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

5 rules for unincorporated Waukesha County, Wisconsin.

Verified from official government sources

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

Short-Term Rental Permits

Waukesha County sets no countywide STR permit. Statewide, anyone renting fewer than 30 days for more than 10 nights a year needs a DATCP tourist rooming house license; your city, village or town may add a local permit.

Short-Term Rental Permits in Waukesha County, WI

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 ↗

Noise Rules

Wisconsin sets no statewide decibel limit. Noise at a Waukesha County STR is enforced through municipal noise/nuisance ordinances and Wisconsin's disorderly-conduct statute, Wis. Stat. 947.01. The county sets no separate STR noise rule.

STR Noise Rules in Waukesha County, WI

Some Restrictions

Wis. Stat. 947.01(1)

Whoever, in a public or private place, engages in violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud or otherwise disorderly conduct under circumstances in which the conduct tends to cause or provoke a disturbance is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

Waukesha County cannot levy a room tax. Under Wis. Stat. 66.0615 only municipalities (cities, villages, towns) may impose a room tax, capped at 8 percent. STRs also pay state and county sales tax and the DATCP license fee.

STR Taxes and Fees in Waukesha County, WI

Some Restrictions

Wis. Stat. 66.0615(1m)(a)

The governing body of a municipality may enact an ordinance ... imposing a tax on the sales price from selling or furnishing, at retail ... rooms or lodging to transients ... A tax imposed under this paragraph by a municipality may not exceed 8 percent of the sales price.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Night Caps

Waukesha County sets no countywide night cap. Under Wis. Stat. 66.1014, a municipality may limit rentals of 6 to 30 consecutive days to no fewer than 180 days per year, and cannot ban rentals of 7 consecutive days or longer.

STR Night Caps in Waukesha County, WI

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 ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Waukesha County has no countywide primary-residence-only STR rule. Under Wis. Stat. 66.1014, a municipality may not prohibit renting a residential dwelling for 7 consecutive days or longer, which limits how far a local primary-residence requirement can go.

STR Primary-Residence Rules in Waukesha County, WI

Some Restrictions

Wis. Stat. 66.1014(1)(b)

"Residential dwelling" means any building, structure, or part of the building or structure, that is used or intended to be used as a home, residence, or sleeping place by one person or by 2 or more persons maintaining a common household.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Waukesha County ordinances

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