Wauwatosa STRs licensed under Municipal Code Section 8.62 must comply with the city's general noise ordinance in Chapter 7.46. Section 7.46.010 prohibits any noise that unreasonably disturbs neighbors, applied under a reasonable-person standard rather than a fixed decibel level. Lawn equipment and amplified noise that carries off the property are common complaint triggers.
Wauwatosa adopted Section 8.62 of the Municipal Code in November 2023 (File 23-903) requiring every short-term rental operator to hold an annual license issued by the Wauwatosa Health Department before advertising or accepting guests. The license incorporates Wisconsin's Tourist Rooming House standards under Wis. Stat. Ch. 97 Subch. III and ATCP 72, which require operators to maintain order on the premises. Beyond the state framework, STR guests and operators must follow the city's general noise rules in Chapter 7.46. Section 7.46.010 makes it unlawful for any person to make or assist in making noise that tends to unreasonably disturb the peace, quiet, comfort or repose of persons in the vicinity. Wauwatosa intentionally relies on a reasonable-person standard rather than fixed decibel limits because police can enforce based on context. Specific time-based restrictions in Chapter 7.46 include a prohibition on lawn-mowing and similar power equipment before 7:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m., and limits on commercial refuse collection within 200 feet of residential zones between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. STR hosts should post these expectations in the house manual and require quiet hours after 10:00 p.m. to reduce complaint risk.
Violations of Chapter 7.46 are typically issued as municipal citations starting around $100 and may climb into the hundreds of dollars per offense for repeat or aggravated noise. Repeated nuisance complaints can also trigger suspension or non-renewal of the STR license under Section 8.62 by the Wauwatosa Health Department.
Wauwatosa, WI
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Wauwatosa, WI
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Wauwatosa, WI
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