Madison CHAPTER 114: APARTMENTS AND RENTAL PROPERTY; LODGING § 114.04
LICENSE RENEWAL
Operative Text
(A) All licenses shall be renewed annually and are due on July 1. (B) Licenses are not transferrable or refundable. (C) All licensing fees shall be pro-rated on a six-month basis, except renewals which shall only be paid on an annual basis. All licensing fees shall be designated to be used to maintain the departments of the Building and Health Inspector or other departments charged with the enforcement of this chapter. (Ord. 1302, passed 3-27-1996)
Under Madison Chapter 114, § 114.04, rental property licenses must be renewed every year, with renewals due on July 1. Licenses cannot be transferred to another owner or refunded once issued. Renewal fees are paid on a strictly annual basis, and all collected fees are directed toward funding the Building and Health Inspector departments responsible for enforcing Chapter 114.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to Madison Chapter 114, § 114.04 generally keep track of the July 1 annual renewal deadline to avoid operating with a lapsed license. Because licenses are non-transferable under this provision, operators who acquire a property mid-year typically obtain their own license rather than assuming the prior owner's. Renewal fees are assessed on an annual basis only, so compliant operators budget accordingly and do not expect a prorated renewal option.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Madison Chapter 114, § 114.04 establishes a licensing framework that requires rental properties to hold a current, annually renewed license, which can signal whether a landlord is operating in compliance with local oversight requirements. Tenants who believe their rental unit is unlicensed or that a license has lapsed may raise this as a concern with the Madison Building and Health Inspector departments, which are the bodies charged with enforcing Chapter 114. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Madison housing regulations can help explain what options may be available when a property appears to be out of compliance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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