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

City of Milton Code of Ordinances Section 14-722, part of Article XIV adopted by Ordinance No. 528 in March 2024, prohibits maintaining, managing, or operating a short-term rental more than ten nights in a license year without a short-term rental license, and requires every short-term rental to be operated by a property owner or a designated property manager. Each property owner must hold three separate authorizations: a State of Wisconsin Tourist Rooming House License, a seller's permit from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, and the city license issued under this chapter.

Section 14-724 sets the application process: applicants file with the city clerk, pay a nonrefundable fee, and submit proof of the state rooming-house license (or a 30-day provisional license while that application is pending), a current Wisconsin Lodging Establishment Inspection form, proof of insurance, the seller's permit, a site plan showing parking, a designated local property manager if the owner is not local, and a written certification of compliance. Licenses run from July 1 through June 30 of the following year and can be renewed, with renewal applications due at least 90 days before expiration.

This licensing structure sits within the bounds of Wis. 1014, which limits how far a municipality may restrict rentals of six nights or fewer once a license has issued; Section 14-722(c)(1) reflects that by allowing six-night-or-fewer rentals only after the unit already holds a short-term rental license.