TOURIST ROOMING HOUSE LICENSES

Rental of a whole or partial residence to visitors for less than a month is commonly known as a Short-Term Rental (STR). Its legal term in Wisconsin is a Tourist Rooming House (TRH). Hosting platform websites such as Airbnb and Vrbo connect hosts with visitors who need a short-term place to rent. These companies are commonly known as Lodging Marketplaces.

PUBLIC HEALTH LAWS

• Owners/operators are required to obtain a Tourist Rooming House License from the City of Appleton Health Department prior to offering a short-term rental to visitors.
• A pre-inspection must be completed to approve the new license.
• Licenses must be renewed each year and a health inspection will occur once every licensing year to ensure continued compliance with the law.
• Licenses are renewed July 1^st and expire June 30^th of the following year. Licenses issued April 1st – June 30th will remain effective until June 30th of the following year.
• Wisconsin Code for Hotels, Motels, and Tourist Rooming Houses: Wisconsin Administrative Code ATCP 72 - Click Here

OBTAINING A LICENSE

• Learn about the requirements of operating a Tourist Rooming House:
  • A Guide to Renting Out Your Property For Overnight Stays - Click Here
  • Wisconsin Short Term Rental Laws, Feb. 2019 - Click Here
  • Source: Wisconsin Hotel and Lodging Associate Website - Click Here

• Complete a Lodging and Tourist Rooming House License Application - Click Here

  There is a one-time pre-inspection fee and the annual license fee. Current fees are listed on the application.

• Contact the City of Appleton Health Department for more information and to schedule a pre-inspection prior to offering a short-term rental to visitors. 920-832-6429 or online - Contact Us Link

STATE, COUNTY, AND LOCAL TAXES 

• Lodging Marketplaces
  • Most Lodging Marketplaces automatically collect and remit state and county sales taxes and room taxes on your behalf, however, you must verify this with each company.
• Renting out your property on your own
  • You are responsible for collecting and remitting state and county sales taxes. You must register with the WI Department of Revenue for a license to collect the state and county sales taxes if the total sales revenue is $2,000 or more.

• Local Room taxes must be collected from visitors. Submit the Hotel and Motel Transient Room Tax Quarterly Return. - Click Here

• You may want to consider property risks, liability, and obtaining insurance coverage.