Marathon County does not set a county-wide occupancy cap on short-term rentals. Maximum guest count is fixed at the property's annual Tourist Rooming House inspection under Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 72, based on sleeping-room size, egress and bathroom count. Wis. Stat. 66.1014 prevents any local government from banning rentals of seven consecutive days or longer.
Marathon County zoning under General Code Chapter 17 applies only in unincorporated towns that have opted into county comprehensive zoning under Wis. Stat. 59.69 and 91; cities such as Wausau and villages such as Rothschild and Weston administer their own occupancy and density rules. The county itself does not publish a fixed guests-per-bedroom cap for short-term rentals. Instead, the operative occupancy limit comes from the Tourist Rooming House license issued under Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 72, which Marathon County Public Health (715-261-1900) inspects each year as DATCP's local agent. ATCP 72 evaluates sleeping-room area, ventilation, egress windows, smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms, bathroom count and water-supply capacity, and the inspector records the maximum sleeping capacity on the license. Wis. Stat. 66.1014 caps how restrictively any town, city or county can regulate the rental contract: stays of seven consecutive days or longer cannot be prohibited, and stays of more than six but fewer than thirty days can only be capped at no fewer than 180 nights per 365-day period. Local nuisance, noise and parking ordinances continue to apply to overcrowded gatherings under the same statute.
Exceeding the sleeping capacity recorded on the state Tourist Rooming House license is enforceable under Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 72 and Wis. Stat. ch. 97 with forfeitures, license suspension or revocation. Crowd-related noise or nuisance complaints can be enforced under the host town's general ordinances and referred back to Marathon County Health for license review.
Wausau, WI
Wausau considers excessive barking a nuisance. Animal control handles complaints. WI Stat. Β§174 covers dog regulation statewide.
Wausau, WI
Wausau enforces quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM. The paper mill city along the Wisconsin River manages industrial noise from Verso and other mills under Wisco...
Wausau, WI
Wausau regulates amplified music under the general noise ordinance. Sound amplification permits available for events. WI Stat. Β§947.01 applies.
Wausau, WI
Wausau requires vehicles parked on improved surfaces. Front lawn parking prohibited. Driveway modifications require permits.
Wausau, WI
Wausau restricts commercial vehicle parking in residential zones. Weight, size, and signage limits apply. Overnight heavy truck storage prohibited.
Wausau, WI
Wausau enforces a strict winter parking ban from November 1 through April 1. Alternate-side parking is required during snow events. With over 50 inches of an...
See how Wausau's occupancy limits rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.