Wisconsin Statewide Rule
Wisconsin Caps Local Rental Inspection and Registration
Key Facts
- Statute
- Wis. Stat. 66.0104
- Programs allowed
- Designated blight/code districts
- Vacant/exterior fee
- Up to $75
- Other initial / subsequent
- $90 / $150 caps
- Registration or license
- Cannot be required
Summary
Wisconsin Statute 66.0104 bars municipalities from requiring rental registration or licensing and limits inspection programs to designated districts with blight or code problems. Inspection fees are capped, and no fee applies if no habitability violation is found.
Except as provided in this subdivision, requires that a rental property or rental unit be certified, registered, or licensed or requires that a residential rental property owner register or obtain a certification or license related to owning or managing the residential rental property. A city, village, town, or county may require that a rental unit or residential rental property owner be registered if the registration requires only one name of an owner or authorized contact person and an address, telephone number, and, if available, an electronic mail address or other information necessary to receive communications by other electronic means at which the person may be contacted. No city, village, town, or county, except a 1st class city, may charge a fee for registration under this subdivision except a one-time registration fee that reflects the actual costs of operating a registration program, but that does not exceed $10 per building, and a one-time fee for the registration of a change of ownership or management of a building or change of contact information for a building that reflects the actual and direct costs of registration, but that does not exceed $10 per building.
Full Breakdown
Under Wis. Stat. 66.0104, Wisconsin municipalities cannot require a residential rental owner to register or obtain a license, and cannot run blanket inspection programs. Inspections are allowed only in designated districts showing blight, high code-violation rates, declining values, or conversions to rentals. Fees are capped at $75 for a vacant unit or exterior and common-area inspection, $90 for any other initial program inspection, and $150 for any second or subsequent inspection. No fee may be charged if no habitability violation is found, or if a violation is corrected within the allowed period. Cities also cannot add security-deposit or tenant-communication rules beyond state law.
Violations & Penalties
Ordinances exceeding the statutory caps or applying outside qualifying districts are preempted. Landlords may challenge improper fees or registration mandates and recover overcharges in court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Wisconsin city require all rental properties to register?
How much can a city charge for rental inspections?
Are well-maintained rentals exempt from repeat inspections?
Sources
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