Short-Term Rentals in Milwaukee County, WI (2026)

6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Milwaukee County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Short-Term Rental Permits

Milwaukee County does not issue short-term rental permits. Under Wisconsin law, a host operating more than 10 nights a year needs a state DATCP tourist rooming house license, plus any license required by the city, village, or town where the property sits.

Milwaukee County STR Permits Are Municipal and State

Some Restrictions

Wis. Stat. § 66.1014(2)(d)2. and 2.a.

Any person who maintains, manages, or operates a short-term rental, as defined in s. 66.0615 (1) (dk), for more than 10 nights each year, shall do all of the following: a. Obtain from the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection a license as a tourist rooming house, as defined in s. 97.01 (15k).

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

Milwaukee County does not impose a room tax. Short-term stays in the county carry a 3% basic room tax through the Wisconsin Center Tax District (7% additional in the City of Milwaukee), plus the 5% state and 0.9% county sales tax on lodging.

Milwaukee County Levies No Room Tax on Rentals

Some Restrictions

Wis. Stat. § 66.0615(1)(d)

"Municipality" means any city, village or town.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

Milwaukee County imposes no occupancy cap on short-term rentals. Guest limits, where they exist, come from the host municipality's ordinance and from state tourist rooming house safety rules; state law caps how far a municipality may restrict rentals.

Milwaukee County Sets No STR Occupancy Limits

Some Restrictions

Wis. Stat. § 66.1014(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.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Night Caps

Milwaukee County imposes no annual limit on rental nights. State law lets a municipality cap only rentals of 6 to 30 days, and only at no fewer than 180 days a year; rentals of 7 or more consecutive days cannot be banned.

Milwaukee County Sets No Annual Night Cap

Some Restrictions

Wis. Stat. § 66.1014(2)(d)1.

If a residential dwelling is rented for periods of more than 6 but fewer than 30 consecutive days, a political subdivision may limit the total number of days within any consecutive 365-day period that the dwelling may be rented to no fewer than 180 days.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Presence Rule

Milwaukee County does not require a host to be present during a stay. State law protects whole-home rentals of 7 or more days, so unhosted short-term rentals are allowed; any presence-related rule would come from an individual municipality within statutory limits.

Milwaukee County Allows Unhosted Whole-Home Rentals

Few Restrictions

Wis. Stat. § 66.1014(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.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Milwaukee County does not require short-term rentals to be a host's primary residence. State law bars local governments from banning rentals of 7 or more days, and any residency-based limit would have to come from an individual municipality within the statute's bounds.

Milwaukee County Has No Primary-Residence STR Rule

Few Restrictions

Wis. Stat. § 66.1014(2)(d)1.

If a residential dwelling is rented for periods of more than 6 but fewer than 30 consecutive days, a political subdivision may limit the total number of days within any consecutive 365-day period that the dwelling may be rented to no fewer than 180 days.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Short-Term Rentals by City in Milwaukee County

3 cities in Milwaukee County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.

MilwaukeePop. 577,222

4 verified rules • Host Platform Liability, Host Presence Rule

West AllisPop. 60,325

1 verified rule • Short-Term Rental Permits

WauwatosaPop. 48,387

1 verified rule • Short-Term Rental Permits

All Milwaukee County ordinances

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