Tourist Rooming Houses

A Short Term Rental is a residential dwelling that is offered for rent for a fee and for fewer than 30 consecutive days, as defined in Wis. Stat. Sec. 66.0615 (1)(dk).

In general it can be defined as all lodging places and tourist cabins and cottages, other than hotels and motels, in which sleeping accommodations are offered for pay to tourists or transients. It does not include private boarding or rooming houses not accommodating tourists or transients or bed-and-breakfast establishments. Tourist rooming house establishments are typically vacation homes, cabins, and cottages that are rented out to tourists and transients for a short period of time.

Application Deadline: June 1st

Application Fee: $50

Tourist Rooming Houses are required to obtain registration and licensing from the State of Wisconsin. That license can be obtained through the Trempealeau County Health Department.

Additionally, Chapter 400 of the Village Code introduces an optional Village license, which, if obtained, provides certain advantages. Property owners opting not to obtain the Village License will be restricted to renting their property for a minimum of 6 consecutive days, with a limit of 180 rental days per year (which must run consecutively.)

If you choose not to obtain the Village License, you must still inform the Village Office and provide proof of your state license.

Opting for a Village License grants property owners the flexibility to rent for 6 days or fewer at a time and allows year-round property rental.

To apply for a Village License simply fill out the Village License application form and turn it into the Village Office along with other required attachments noted on the application. You must pay the $50 license fee at the time of registration. The Village will have 30 days to review the license, once it is reviewed and approved the Village will issue you a license.

Opt Out of Village License

• No Tourist Rooming House may be rented for a period of six or fewer consecutive days.
• The maximum number of days a Tourist Rooming House may be rented during a 365-day period to all renters will be limited to 180 days and those days must run consecutively.

Opt In to the Village License

• May rent for a period of six or fewer consecutive days
• May rent year-round

License Rules (not an exhaustive list, see Village Code of Ordinances Chapter 400 for complete list of rules)

• No excessive noise
• No excessive Fumes or glare, nuisance activities
• No dogs at large
• Maximum Occupancy shall not exceed the limits set forth in Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 72.14vvvv
• No recreational vehicles, campers, tents or other temporary lodging shall be permitted on site as a means of providing additional accommodation to renters.
• Property owner or manager must reside within 35 miles of the Tourist Rooming House and shall be available at all times on those days that the property is rented.
• Property owner shall maintain homeowners liability or business liability insurance not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate.
• A guest register shall be maintained ( coincides with State requirements)
• The minimum number of on-site, off-road parking spaces shall equal the Tourist Rooming House’s advertised maximum sleeping capacity divided by four, with any fraction rounded up to the nearest whole number.

Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall upon conviction thereof be ordered to pay a forfeiture of not less than $250 nor more than $750 for each offense, together with the costs, fees, surcharges, and assessments which are chargeable or taxable to the violator under Wisconsin Law, and in the event of default of payment of such forfeiture and costs shall be imprisoned in the Trempealeau County Jail until such forfeiture and costs are paid, except that the amount owed is reduced at the rate of $50 for each day of imprisonment and the maximum period of imprisonment is 30 days. Each violation and each day a violation occurs or continues to exist shall constitute a separate offense.

The penalties set forth in this section shall be in addition to all other remedies of injunction, abatement or costs, whether existing under this chapter or otherwise.