Landlord laws
Wisconsin landlord-tenant law
Wisconsin Statutes ch. 704 (Landlord and Tenant), §§ 66.1015 and 106.50 (official text, docs.legis.wisconsin.gov, 2025–26 biennium)
Last verified Oct 2026
General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the statute and consult a licensed attorney in your state before acting.
| Topic | Rule (plain English) | Statute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security deposit cap | Not specified in state statute. Wisconsin statutes set no maximum security deposit. We checked every section of ch. 704. Deposits are also regulated by administrative rule (Wis. Admin. Code ch. ATCP 134), so check that too. Note: Further deposit rules are in an administrative regulation (ATCP 134), not statute. | Wis. Stat. ch. 704 | Not in statute |
| Deposit return deadline | Deliver or mail the deposit, minus allowed deductions, within 21 days after the lease ends (or after a new tenant moves in, or after you learn the tenant left). Allowed deductions are tenant damage, unpaid rent, unpaid landlord-provided utilities, certain government utility and municipal permit fees, and items in a signed "NONSTANDARD RENTAL PROVISIONS" document. No deductions for normal wear and tear. | Wis. Stat. § 704.28 | Verified |
| Deposit holding and interest | Not specified in state statute. No statute requires paying interest or using a separate account. We checked every section of ch. 704. | Wis. Stat. ch. 704 | Not in statute |
| Late fee cap and grace period | Not specified in state statute. Wisconsin statutes set no late-fee cap and require no grace period. We checked every section of ch. 704. Past-due late fees count as "rent" for eviction notices (§ 704.17(1g)). Note: Late-fee limits, if any, come from administrative rules and case law, not statute. | Wis. Stat. § 704.17(1g) | Not in statute |
| Landlord entry notice | Unless the lease says otherwise, you may enter on advance notice and at reasonable times to inspect, repair, or show the unit. If the tenant is away and entry is needed to protect the premises, you may enter without notice. The statute sets no specific number of hours. Note: A specific hour count is set by administrative rule (ATCP 134), not statute. | Wis. Stat. § 704.05(2) | Verified |
| Rent increase notice | Not specified in state statute. No statute sets a rent-increase notice period. We checked every section of ch. 704. A periodic tenancy ends on at least 28 days' written notice (or one rent period if rent is paid more often than monthly), so give at least that. You can't raise rent mid-lease unless the lease allows it. | Wis. Stat. § 704.19(3) | Not in statute |
| Rent control status | Rent control is preempted statewide. No city, village, town or county may regulate rents or fees for residential rental units, except for housing it owns or by agreement with a private party. | Wis. Stat. § 66.1015 | Verified |
| Eviction notice: nonpayment | Month-to-month and leases of 1 year or less: give a 5-day notice to pay or vacate. A month-to-month tenant may instead get a 14-day notice to vacate. For a lease of 1 year or less, a repeat default within a year allows a 14-day notice to vacate. | Wis. Stat. § 704.17(1p)(a), (2)(a) | Verified |
| Eviction notice: lease violation | For waste, a material violation of § 704.07(3), or a breach of the lease, give a 5-day notice to remedy or vacate. The tenant complies by promptly taking reasonable steps to fix it. A repeat breach within one year allows a 14-day notice to vacate without a cure. | Wis. Stat. § 704.17(1p)(b), (2)(b) | Verified |
| Required disclosures | Every residential lease must include the statutory Notice of Domestic Abuse Protections, in the lease or an addendum (§ 704.14). At move-in, give a check-in sheet the tenant can return within 7 days (§ 704.08). Put any extra deposit deductions in a separate "NONSTANDARD RENTAL PROVISIONS" document (§ 704.28(2)). For pre-1978 housing, give the federal lead-paint disclosure (40 CFR 745.113). More disclosures are required by rule (ATCP 134). | Wis. Stat. §§ 704.14, 704.08, 704.28(2); 40 CFR 745.113 | Verified |
| Fair housing beyond federal law | Wisconsin adds sexual orientation, marital status, status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking, lawful source of income, age, and ancestry. It also covers owner-occupied single-family homes. | Wis. Stat. § 106.50(1) | Verified |
Last verified Oct 2026 · Sources are official state legislature sites. Federal rules also apply.
Tools for Wisconsin landlords
Late fee calculator
Model grace periods and fees.
Open →Prorated rent calculator
Mid-month move-ins.
Open →Rent increase calculator
New rent and annual impact.
Open →General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the statute and consult a licensed attorney in your state before acting.