Wisconsin state room tax is 5% (WI Stat. §77.98). Racine levies additional local room tax. Platforms auto-collect in many jurisdictions. Total 10 to 14% typical.
Racine regulates but cannot ban STRs under WI Act 59 (2017). DATCP tourist rooming house license may be required. WI Stat. §66.1014.
Short-term rental guests in the City of Racine must follow the citywide alternate-side overnight parking ordinance in Chapter 94 of the Racine Municipal Code, which restricts on-street parking between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. and switches sides by odd or even calendar date. Wisconsin Statute 66.1014 preserves Racine's authority to apply parking rules to STR operators and their guests.
Racine considers excessive barking a nuisance. Animal control handles complaints. WI Stat. §174 covers dog regulation statewide.
Racine regulates amplified music under the general noise ordinance. Sound amplification permits available for events. WI Stat. §947.01 applies.
Racine enforces quiet hours in this Lake Michigan manufacturing city (pop. 78,000). Home to SC Johnson headquarters, the city manages noise from industry, the harbor, and lakefront festivals.
Aircraft noise in Wisconsin is overwhelmingly governed by federal aviation law. The FAA preempts state and local noise regulation of aircraft in flight, while Wisconsin Statute Chapter 114 governs aeronautics and limits municipal authority over airspace and airport operations.
Wisconsin does not preempt local breed-specific legislation. Some WI cities have breed bans. WI Stat. §174.042 covers dangerous dogs based on behavior.
Racine requires dogs on leash in public. Off-leash in designated parks only. Dog licensing required statewide under WI Stat. §174.
Racine may allow residential beekeeping with hive limits and setbacks. Registration with WI DATCP required. WI Stat. §94.76.
Wisconsin Statute Chapter 951 prohibits animal cruelty and neglect statewide, applying uniformly to hoarding situations. Local ordinances may supplement but cannot weaken state standards for animal treatment and confinement.
Wisconsin's right-to-farm law (Wis. Stat. 823.08) and Livestock Facility Siting Law (Wis. Stat. 93.90) limit municipal authority to restrict agricultural operations and standardize permitting for livestock facilities statewide.
Wisconsin Statute Chapter 169 governs captive wildlife statewide, requiring licenses for possession of native wildlife and prohibiting harmful exotic species. The Department of Natural Resources enforces uniformly across all municipalities.
Wisconsin prohibits feeding and baiting deer and elk in counties with chronic wasting disease (CWD) under Wis. Stat. 29.614. The Department of Natural Resources enforces these restrictions uniformly across affected counties.
Racine manages parking in the downtown core and near the lakefront festival grounds. Winter alternate-side parking enables snow plowing. Harbor area has seasonal demand.
Racine restricts commercial vehicle parking in residential zones. Weight, size, and signage limits apply. Overnight heavy truck storage prohibited.
Racine requires vehicles parked on improved surfaces. Front lawn parking prohibited. Driveway modifications require permits.
Wisconsin law defines abandoned vehicles and authorizes removal after 48 hours on highways or public property. State statute provides uniform procedures for impoundment, notice to owners, and disposal applicable in every municipality.
Racine enforces pool safety requirements including anti-entrapment drain covers (VGB Act), barriers, and depth markers. WI Stat. §145.17 governs.
Racine requires building permits for pools, spas, and hot tubs. WI Uniform Dwelling Code governs. Inspections required.
Racine requires pool barriers to prevent unsupervised child access. Minimum 48-inch height. Self-closing, self-latching gates. WI Stat. §145.17.
Racine enforces property maintenance including grass height. The city works to combat blight in older manufacturing neighborhoods through active code enforcement.
Racine enforces weed abatement under WI Stat. §66.0407. WI DNR NR 40 governs invasive species. County enforcement also applies.
The City of Racine regulates fences through Chapter 114 (Zoning) of the Municipal Code, adopted under Wis. Stat. § 62.23. Fence standards (including height, setback, and vision-corner rules) are administered through Article VII (Supplementary District Regulations) together with the dimensional standards of the underlying zoning district in Article V. A fence permit is required from the City of Racine Building Inspection Division (730 Washington Avenue, Room 102) before construction. Wisconsin partition-fence statutes (Wis. Stat. Chapter 90) apply to shared boundary fences. For exact maximum heights in your zoning district, contact Building Inspection at 262-636-9171.
WI Stat. §90.02 to 90.14 provides line fence cost-sharing for rural/agricultural land. Urban residential fences: each owner responsible for their own.
Wisconsin enforces uniform pool barrier requirements through the Department of Safety and Professional Services. SPS 390 governs public pools and the Uniform Dwelling Code addresses residential pool fencing, preempting inconsistent local building standards for one and two-family dwellings.
Sheds in the City of Racine are detached accessory buildings under Chapter 114 (Zoning) of the Racine Municipal Code. They must sit in the rear yard at least 60 feet behind the front lot line, with a 2-foot setback from interior side and rear lot lines and a 12-foot setback on a corner side. Detached accessory buildings are limited to 15 feet in height (or 75% of the house height, whichever is greater, capped at 20 feet) and may not occupy more than 25% of a required rear yard.
The City of Racine regulates accessory dwellings and accessory structures through Chapter 114 (Zoning) of the Municipal Code, adopted under the city zoning authority granted by Wis. Stat. Sec. 62.23. Accessory uses, buildings, and structures are addressed in Article VII (Supplementary District Regulations), and the underlying residential district rules (R-districts) appear in Article V (District Regulations). Wisconsin does not have a statewide statute mandating that municipalities allow ADUs by-right, so whether a separate dwelling unit (attached or detached) is permitted on a single-family lot in Racine depends on the specific R-district provisions and may require a conditional use permit administered by the Department of City Development.
Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code (Wis. Stat. ch. 101 and SPS 320-325) sets statewide construction standards for one- and two-family dwellings, including tiny homes built as permanent dwellings. Local governments cannot impose stricter building code standards than the UDC.
Wisconsin bans all aerial and explosive consumer fireworks. Only non-explosive types legal (sparklers, snakes, smoke devices). WI Stat. §167.10.
Outdoor burning regulated by WI DNR and local ordinance. Racine may prohibit most open burning. Garbage burning always illegal. DNR permits required in protection areas.
Wisconsin uniformly regulates propane storage, installation, and handling under Wis. Admin. Code SPS 340, adopting NFPA 58 statewide and preempting inconsistent local rules through state building and fuel gas codes.
Wisconsin DNR designates statewide Fire Protection Areas under Wis. Stat. § 26.11 where the agency holds primary wildfire suppression authority and enforces stricter ignition rules during elevated fire danger.
Racine allows home occupations as accessory use in residential zones. Home occupation permit required. WI cottage food law applies for home bakers.
Wisconsin allows home producers to sell certain non-hazardous foods directly to consumers without a license under the Pickle Bill and baked-goods rulings. State law sets uniform sales caps, labeling, and product limits.
Wisconsin requires state licensing or certification for any home caring for four or more unrelated children. The Department of Children and Families administers uniform standards that preempt conflicting local rules.
The City of Racine regulates floodplain development through Chapter 114, Article VIII (Flood Regulations) and Article IX (Shoreland and Wetland Regulations) of its Zoning Ordinance, adopted under Wis. Stat. Sec. 87.30 and in conformance with Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter NR 116 and 44 CFR Parts 59-72. The Root River runs through the city to its outlet at Lake Michigan, and the Lake Michigan shoreline along the eastern edge is a separately mapped coastal flood hazard area. Development in mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas requires a floodplain zoning permit, new residential structures and most fill are prohibited in the regulatory floodway, and structures in the flood fringe must be elevated to the flood protection elevation (regional flood elevation plus freeboard).
Wisconsin's NR 115 sets minimum shoreland zoning standards along navigable waters, and the Public Trust Doctrine protects Great Lakes shores. Counties must adopt rules at least as strict as NR 115 statewide.
Wisconsin requires erosion control practices on construction sites under NR 151 and SPS 321. State standards apply uniformly, and one- and two-family dwelling sites follow Department of Safety and Professional Services rules.
Wisconsin's NR 151 sets statewide performance standards for construction site and post-construction stormwater runoff. DNR administers WPDES permits, and local programs must meet or exceed state minimums.
Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 115 sets uniform impervious surface coverage limits for shoreland properties statewide. Counties must adopt these standards, typically capping coverage at 15 percent, with mitigation allowing up to 30 percent in certain circumstances.
Wisconsin Statute § 59.692 and Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 115 establish uniform statewide shoreland zoning standards including setback requirements from navigable waters. Counties must adopt these minimum standards, and municipalities cannot impose more restrictive shoreland setbacks.
Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC) under Wis. Stat. § 101.65 sets statewide construction standards for one and two-family dwellings. While zoning height limits remain local, structural standards including height-related requirements are uniform and preempt conflicting municipal building codes.
Wisconsin has no legal recreational or medical marijuana dispensary program. State law prohibits cannabis sales, so no municipality can authorize dispensary operations through zoning ordinances.
Wisconsin prohibits all marijuana cultivation, including for personal use. Growing any cannabis plant is a felony under state controlled substances law. No municipality may authorize home cultivation.
Wisconsin commercial drone operators follow FAA Part 107 and state preemption under Wis. Stat. 114.045. Local governments cannot impose competing flight rules, though state privacy and surveillance statutes apply.
Wisconsin Statute 114.045 preempts most local drone regulation, reserving authority to the state and FAA. Recreational pilots must follow federal Part 107 hobbyist rules and Wisconsin's drone-privacy criminal statute.
Wisconsin Statute 104.001 expressly preempts cities, villages, towns, and counties from establishing a minimum wage higher than the state minimum, ensuring uniform wage rules across Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Statute 103.10 and 104.001 preempt local paid sick leave ordinances, blocking cities and counties from requiring private employers to provide paid time off beyond state and federal mandates.
Wisconsin preempts local predictive scheduling and fair workweek ordinances under Wis. Stat. 103.007, ensuring statewide uniformity for employer scheduling practices and forbidding municipal advance-notice mandates.
Wisconsin issues shall-issue concealed weapon licenses to qualified residents age 21+ who complete training, pass a background check, and pay required fees, with statewide preemption preventing local rules.
Wisconsin Statute 66.0409 broadly preempts local firearm regulation, barring cities, villages, towns, and counties from enacting ordinances stricter than state law on possession, transportation, sale, or registration of firearms and ammunition.
Wisconsin permits adults at least 18 who are not prohibited persons to openly carry firearms in public without a permit, with statewide preemption blocking local restrictions on lawful open carry.
Wisconsin Statute 941.23 makes carrying a concealed handgun in a vehicle without a CCW license a misdemeanor, while open carry and licensed concealed carry inside vehicles are lawful statewide subject to limited prohibited zones.
Wisconsin Statute 66.0104 and Act 317 prevent municipalities from limiting landlord-tenant relationships beyond state law, including any local just-cause eviction requirement. Eviction grounds and procedures are governed exclusively by Wis. Stat. ch. 704 and ATCP 134.
Wisconsin Statute 66.1015 expressly prohibits any city, village, town, or county from regulating the amount of rent or fees charged for residential rental units. The preemption is total, with narrow exceptions for government-owned housing and voluntary agreements.
Wisconsin Statute 66.0104 limits how cities can require rental property registration and inspection. Programs must target districts with documented blight or code issues, and inspection fees are capped between roughly $75 and $150 depending on inspection type.
Wisconsin's Working Lands Initiative under Statute 91 establishes farmland preservation zoning districts, certifies county and local plans, and offers income tax credits to farmers in certified agricultural enterprise areas.
Wisconsin Statute 823.08 protects established agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits by neighbors, requiring courts to dismiss claims unless the farm substantially threatens public health or safety.
Wisconsin Statute 66.0419, enacted by 2015 Act 17, preempts cities, villages, towns, and counties from regulating, banning, or imposing fees on auxiliary containers including plastic bags, cups, and bottles.
Wisconsin's auxiliary container preemption law in Statute 66.0419 prevents municipalities from banning or restricting expanded polystyrene foam takeout containers, leaving any restriction to state legislation.
Wisconsin Statute 66.0419 preempts cities and counties from regulating plastic straws, stirrers, and similar single-use items, and the state has not adopted a statewide straw-on-request rule.
Wisconsin Statute 66.0401 applies to homeowners associations and condo associations, preempting deed restrictions and covenants that prohibit or significantly impair solar energy systems on owner property.
Wisconsin Statute 66.0401 broadly preempts municipalities and counties from restricting solar and wind energy systems unless restrictions serve specific public health, safety, or aesthetic exceptions defined by state law.
Wisconsin Statute 134.66 prohibits selling, giving, or furnishing cigarettes, tobacco, or vapor products to any person under 21 years of age and requires retailers to verify age via valid ID before sale.
Wisconsin has not enacted a statewide ban on flavored tobacco or vapor products; sales of menthol cigarettes and flavored e-cigarettes remain lawful under Wis. Stat. 134.66 subject to age and licensing rules.
Wisconsin regulates electronic vaping devices under its tobacco statutes, requiring retailer licenses, age-verification, and excise taxes on vapor products, with state law preempting most local retail rules under 134.66.