Complete Guide to Short Term Rentals

STEP 1: REVIEW THE GUIDELINES 

Be sure to check out guidelines from the state of Wisconsin to set yourself up for success with your short term rental. 

The Wisconsin Administrative Code ATCP 72 defines rules, policies, and health regulations related to opening a property for short term rentals, also known as a Tourist Rooming House (TRH).
 

STEP 2: START LOCAL 

Contact your municipality (city, town, or village) to learn what local requirements your property location has for short term rentals. Some municipalities will require a zoning permit, separate from the Portage County Zoning permit in step 5. 

Not sure where to start?  

• Check out the Portage County Directory to find the contacts in your municipality. (Town Offices begin on page 38, and Village Offices begin on page 46.)
• For the Town of Almond, email: tnalmond@yahoo.com
• For the Village of Amherst Junction, email: vilamhjct@iw-net.com
• For the Town of Buena Vista, email: townofbuenavista@gmail.com
• For the Town of Pine Grove, email: pinegrov@uniontel.net
   

STEP 3: APPLY FOR A LICENSE 

Before you can offer your property for short term rental to tourists and visitors, you need to apply for a license through Portage County. 

Download the application:
Portage County Lodging Application (PDF)
Portage County Lodging Application (Word)

Be sure to mail in your completed application AND payment to:

Portage County Health & Human Services
817 Whiting Avenue
Stevens Point, WI 54481

The Portage County Department of Health and Human Services is the official licensing agent for the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
 

STEP 4: ARRANGE A PRE-LICENSING INSPECTION 

After your application has been processed, you can expect a call or email from an inspector. 

This person will help you set up a date and time for the pre-licensing inspection. The inspection must be completed and passed for your application to be approved. 

This Checklist outlines some items covered in the pre-licensing inspection. 

The licensing year is from July 1 to June 30 each year. 

• A health inspection will occur once every licensing year after that to ensure continued compliance with the law
• If an initial license is approved in April, May, or June the license will be valid until the end of the following year, on June 30. 
   

STEP 5: OBTAIN A ZONING PERMIT

If renting out property for only the 2023 U.S. Senior Open (less than 10 days): 

Zoning Permits are not required. Please note: some municipalities require a zoning permit, including the city of Stevens Point which should be identified during step 2. 

If you decide later on to rent out your property for more than 10 total days in a 365-day calendar year: 

Zoning Permits through Portage County are required. 

Before filling out the Zoning Permit Application, check out the Zoning Permit Procedures for Portage County Zoning for all requirements.

Then, fill out a Portage County Zoning Permit Application and mail the completed form to:

​Portage County Planning and Zoning Department 
1462 Strongs Avenue
Stevens Point, WI 54481

STEP 6: CONTACT THE STATE FOR A SELLER'S PERMIT

Next, you may need to obtain a seller's permit from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

A seller's permit is required for every individual, partnership, corporation, or other organization making retail sales, leases, or rentals of tangible personal property or taxable services in Wisconsin unless all sales are exempt from sales or use tax. 

In a 365-day calendar year, if you anticipate earning:

• Less than $2,000  from short term rentals, no seller's permit is required.
• $2,000 or more from short term rentals, you must apply for a seller's permit. 

Visit this page for seller's permit information: Wisconsin Department of Revenue
 

STEP 7: LIST YOUR PROPERTY 

The final step is to list your property on a third-party site where visitors can book their stay. 

Before entering this step, make sure you have completed and/or received the following:

1. Reviewed all guidelines and policies regarding short term rentals
2. Contacted your municipality for any special required documents or actions you need to take
3. Mailed  in your Portage County Lodging Application and payment
4. Completed and passed the Pre-Licensing Inspection
5. Received notice that your Portage County Lodging Application has been approved
6. Obtained a Wisconsin Seller's Permit

There are many online sites people use to post their listings including Airbnb.com, Vrbo.com, and Booking.com. 

NOTE: Booking.com only allows for completely private sites, meaning you cannot reside on the property while guests are staying there. 

These are just three examples of sites that you can list your property on. It's important that you find the right fit for you and what you want to accomplish with renting out your property.