Winchester, WI

Winnebago County, WI has not adopted a countywide decibel-based noise ordinance with fixed quiet hours for unincorporated areas. Noise complaints are handled under Section 9.02 of the Winnebago County Code (Peace and Order/Disorderly Conduct), which incorporates Wis. Stat. §947.01 and prohibits "unreasonably loud" or "otherwise disorderly" conduct that tends to provoke a disturbance. The Sheriff's Office responds in unincorporated towns. Within Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, and Appleton (the portion in Winnebago County), the city's own noise ordinance controls and most cities define a 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. quiet period. Lake Winnebago has a separate motor-vehicle noise rule (Section 9.36) capping engine noise at 96 decibels.

Winnebago County has no county-wide STR parking standard. Parking minimums come from the underlying zoning ordinance — county zoning (Wis. Stat. Ch. 91) in opt-in towns, or the city/village/town code in incorporated areas. Guest parking must not block roadways, driveways, or fire lanes.

Winnebago County does not publish a numeric STR occupancy cap. Maximum guests are set per-property through the Tourist Rooming House license under Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 72, established during the Winnebago County Health Department pre-inspection (920-232-3000).

Winnebago County does not levy a county-wide room tax. Operators pay municipal room tax under Wis. Stat. §66.0615 (Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, Fox Crossing each at 10%; Town of Clayton 3%; Wolf River 4.5%) and obtain a Tourist Rooming House license from Winnebago County Health Dept (countywide except City of Menasha).

Wis. Stat. §66.1014 preempts local STR bans for stays of 7 consecutive days or longer. Hosts renting more than 10 nights per year must hold a state Tourist Rooming House license from DATCP. Winnebago County does not operate a county-wide STR permit; the City of Oshkosh requires a Short-Term Rental License plus Room Tax Permit when rented more than 16 nights per year.

Pool barriers for one- and two-family dwellings are governed by the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code (Wis. Admin. Code SPS 320-325), which adopts IRC Appendix AG105 standards. A 48-inch enclosure with self-closing, self-latching gates is the typical requirement. Winnebago County zoning adds local setback rules for pools as accessory structures in unincorporated areas.

Wis. Stat. §167.10 requires a user's permit for nearly all consumer fireworks (firecrackers, bottle rockets, Roman candles, mortars, aerial repeaters). Permits are issued by the mayor, village president, or town chairperson — or designee — where use will occur. Sparklers on a wire or wood stick not exceeding 36 inches, snakes, smoke devices, caps, model rocket engines, and certain DOT 1.4 cones/fountains are exempt.

Winnebago County administers zoning in unincorporated towns under Wis. Stat. §59.69. The cities of Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, and Appleton (the small Winnebago portion) and incorporated villages zone independently. Wisconsin has no statewide ADU mandate; 2025 Assembly Bill 449 proposing one is not enacted.

Winnebago County administers Chapter 26 Floodplain Zoning under Wis. Stat. §87.30 and Wis. Admin. Code NR 116. Floodplain development requires a permit from the County Zoning Administrator. Lake Winnebago, the Fox River (Upper and Lower), and the Wolf River corridor contain mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas under FEMA NFIP.