Oshkosh, WI Short-Term Rentals: Noise Rules (2026)

Oshkosh regulates noise primarily through Section 17-41 (Unnecessary Noises), which uses a reasonable-person standard rather than published A-weighted decibel limits, and through Chapter 17-36 (Public Nuisance Affecting Property Usage). Section 17-41 broadly prohibits any noise that is unreasonably loud, disturbing or unnecessary, with the Oshkosh Police Department evaluating each complaint based on time of day, location, duration and the surrounding residential context. The Oshkosh Police Department maintains a Quality of Life Concern reporting tool that residents and neighbors of short-term rentals can use to log noise complaints. Wisconsin Statute 66.1014, the Right to Rent law, prevents Oshkosh from prohibiting residential rentals of seven or more consecutive days but expressly preserves the City's authority to enforce noise, parking and health-and-safety ordinances against the operator and guests of a tourist rooming house. Tourist rooming houses in Oshkosh are also subject to the City of Oshkosh Short-Term Rental License under the Inspection Services Division and to a Winnebago County Tourist Rooming House License regulated under Wisconsin Administrative Code ATCP 72; repeated noise complaints against a licensed property can be considered at annual renewal. Hosts should set written house rules requiring guests to keep amplified music, outdoor gatherings and hot-tub use to reasonable evening hours, since Section 17-41 enforcement is complaint-driven and local officers have wide discretion under the reasonable-person standard.