Kenosha County, WI Short-Term Rentals: Taxes & Fees (2026)
Key Facts
- Fee section
- §16.07.030
- Fee amount
- Set on Division of Health fee schedule
- State add-on
- Separate Wisconsin ATCP administrative fee
- Fee schedule link
- kenoshacounty.org/FeeSchedules
- Billing cycle
- Annual, July 1 to June 30
Summary
Tourist rooming house and hotel/motel operators in unincorporated Kenosha County pay a county license fee posted on the Division of Health's fee schedule plus any separate Wisconsin state administrative fee, on top of the state room tax collected under Wisconsin law.
16.07.030 License fees. (1) Fees for licenses issued pursuant to this division shall be posted on the Division of Health website: https://www.kenoshacounty.org/FeeSchedules (2) State Fees. In addition to the required fees set forth in subsection (1), an applicant/licensee shall pay any State of Wisconsin administrative fees, in an amount which is on file with the Division.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 37 (2026), passed March 17, 2026).
Full Breakdown
010. org/FeeSchedules," so an operator has to check that current schedule rather than the code book to know the exact dollar figure. Subsection (2) adds a second, separate layer: beyond the county fee, the applicant or licensee must also pay "any State of Wisconsin administrative fees, in an amount which is on file with the Division," reflecting that tourist rooming houses are jointly regulated by the county under ATCP 72, Wis. Admin. Code, and by the state. These are licensing fees tied to health and safety inspection, not the separate room tax; Wisconsin room taxes on short-term lodging are imposed under state law (Wis.
0615) by the municipality or county that levies them, a distinct revenue mechanism from the Chapter 16 license fee. 040, meaning the fee is a recurring annual cost rather than a one-time charge, and a license taken out between April 1 and June 30 still expires that same June 30, shortening the first paid term.
Violations & Fines
Operating without paying the required license fee, or without a current license, is enforced the same way as any other Chapter 16 violation: Section 16.01.130(1) sets a forfeiture of $100 to $500 per violation plus prosecution costs, including court costs and reasonable attorney fees, with up to 30 days in the county jail for nonpayment. The Division of Health can also decline to issue or renew the license until the fee is paid and the Health Officer certifies compliance under Section 16.07.020, so an unpaid fee blocks lawful operation even before any court penalty applies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the county tourist rooming house license fee?
Is there a fee beyond the county license fee?
Is this the same as a room or occupancy tax?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kenosha County
How Kenosha County compares: Cities with the Highest Short-Term Rental Taxes·Compare Kenosha County to another location·View the Wisconsin short-term rentals overview
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