Appleton, WI Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)

Two sections of Chapter 4, Article IV (Housing) define Appleton's habitability floor. Section 4-235(a) declares a dwelling or dwelling unit unfit for human habitation if it is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, unsanitary, difficult to heat, unsafe or vermin-infested that it endangers occupants or the public; if it lacks sufficient illumination, ventilation or sanitary facilities; or if its general condition or location makes it unsanitary or dangerous. Section 4-236 then lists the maintenance standards every residential structure must meet: roofs and gutter systems kept weathertight and rodent-proof, interior partitions and floors kept clean and capable of affording privacy, rainwater drained so it does not cause dampness in habitable rooms, exterior doors and windows kept secure and weathertight with basement window screens covering at least one-third of the window area, exterior surfaces protected against decay with paint or approved coating, stairways and porches built to safely carry normal use loads, plumbing fixtures and chimneys kept in good working and sanitary condition, and bathroom and toilet-room floors kept impervious to water.

Enforcement runs through section 4-183(d): if the Inspection Supervisor finds a building, structure, dwelling unit or equipment unfit under sections 4-235 and 4-236 and the owner or occupant fails to discontinue occupancy within the time the Supervisor sets, the Supervisor notifies the City Attorney, who institutes court action to compel compliance. The Supervisor also placards unfit buildings with a posted notice that the structure is unsafe and its occupancy prohibited until repairs or demolition are complete.