Madison enforces tenant protections through the Department of Civil Rights and ATCP 134. Landlords may not retaliate against tenants who report code violations, contact the Tenant Resource Center, or organize for habitability improvements.
Wisconsin Act 76 (2018) limits Madison's ability to write its own anti-harassment code, but the City still enforces ATCP 134.09 and Wis. Stat. Sec. 704.45 prohibitions on retaliation. A landlord may not raise rent, file eviction, or refuse renewal because a tenant filed a code complaint, joined a tenant association, or invoked rights under Sec. 704. Madison Building Inspection coordinates with the Tenant Resource Center to document patterns. The Department of Civil Rights can pursue protected-class harassment under MGO Ch. 39, including for race, disability, or domestic-violence status. Remedies include civil penalties and orders restoring tenancy.
Retaliation claims under Wis. Stat. 704.45 entitle a tenant to defend against eviction and recover damages plus attorney fees in Dane County Circuit Court.
Madison, WI
Wisconsin Act 317 (2017) preempts Madison's earlier ban on source-of-income housing discrimination, except that landlords may still not refuse Section 8 vouc...
Madison, WI
Wisconsin permits no-fault non-renewal of month-to-month and term tenancies with 28 days written notice. Wisconsin Act 76 (2018) bars Madison from requiring ...
See how Madison's tenant anti-harassment rules stack up against other locations.
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