Madison, WI Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- MGO § 27.04(2)
- Minimum heat
- 67°F in habitable rooms/kitchens/baths
- Hot water minimum
- 120°F at fixtures
- Electrical minimum
- 3 watts per sq ft per unit
- Penalty
- $1–$1,000 forfeiture per violation (§27.11)
Summary
Madison's Minimum Housing Code, MGO § 27.04, sets hard habitability minimums for every rental unit: a working kitchen sink, flush toilet, lavatory and bathtub or shower connected to hot and cold water, hot water delivered at 120°F, functioning electrical service, and a heating system that keeps habitable rooms at least 67°F.
(2)No person shall occupy as owner or let to another for occupancy any space in a residential building for the purpose of living, sleeping, cooking or eating therein, which does not comply with the following requirements:(a)Every dwelling unit shall contain a kitchen sink, a flush water closet, a lavatory basin and a bathtub or shower, all in good working condition and properly connected to hot and cold water lines and to an approved water and sewer system...(h)Heating. All habitable rooms, kitchens and bathrooms shall be provided with a permanently connected heating system complying with Chapter 30 (Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Code) of the Madison General Ordinances... A minimum temperature of sixty-seven degrees Fahrenheit (67°) shall be maintained in all habitable rooms, kitchens and bathrooms.
Full Breakdown
04(2) bars anyone from occupying or letting a residential space for living, sleeping, cooking or eating unless it meets a detailed set of standards. Subsection (a) requires every dwelling unit to have a kitchen sink, flush water closet, lavatory basin and bathtub or shower, all in good working order and connected to hot and cold water and an approved water and sewer system, with the toilet and tub/shower in a separate room and water pressure meeting Wis. Admin. 40. Subsection (b) requires water heating facilities capable of delivering water at no less than 120°F at any required fixture.
Subsection (d) sets egress requirements, two accessible, unobstructed means of egress to a public street. Subsection (e) requires lodging houses to provide at least one flush toilet, lavatory and tub/shower per seven residents. Subsection (f) requires natural light and ventilation in living, sleeping, kitchen and bath rooms, insect screens installed annually before June 1, and storm windows or doors installed between October 15 and November 15. Subsection (g) sets minimum electrical service, at least three watts per square foot of floor area, plus room-by-room minimum outlet counts.
Subsection (h) requires a permanently connected heating system complying with Chapter 30, maintained in safe condition with a service record kept on site, capable of maintaining a minimum temperature of 67°F in all habitable rooms, kitchens and bathrooms (an individual occupant may set a lower personal temperature only if it doesn't affect other units' temperatures).
Violations & Fines
A violation of Chapter 27's minimum habitability standards is enforceable by the Building Inspection Division and carries a forfeiture of not less than $1 nor more than $1,000 under MGO § 27.11, plus costs, with each day the violation continues treated as a separate offense; uncorrected "rent impairing" violations can also trigger tenant rent abatement under § 32.04.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the minimum temperature a Madison landlord must maintain?
Is a landlord required to provide hot water?
What plumbing fixtures must every rental unit have?
What happens if a rental unit doesn't meet these standards?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Madison
Compare Madison to another location·View the Wisconsin rental property rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Repairs & Habitability in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dane County handle repairs & habitability.