Milwaukee County, WI Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Milwaukee County, WI, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- County STR Permit
- None issued by Milwaukee County
- State License
- DATCP tourist rooming house license
- State Threshold
- More than 10 nights per year
- Municipal License
- Required if local ordinance mandates
- Governing Statute
- Wis. Stat. 66.1014
Summary
Milwaukee County does not issue short-term rental permits. Under Wisconsin law, a host operating more than 10 nights a year needs a state DATCP tourist rooming house license, plus any license required by the city, village, or town where the property sits.
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: 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).
Full Breakdown
Short-term rentals in Wisconsin are licensed by the state and by individual municipalities, not by counties. Milwaukee County government does not administer an STR or vacation-rental permit. State law sets the baseline: under Wis. Stat. 66.1014, any person who operates a short-term rental (a dwelling rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days) for more than 10 nights each year must obtain a tourist rooming house license from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), plus a municipal license if the local subdivision requires one. A county host typically needs the DATCP license and any license required by the host municipality, such as the City of Milwaukee. Confirm rules with your municipality.
Violations & Fines
Operating a tourist rooming house without the required DATCP license, or without a required municipal license, subjects the operator to cease-operation orders and monetary penalties under Wis. Stat. ch. 97 and the applicable municipal ordinance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Milwaukee County issue a short-term rental permit?
When do I need a state tourist rooming house license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Milwaukee County
How Milwaukee County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Milwaukee County to another location·View the Wisconsin short-term rentals overview
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