-code violations under Ch. 105 and the city's chronic nuisance ordinance, although discipline must comply with Wisconsin's preemption framework.

Repeat STR Violations Trigger License Action

Some Restrictions
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Platform Liability

Milwaukee places primary STR responsibility on the host and property owner, not the booking platform. Wisconsin's preemption framework constrains the city from imposing platform-level licensing, although platforms must collect state lodging taxes for hosts.

Limited Platform Liability Under State Law

Few Restrictions

Wis. Stat. § 66.1014

66.1014 Limits on residential dwelling rental prohibited. (1) In this section: (a) "Political subdivision" means any city, village, town, or county. (b) "Residential dwelling" means any building, structure, or part of the building or structure, that is used or intended to be used as a home, residence, or sleeping place by one person or by 2 or more persons maintaining a common household, to the...
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Looking for Milwaukee County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Milwaukee city rules.

Short-Term Rentals in Milwaukee County →