Short-Term Rentals in Walworth County, WI (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Walworth County, Wisconsin.
Verified from official government sources
Short-Term Rental Permits
Renting out a residential dwelling in unincorporated Walworth County for less than 29 consecutive days requires a short-term rental license from the Land Use and Resource Management Department under County Code Sec. 26-334, and stays under seven days are banned outright unless the property sits in the B-5 zoning district. A single ten-day-or-shorter rental in a calendar year is exempt.
Walworth County Short-Term Rental License Rule
Significant RestrictionsWalworth County Code § 26-334
a.Except as provided in (b), no person shall offer a residential dwelling for rent for a fee or similar consideration for less than 29 consecutive days, without first obtaining a license under this Section. Proof of the License and Property Rules shall be posted in a conspicuous location at all times while the property is rented and made available upon request for inspection. Offering a residen...
Noise Rules
Walworth County requires every licensed short-term rental in the unincorporated county to post quiet hours of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Under Code § 26-343, that curfew is one of the minimum items an operator must include in the written property rules given to guests and filed with the license application.
Walworth County STR Quiet Hours Rule
Some RestrictionsWalworth County Code § 26-343(d)
A list of property rules must be posted at the property, provided to the guests and a copy submitted with the application for a license. Property rules must include the following minimum information: ... d.Quiet hours of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Taxes & Fees
Walworth County does not run a room tax for short-term rentals in the unincorporated county; instead, Code § 26-344 charges a license application fee. The County Board of Supervisors sets and can periodically revise that fee schedule through the chapter 30 procedures, tying the amount to the county's actual cost of processing, plan review and inspection.
Walworth County STR License Fees
Some RestrictionsWalworth County Code § 26-344(c)
Any property owner or person having a contractual interest in any residential dwelling in the County may file an application for a license to offer for rent a short term rental with the Department at least 30 days in advance of the date the property is first offered for rent on forms furnished by the Department ... Permit fee schedule. The license application fees shall be established by the Wa...
Short-Term Rental Parking Rules
Every short-term rental in unincorporated Walworth County must provide at least two parking spaces under County Code § 26-340, and renters cannot park on the street. The spaces can sit off the rental parcel, but only if using that off-site lot does not itself violate the required parking count for the property where it sits, and every space must still meet Walworth County Zoning Code standards.
Walworth County STR Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsWalworth County Code § 26-340
A minimum of two parking spaces shall be provided. No on-street parking for renters of the property will be allowed. Parking may be provided off-site. Parking spaces must meet the standards set forth in the Walworth County Zoning Code. The use of off-site parking for the rental property shall not cause a violation of the required parking for the off-site location where parking is to be provided.
Occupancy Limits
Walworth County caps how many guests a short-term rental in the unincorporated county can sleep. Under County Code § 26-339, a sewer-served rental's occupancy tracks the State tourist rooming house license the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection issues under ATCP 72; a rental on a private septic system is capped at whichever is lower, the POWTS's design capacity or that same state license count.
Walworth County STR Occupancy Limit
Some RestrictionsWalworth County Code § 26-339
If the property is served by public sanitary sewer, occupancy is limited to the number of occupants authorized by the State tourist rooming house license issued by the State of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection in accordance with Wisconsin Administrative Code ATCP 72. If the property is served by a POWTS, occupancy is limited to the number of occupants for which...
Repeat Violator Strikes
Walworth County has no numbered "strikes" system for short-term rental violations; instead, Code §§ 26-345 and 26-346 use an escalating revocation process. Any failure to meet the article's requirements can start revocation, and the Land Use and Resource Management Department must give the owner a chance to fix the problem before a public hearing can end the license.
Walworth County STR License Revocation
Significant RestrictionsWalworth County Code §§ 26-345, 26-346
Revocation of the license shall commence when the owner of the property fails to comply with the requirements of this article as it existed at the time of the issuance of the license. ... a.The owner of the property shall be notified of any noncompliance by the Department.b.The owner shall correct the violation within 24 hours to the satisfaction of the Department.c.The Department may notify th...
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