Night Caps: Madison vs Sun Prairie
How do night caps rules compare between Madison, WI and Sun Prairie, WI?
Sun Prairie has fewer restrictions than Madison.
Madison, WI
Dane County
Madison caps non-owner-occupied short-term rentals at 30 nights per calendar year under WI Stat. 66.1014 and MGO Chapter 32. Owner-occupied primary residences have no night cap but the 30-day minimum stay rule applies when the owner is absent for longer periods.
View full Madison rules →Sun Prairie, WI
Dane County
Dane County does not impose a county-wide annual night cap on short-term rentals. Wis. Stat. §66.1014 (the right-to-rent law) bars local governments from prohibiting rentals of 7+ consecutive days and forbids capping 6-29 day rentals below 180 days per year. State licensing under Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 72 kicks in once a property is rented more than 10 nights in a year.
View full Sun Prairie rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Madison | Sun Prairie |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Primary Cap | 30 nights/yr | - |
| Primary | No cap | - |
| State Law | WI 66.1014 | - |
| Guest Log | Required | - |
| Min Stay | 7 nights if owner gone 30+ days | - |
| County Annual Night Cap | - | None for unincorporated areas |
| State Right-to-Rent Floor | - | Wis. Stat. §66.1014 — min 180 days/yr |
| 7+ Consecutive Days | - | Cannot be banned by local government |
| Licensing Trigger | - | >10 nights/year — ATCP 72 TRH license required |
| Max Stay per Guest (CUP) | - | 29 consecutive days (Transient Lodging use) |
| Licensing Authority | - | Public Health Madison & Dane County (608-242-6515) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Madison FAQ
What counts as a primary residence in Madison?
A dwelling where the owner lives at least 51% of the year, verified by voter registration, driver license, and utility records.
Does the 30-night cap apply to 30-day-plus rentals?
No. Stays of 30 or more consecutive days are not short-term rentals and are not counted toward the cap.
Sun Prairie FAQ
Does Dane County limit how many nights I can rent my unincorporated property each year?
No. Dane County has not adopted a county-wide annual night cap. State law (Wis. Stat. §66.1014) blocks local governments from banning rentals of 7+ consecutive days and prohibits capping 6-29 day rentals below 180 days per year. Once you rent more than 10 nights in a year you must hold a state Tourist Rooming House license issued through Public Health Madison & Dane County.
Can my Dane County town ban short-term rentals outright?
No. Wis. Stat. §66.1014 prevents Wisconsin towns and counties from banning rentals of 7 days or longer. Towns can still impose licensing, safety, and occupancy standards, and can regulate rentals shorter than 7 days more strictly.
What rental-length limits apply under Dane County Chapter 10 zoning?
Dane County's Transient/Tourist Lodging conditional use covers stays of no more than 29 consecutive days per registered guest, in properties with up to 8 bedrooms and 20 non-family guests at a time. Properties exceeding those thresholds are treated as commercial lodging requiring a rezone.
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