Guide to Short Term Rentals

A Short Term Rental is defined as any building or structure used as a home or sleeping place that is offered for rent or a fee and for fewer than 30 days. 

A Tourist Rooming House (TRH) refers to any lodging place (homes, cabins, cottages, etc.) other than hotels and motels that include sleeping arrangements and are offered for pay to area visitors.

"Transient," or "tourist" refers to anyone who travels to a location other than their permanent address for a brief time for a variety of reasons such as vacation, pleasure, recreation, culture, business, or employment.

A Lodging Marketplace is a third-party business or organization that helps property owners list and advertise their property for short term rentals. The lodging marketplace collects state and county taxes on behalf of the property owner and sends those funds to the appropriate tax authority.

Common examples of lodging marketplaces are Airbnb.com, Vrbo.com, and Booking.com.

Lodging marketplaces collect state and county taxes on behalf of the property owner and send those funds to the proper tax authority. 

If you live in a municipality that collects room taxes, including but not limited to the City of Stevens Point, the Village of Plover, or the Town of Plover, additional room taxes are applied. Contact your municipality for more information on room taxes. 

For questions about specific local municipality requirements:

• Visit the Portage County Directory to find out the contacts in your municipality. (Town Offices begin on page 38, and Village Offices begin on page 46.)

For questions related to Portage County licensing requirements:

• Contact Cheryl Helms, RS at (715) 345-5772 or helmsc@co.portage.wi.us

For questions about Portage County zoning requirements:

• Contact the Portage County Planning and Zoning Department at (715) 346-1334 
  • Christ Mrdutt (Zoning Coordinator) email: mrduttc@co.portage.wi.us
  • Emmet Simkowski (Zoning Coordinator) email: simkowskie@co.portage.wi.us

For questions related to State Seller's Permits:

• Contact the Wisconsin Department of Revenue at (608) 266-2776 or DORBusinessTax@wisconsin.gov