Wisconsin Landlord Compliance
Everything you're responsible for as a landlord in Wisconsin
Rent control, just-cause eviction, deposits, entry, repairs and recordkeeping, written for people who own or manage a few units, checked against the official sources, and kept current when the rules move.
Jurisdiction
key details
Rent cap · Detail
No statewide cap. No city, village, town or county may regulate the amount of rent or fees charged for a residential rental unit (exceptions for units they own and voluntary agreements).
Deposit cap · Detail
§704.28 and ATCP 134.06 regulate withholding and return of deposits but set no maximum amount; local deposit rules are preempted by §66.0104.
Rent increase notice · Detail
No rent-increase notice statute; for month-to-month tenancies a change in terms is in practice bounded by the 28-day notice period of §704.19(3) (DATCP guidance treats a rent increase as a change requiring 28-day notice). Fixed-term rent changes only per the lease.
City rules · Detail
§66.1015 bars local regulation of rent or fees and (since 2017/2021) inclusionary zoning; §66.0104 bars local eviction moratoria, deposit, inspection and screening ordinances. Madison's former just-cause ordinance was preempted. No local rent control or just-cause rules in force.
Just cause · Detail
A periodic tenancy or tenancy at will may be ended by either party with at least 28 days' written notice effective at the end of a rental period, without a stated reason (shorter periods if rent is paid less than monthly). Retaliation limits in §704.45 apply.
Return deadline · Detail
Return or itemized statement within 21 days after: the rental agreement terminates (tenant vacates on time); if tenant vacates early, termination or earlier re-rental date; if evicted/holdover, the date the landlord learns the tenant vacated or was removed. Refund model.
Nonpayment notice · Detail
Month-to-month: 5-day pay-or-vacate notice (or 14-day no-cure notice; 14 days for repeat default within a year). Leases of one year or less: 5-day pay-or-vacate. Leases over one year: 30-day pay-or-vacate.
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Start from the task. Each route gathers the guides, checklists and forms that apply to it in Wisconsin.
Essential local guides
If you're new to owning here, these five cover most of what will come up in your first year.
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| Resource | Type | Task | Reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|
Wisconsin Victim Lease Termination 2026: Sexual Assault and Stalking Victims Can End a Lease Early A Wisconsin tenant who survived a sexual assault, but couldn't point to an ongoing, provable threat of future physical harm from the person who assaulted them, previously had a hard time qualifying for early lease termination under the state's general protective-tenancy statute. Since 2025 Wisconsin Act 90 took effect, a tenant with a certified restraining order or a filed criminal complaint for sexual assault or stalking can terminate the lease on notice, without separately satisfying that broader imminent-threat standard. | Guides | End a tenancy | Oct 5, 2026 |
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Rent increase dates and notice
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Obligation tracking with reminders
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Move-in and move-out photos
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Records kept per unit, per tenancy
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Repair requests and responses
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Maintenance log with timestamps
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Everything a hearing could ask for
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