Noise Rules: Brookfield vs New Berlin
How do noise rules rules compare between Brookfield, WI and New Berlin, WI?
Brookfield and New Berlin have similar restriction levels.
Brookfield, WI
Waukesha County
The City of Brookfield does not have a short-term-rental-specific noise ordinance. STR guests are subject to the same general noise and disturbance rules that apply to all residents under Chapter 9.08 (Offenses Against Public Peace and Decency) of the Municipal Code. Chapter 9.08 prohibits excessive noise and the loud or sharp construction-type noises between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. The Wisconsin 'right-to-rent' statute (Wis. Stat. Sec. 66.1014) also limits how restrictively the City can regulate STRs, so noise control relies on the general nuisance and disorderly conduct provisions rather than a dedicated STR code.
View full Brookfield rules →New Berlin, WI
Waukesha County
Short-term rentals in New Berlin must comply with Chapter 171 (Noise) of the New Berlin Municipal Code, which prohibits any loud, disturbing or unnecessary sound that tends to annoy or disturb a person of ordinary sensibilities in or about any public street, alley, park or private residence. New Berlin uses a plain-language nuisance standard rather than fixed dBA limits or numeric quiet hours, and the rule applies equally to transient/short-term lodging guests under City Ordinance Section 152.24.
View full New Berlin rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Brookfield | New Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| STR-Specific Noise Rule | None - general code applies | - |
| Construction Noise Hours | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. | - |
| Trash Collection Hours | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. | - |
| General Noise Section | Sec. 9.08.100 | - |
| State Preemption | Wis. Stat. Sec. 66.1014 | - |
| State Lodging Code | ATCP 72 (Tourist Rooming House) | - |
| License Threshold | More than 10 nights per year | - |
| Local License Issuer | Waukesha County Environmental Health | - |
| Enforcement | Brookfield Police Department | - |
| Code Chapter | - | Ch. 171 |
| Standard | - | Reasonable person |
| STR License Code | - | Sec. 152.24 |
| Max Occupancy | - | 20 people |
| State Authority | - | Wis. Stat. 66.1014 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Brookfield FAQ
Does the City of Brookfield have a quiet-hours rule for short-term rentals?
No. Brookfield has not adopted a short-term-rental-specific noise ordinance. STR guests must comply with the general noise and disorderly conduct provisions in Chapter 9.08 of the Municipal Code, including the rule that loud or sharp construction-type noises are prohibited between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Can I still be cited if my Airbnb guests throw a loud party?
Yes. Disorderly conduct, excessive noise under Section 9.08.100, and disturbances after 7 p.m. can be enforced by the Brookfield Police Department against the guests and, if the property is repeatedly involved, against the host. Repeat issues can also affect the Tourist Rooming House license.
Do I need a license to host an STR in Brookfield?
If you rent for more than 10 nights per year you must obtain a Tourist Rooming House license under Wis. Stat. Sec. 66.1014 and ATCP 72. In Waukesha County, that license is issued through the County Environmental Health Department.
New Berlin FAQ
Does New Berlin set decibel limits or quiet hours for short-term rentals?
No. New Berlin Chapter 171 does not publish numeric A-weighted decibel limits or fixed quiet-hour windows. Instead, the ordinance prohibits any loud, disturbing or unnecessary sound that tends to annoy a person of ordinary sensibilities. That means a complaint can be issued at any hour if New Berlin Police find the noise unreasonable, and amplified music, loud parties, or shouting from STR guests are typical triggers.
Can my New Berlin Airbnb guests sleep in the detached garage or pool house?
No. The City of New Berlin transient/short-term lodging application under Section 152.24 expressly requires that sleeping quarters be located within the principal structure on the lot. Accessory dwelling units and living quarters are also not permitted within accessory buildings under New Berlin's accessory-building rules, so converting a shed, pool house, or detached garage into a guest bedroom would violate both the STR license and the zoning code.
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