Occupancy Limits: Burlington vs Racine
How do occupancy limits rules compare between Burlington, WI and Racine, WI?
Burlington and Racine have similar restriction levels.
Burlington, WI
Racine County
Racine County does not set a fixed county-wide occupancy cap for short-term rentals. Wisconsin's Tourist Rooming House rules under Wis. Admin. Code ch. ATCP 72 limit a TRH to four or fewer individually keyed sleeping units; larger properties must license as a hotel. The state Uniform Dwelling Code (SPS 321) and ch. ATCP 72 building-safety provisions effectively cap occupancy through bedroom size and egress requirements. Wis. Stat. §66.1014(2)(c) allows local governments to impose reasonable health-and-safety occupancy limits.
View full Burlington rules →Racine, WI
Racine County
Racine County does not set a fixed county-wide occupancy cap for short-term rentals. Wisconsin's Tourist Rooming House rules under Wis. Admin. Code ch. ATCP 72 limit a TRH to four or fewer individually keyed sleeping units; larger properties must license as a hotel. The state Uniform Dwelling Code (SPS 321) and ch. ATCP 72 building-safety provisions effectively cap occupancy through bedroom size and egress requirements. Wis. Stat. §66.1014(2)(c) allows local governments to impose reasonable health-and-safety occupancy limits.
View full Racine rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Burlington | Racine |
|---|---|---|
| County-Wide Occupancy Cap | None adopted | None adopted |
| TRH Unit Limit | 4 or fewer keyed units (ATCP 72) | 4 or fewer keyed units (ATCP 72) |
| Bedroom Size Floor | 70 sq ft / 50 sq ft per added occupant (SPS 321) | 70 sq ft / 50 sq ft per added occupant (SPS 321) |
| Local Authority | Wis. Stat. §66.1014(2)(c) - health & safety | Wis. Stat. §66.1014(2)(c) - health & safety |
| 5+ Keyed Units | Requires hotel license | Requires hotel license |
| DATCP Phone | 608-224-4923 | 608-224-4923 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Burlington FAQ
How many guests can stay in a short-term rental in unincorporated Racine County?
Racine County has not adopted a county-wide cap on the number of overnight guests in a short-term rental. Practical limits come from state rules: Wis. Admin. Code ch. ATCP 72 caps a Tourist Rooming House at four or fewer individually keyed sleeping units, and Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code (SPS 321) sets minimum bedroom square-footage and egress standards. If your property is in an incorporated city or village (such as Racine, Burlington, Mt. Pleasant, or Wind Point), the local STR ordinance may impose an additional occupancy limit tied to the number of bedrooms.
Does Racine County limit occupancy by bedroom count?
Not at the county level. Wis. Stat. §66.1014(2)(c) preserves local authority to set reasonable health-and-safety occupancy rules, but Racine County has not exercised that authority through the county code for unincorporated towns. The Village of Wind Point's 2025 STR ordinance is one example of a local Racine County jurisdiction that does tie occupancy to bedroom count. Always confirm with your town clerk before listing the unit.
Racine FAQ
How many guests can stay in a short-term rental in unincorporated Racine County?
Racine County has not adopted a county-wide cap on the number of overnight guests in a short-term rental. Practical limits come from state rules: Wis. Admin. Code ch. ATCP 72 caps a Tourist Rooming House at four or fewer individually keyed sleeping units, and Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code (SPS 321) sets minimum bedroom square-footage and egress standards. If your property is in an incorporated city or village (such as Racine, Burlington, Mt. Pleasant, or Wind Point), the local STR ordinance may impose an additional occupancy limit tied to the number of bedrooms.
Does Racine County limit occupancy by bedroom count?
Not at the county level. Wis. Stat. §66.1014(2)(c) preserves local authority to set reasonable health-and-safety occupancy rules, but Racine County has not exercised that authority through the county code for unincorporated towns. The Village of Wind Point's 2025 STR ordinance is one example of a local Racine County jurisdiction that does tie occupancy to bedroom count. Always confirm with your town clerk before listing the unit.
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