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Milwaukee County, WI Short-Term Rentals: Night Caps (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified July 2026

Key Facts

County Night Cap
None imposed
State Cap Floor
No fewer than 180 days/365
Applies To
Rentals of 6 to 30 days
7+ Day Rentals
Cannot be capped or banned
Authority
Wis. Stat. 66.1014(2)(d)1

Summary

Milwaukee County imposes no annual limit on rental nights. State law lets a municipality cap only rentals of 6 to 30 days, and only at no fewer than 180 days a year; rentals of 7 or more consecutive days cannot be banned.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Milwaukee County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

If a residential dwelling is rented for periods of more than 6 but fewer than 30 consecutive days, a political subdivision may limit the total number of days within any consecutive 365-day period that the dwelling may be rented to no fewer than 180 days.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Milwaukee County does not cap the number of nights a property may be rented as a short-term rental, and Wisconsin narrowly limits any local cap. Under Wis. Stat. 66.1014, a political subdivision may not prohibit the rental of a residential dwelling for 7 consecutive days or longer, so longer stays are protected. The only cap the statute permits: for rentals of 6 to 30 consecutive days, a municipality may limit rental days to no fewer than 180 per 365-day period and may require they run consecutively, but may not dictate which part of the year they fall in. The county cannot set such a cap; only cities and towns may. Hosts over 10 nights yearly still need the DATCP license.

Violations & Fines

Exceeding a validly adopted municipal night cap can result in local enforcement, fines, and possible license suspension. No county-level night-cap penalty exists. A municipality cannot enforce a cap below the 180-day statutory floor or one that bans 7-plus-day rentals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a limit on rental nights in Milwaukee County?
Not from the county. Wisconsin lets a municipality cap only rentals of 6 to 30 days, at no fewer than 180 days a year. Rentals of 7 consecutive days or longer cannot be capped, so many properties face no limit.
Can a city limit how many days I rent short-term?
Only narrowly. For stays of 6 to 30 consecutive days, a municipality may cap rental days at no fewer than 180 per year. It cannot dictate which months apply.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Milwaukee County

Parking Rules: Overnight ParkingSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsShort-Term Rental PermitsSome RestrictionsPrimary-Residence-Only RuleFew RestrictionsOccupancy LimitsSome RestrictionsTaxes & FeesSome RestrictionsHost Presence RuleFew RestrictionsParking Rules: Snow Removal Parking RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesHeavy RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome Restrictions

All Milwaukee County rules

Compare Milwaukee County to another location·View the Wisconsin short-term rentals overview

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