Racine County, WI Short-Term Rentals: Taxes & Fees (2026)
Key Facts
- County STR Fee
- None (no county registration)
- Wisconsin Sales Tax
- 5% (Wis. Stat. §77.52)
- Racine County Sales Tax
- 0.5% (effective Apr 1, 2025)
- Combined Sales Tax
- 5.5%
- DATCP License Fee
- $296+/year (annual)
- Pre-Inspection Fee
- $592+ (one-time, new operators)
- Local Room Tax Authority
- Wis. Stat. §66.0615 (up to 8%)
Summary
Racine County does not impose a countywide STR registration fee, but operators must collect 5% Wisconsin sales tax plus the 0.5% Racine County sales tax (effective April 1, 2025) on stays of less than one month. A municipal room tax under Wis. Stat. §66.0615 may also apply (City of Racine charges 8% under Ord. 90-55). Operators renting more than 10 nights per year must pay an annual DATCP Tourist Rooming House license fee starting at $296.
66.0615(1m)(a) (a) The governing body of a municipality may enact an ordinance, and a district, under par. (e) , may adopt a resolution, imposing a tax on the sales price from selling or furnishing, at retail, except sales for resale, rooms or lodging to transients by hotelkeepers, motel operators, marketplace providers, owners of short-term rentals, and other persons or retailers selling or furnishing accommodations that are available to the public, irrespective of whether membership is required for use of the accommodations. A tax imposed under this paragraph may be collected from the consumer or user, but may not be imposed on sales to the federal government and persons listed under s. 77.54 (9a) . A tax imposed under this paragraph by a municipality shall be paid to the municipality and, with regard to any tax revenue that may not be retained by the municipality, shall be forwarded by the municipality to a tourism entity or a commission if one is created under par. (c) , as provided in par. (d) . Except as provided in par. (am) , a tax imposed under this paragraph by a municipality may not exceed 8 percent of the sales price. Except as provided in par. (am) , if a tax greater than 8 percent of the sales price under this paragraph is in effect on May 13, 1994, the municipality imposing the tax shall reduce the tax to 8 percent, effective on June 1, 1994.
Full Breakdown
Wisconsin treats short-term rentals as Tourist Rooming Houses (TRHs) under Wis. 01(15k) and Wis. Admin. Code ch. ATCP 72. DATCP charges an annual license fee that begins at $296 for a single unit and rises to $1,100 for the largest properties, plus a one-time pre-inspection fee ($592 and up) for new operators. The license year runs July 1 through June 30. Racine County itself does not levy a separate STR permit or registration fee on properties in unincorporated towns; zoning compliance is handled through Chapter 20 of the County Code.
On the tax side, Wis. 52 requires operators to collect Wisconsin's 5% state sales tax on lodging stays of less than one month. 5% county sales tax under Wis. 5%. Wis. 0615 authorizes municipalities (not counties) to adopt a local room tax of up to 8% on lodging receipts. The City of Racine has done so at 8% under Ord. 90-55; other cities and villages in Racine County set their own rates. Operators must register with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for a seller's permit before collecting sales or room tax.
Violations & Fines
Operating a TRH without the DATCP license is enforceable under Wis. Stat. §97.62 with forfeitures of up to $500 per day and an order to cease operation. Failure to register, collect, or remit Wisconsin sales tax is a violation of Wis. Stat. ch. 77 enforced by the Department of Revenue, with penalties, interest, and possible misdemeanor charges for willful evasion. Unpaid municipal room tax is recoverable as a personal debt with interest under §66.0615.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much sales tax do I charge guests for a short-term rental in Racine County?
Does Racine County charge a permit fee for short-term rentals?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Racine County
How Racine County compares: Cities with the Highest Short-Term Rental Taxes·Compare Racine County to another location·View the Wisconsin short-term rentals overview
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