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Racine County, WI Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

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

Short-term rental permit rules in Racine County, WI, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.

Key Facts

State Preemption
Wis. Stat. §66.1014 - 7+ day stays protected
State License
DATCP Tourist Rooming House (>10 nights/yr)
License Year
July 1 - June 30
Min. Annual Cap (if local limit)
180 days in 365
County STR Permit
None (county does not license)
Sales Tax
5% state + 0.5% Racine County

Summary

Wisconsin Statute 66.1014 preempts local bans on residential rentals of 7 consecutive days or longer. Anyone offering a short-term rental in Racine County for more than 10 nights per year must hold a state Tourist Rooming House license from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Racine County does not impose a separate countywide STR permit; municipal STR ordinances apply within incorporated cities and villages.

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

66.1014(2)(a) (a) Subject to par. (d) , a political subdivision may not enact or enforce an ordinance that prohibits the rental of a residential dwelling for 7 consecutive days or longer. 66.1014(2)(b) (b) If a political subdivision has in effect on September 23, 2017, an ordinance that is inconsistent with par. (a) or (d) , the ordinance does not apply and may not be enforced. 66.1014(2)(c) (c) Nothing in this subsection limits the authority of a political subdivision to enact an ordinance regulating the rental of a residential dwelling in a manner that is not inconsistent with the provisions of pars. (a) and (d) . 66.1014(2)(d)1. 1. 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. The political subdivision may not specify the period of time during which the residential dwelling may be rented, but the political subdivision may require that the maximum number of allowable rental days within a 365-day period must run consecutively. A person who rents the person's residential dwelling shall notify the clerk of the political subdivision in writing when the first rental within a 365-day period begins. 66.1014(2)(d)2. 2. Any person who maintains, manages, or operates a short-term rental, as defined in s. 66.0615 (1) (dk) , for more than 10 nights each year, shall do all of the following: 66.1014(2)(d)2.a. a. Obtain from the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection a license as a tourist rooming house, as defined in s. 97.01 (15k) . 66.1014(2)(d)2.b. b. Obtain from a political subdivision a license for conducting such activities, if a political subdivision enacts an ordinance requiring such a person to obtain a license.

Source: Wis. Stat. §66.1014 - Limits on Residential Dwelling Rental RestrictionsView official code

Full Breakdown

Wis. 1014(2)(a) prohibits any city, village, town, or county from enacting an ordinance that prohibits the rental of a residential dwelling for 7 consecutive days or longer. 1014(2)(d) allows a municipality to limit the total annual rental days to no fewer than 180 days within a 365-day period. 1014(1)(b) as a building or part of a building used as a home, residence, or sleeping place by one person or by two or more persons maintaining a common household. Anyone who rents a property to tourists or transients for more than 10 nights in a 12-month period must hold a Tourist Rooming House license issued by DATCP under Wis.

01(15k) and Wis. Admin. Code ch. ATCP 72; the annual license year runs July 1 through June 30 with a state pre-inspection fee. 1014(3), but those permits cannot impose total bans, dictate which days of the year units rent, or override the 180-day floor. Racine County itself does not issue STR permits; in unincorporated towns the county relies on Chapter 20 zoning's residential district rules, while cities such as Racine and Burlington and villages such as Mount Pleasant, Caledonia, Waterford, and Sturtevant set local STR licensing through their municipal codes. 5%), and any applicable municipal room tax under Wis. 0615.

Violations & Fines

Operating a tourist rooming house without a DATCP license violates Wis. Stat. §97.62 and is enforceable by daily forfeitures up to $500 plus an order to cease operation. Local-permit violations are enforceable as forfeitures under the relevant municipal code. Failure to remit room or sales tax is enforced separately by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a town in Racine County ban short-term rentals?
No. Wis. Stat. §66.1014(2)(a) preempts any ordinance that would prohibit rentals of 7 consecutive days or longer. Towns and cities can require licenses, regulate noise, parking, and health/safety, and cap stays of 6-29 days at no fewer than 180 days per 365-day period.
Do I need a state license to rent on Airbnb in Racine County?
Yes, if you rent more than 10 nights in a 12-month period. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection issues annual Tourist Rooming House licenses under Wis. Stat. §97.01(15k) and Wis. Admin. Code ch. ATCP 72. The municipality may also require its own license under §66.1014(3).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Racine County

All Racine County rules

How Racine County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Racine County to another location·View the Wisconsin short-term rentals overview

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