Brown County, WI Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- County Numeric Cap
- None published; set per-property via TRH license
- Governing Code
- Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 72
- State Right-to-Rent
- Wis. Stat. §66.1014
- Inspection Authority
- Brown County Public Health
- Confirm Occupancy
- 920-448-6400
Summary
Brown County does not publish a county-wide STR occupancy cap. Maximum guest counts are governed by the property's state Tourist Rooming House license under Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 72, set during the Brown County Public Health pre-inspection.
Sleeping Rooms - Must be maintained in clean and sanitary condition, and free of insect infestations. Linens must be washed in between each guest stay and at least once a week. Sheets must have a 12-inch fold back. Every mattress must be protected with a mattress pad of appropriate size and fit. Bunkbeds - Top bunk's guardrail must extend 5 inches or more above the top of the mattress. Must have unobstructed secondary form of egress (an approved secondary exit for emergency escape). Ceiling height must be at least 7 feet. Each sleeping room must have: At least 400 cubic feet of air space for each guest over 12 years of age, and At least 200 cubic feet of air space for each guest 12 years of age and under.
Full Breakdown
Wis. Stat. §66.1014 (the right-to-rent law) prohibits Wisconsin local governments from outright banning rentals of 7+ consecutive days, but permits enforcement of safety and occupancy standards. Brown County does not impose a separate numeric occupancy cap. Instead, occupancy is set on a per-property basis through the Tourist Rooming House license under ATCP 72. Brown County Public Health performs the pre-inspection that determines bedroom count, egress windows, smoke and CO detector placement, and bunk-bed compliance, all of which constrain occupancy. Operators in unincorporated towns that opted into county zoning under Wis. Stat. Ch. 91 may face additional town-level density rules. Confirm your property's specific occupancy at 920-448-6400.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the licensed occupancy can trigger ATCP 72 enforcement, including forfeitures under Wis. Stat. §97 and possible TRH license suspension or revocation by Brown County Public Health.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many guests can stay at a Brown County short-term rental?
Can Brown County limit how many days I can rent my home?
Do bunk beds count toward my occupancy?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brown County
Compare Brown County to another location·View the Wisconsin short-term rentals overview
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