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

Chapter 94 of the De Pere Code, the city's housing code, sets minimum habitability standards for every dwelling, dwelling unit and rooming unit in the city. Section 94-3 requires properties and premises to be "maintained in a clean and sanitary condition free from any accumulation of garbage or rubbish," with grading that prevents standing water from entering the dwelling, hazard-free sidewalks and driveways, and adequate garbage and rubbish storage facilities that comply with the collection rules in chapter 82; a unit on a parcel with two or more additional units must have those facilities supplied to it.

Section 94-4 extends the standard to the building's exterior: foundations, structural members, siding, roofs, gutters, stairways, porches, windows and doors must all be kept structurally sound, weathertight and in good repair. The heating requirement in § 94-7(a) is the sharpest numeric standard in the chapter: every dwelling must be supplied with heating facilities capable of keeping every habitable room, bathroom and toilet room at a minimum of 70 degrees Fahrenheit, measured three feet above the floor, even when the outside temperature drops to 15 degrees below zero.

Central heating units, ducts and furnace seals all have to be leak-free and properly sealed so exhaust gases cannot enter the ductwork. Enforcement runs through the city inspector under § 94-12, who can enter a building during reasonable hours to check compliance and can assess a separate inspection service fee under § 94-13 if a violation isn't fixed after the first inspection and written order. A dwelling found unfit for human habitation can be condemned under § 94-16, following the procedure in Wis. 0413, and its occupants ordered to repair or vacate within a reasonable time.