Waukesha County, WI Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)
Key Facts
- County primary-residence rule
- None
- Right to rent
- Wis. Stat. 66.1014
- 7+ day rentals
- Cannot be prohibited
- 6-30 day cap floor
- No fewer than 180 days
- Local authority
- Licensing, not outright ban
Summary
Waukesha County has no countywide primary-residence-only STR rule. Under Wis. Stat. 66.1014, a municipality may not prohibit renting a residential dwelling for 7 consecutive days or longer, which limits how far a local primary-residence requirement can go.
"Residential dwelling" means any building, structure, or part of the building or structure, that is used or intended to be used as a home, residence, or sleeping place by one person or by 2 or more persons maintaining a common household.
Full Breakdown
Wisconsin's "right to rent" law, Wis. Stat. 66.1014, protects a property owner's ability to rent a residential dwelling for 7 consecutive days or longer, and Waukesha County imposes no countywide requirement that an STR be the owner's primary residence. A city or village may adopt reasonable licensing and standards, but cannot use a primary-residence rule to effectively ban qualifying rentals. For rentals of 6 to 30 days, a municipality may cap total rental days at no fewer than 180 per year. Investors and second-home owners around Pewaukee, Nagawicka and Okauchee lakes rely on this protection.
Violations & Fines
If a local rule is applied as a de facto ban on 7+ day rentals, it can be challenged as conflicting with Wis. Stat. 66.1014; ordinary licensing violations draw municipal fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Must my STR be my primary residence in Waukesha County?
Can I run an STR at a second home on a lake?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Waukesha County
Compare Waukesha County to another location·View the Wisconsin short-term rentals overview
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