Cal. Civ. Code § 66.1014
Limits on residential dwelling rental prohibited.
Operative Text
66.1014 Limits on residential dwelling rental prohibited. (1) In this section: (a) “Political subdivision” means any city, village, town, or county. (b) “Residential dwelling” means any building, structure, or part of the building or structure, that is used or intended to be used as a home, residence, or sleeping place by one person or by 2 or more persons maintaining a common household, to the exclusion of all others. (2) (a) Subject to par. (d), a political subdivision may not enact or enforce an ordinance that prohibits the rental of a residential dwelling for 7 consecutive days or longer. (b) If a political subdivision has in effect on September 23, 2017, an ordinance that is inconsistent with par. (a) or (d), the ordinance does not apply and may not be enforced. (c) Nothing in this subsection limits the authority of a political subdivision to enact an ordinance regulating the rental of a residential dwelling in a manner that is not inconsistent with the provisions of pars. (a) and (d). (d) 1. If a residential dwelling is rented for periods of more than 6 but fewer than 30 consecutive days, a political subdivision may limit the total number of days within any consecutive 365-day period that the dwelling may be rented to no fewer than 180 days. The political subdivision may not specify the period of time during which the residential dwelling may be rented, but the political subdivision may require that the maximum number of allowable rental days within a 365-day period must run consecutively. A person who rents the person’s residential dwelling shall notify the clerk of the political subdivision in writing when the first rental within a 365-day period begins. 2. Any person who maintains, manages, or operates a short-term rental, as defined in s. 66.0615 (1) (dk), for more than 10 nights each year, shall do all of the following: a. Obtain from the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection a license as a tourist rooming house, as defined in s. 97.01 (15k). b. Obtain from a political subdivision a license for conducting such activities, if a political subdivision enacts an ordinance requiring such a person to obtain a license.
Wisconsin Statute § 66.1014 prevents cities, villages, towns, and counties from banning the rental of residential dwellings for periods of seven consecutive days or more. Local governments retain limited authority to regulate short-term rentals — those lasting more than 6 but fewer than 30 consecutive days — including capping total rental days at no fewer than 180 within any 365-day window. Operators of short-term rentals active for more than 10 nights per year are required to obtain a state tourist rooming house license from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, and may also need a local license if the municipality requires one.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 66.1014, property owners who rent their residential dwellings for short-term stays (more than 6 but fewer than 30 consecutive days) should be aware that their local government may cap annual rental activity, but cannot set that cap below 180 days per 365-day period. Compliant operators typically obtain a tourist rooming house license from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection when renting for more than 10 nights per year, and check whether their city, village, town, or county also requires a local license. Owners are also generally expected to notify the clerk of the relevant political subdivision in writing when the first rental in a 365-day period begins.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Wisconsin Statute § 66.1014 establishes that local governments cannot outright ban residential rentals of seven or more consecutive days, which may be relevant to tenants seeking or living in rental arrangements that a municipality might otherwise attempt to restrict. Tenants in short-term rental situations should be aware that the dwelling they occupy may be subject to local day-limit regulations and licensing requirements, which can affect the availability and continuity of such housing. Those with questions about whether a local ordinance complies with § 66.1014 may find it useful to consult a tenant-rights organization or review their municipality's ordinances directly.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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