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City of Lake Geneva, WI
Lake Geneva, WI Short-Term Rental License and Rules
The rules, the new license fee, the City's official list of licensed properties, and local help getting and staying compliant.
Jan 31
Renewal deadline
$250 late fee after January 31
180 days
Maximum Rental Season
Consecutive days in any 365-day period
Source: City of Lake Geneva Building and Zoning Fee Schedule
Licensed Short-Term Rentals in the City of Lake Geneva
This map and list come directly from the City of Lake Geneva's public short-term rental portal and update automatically. Use the Map and List buttons to switch views, or search by address.
City Ordinance Sec. 98-206(8)(y)
The Rules at a Glance
A plain-English summary of the City of Lake Geneva's short-term rental ordinance. Full details are in the FAQ below.
180 days
Rental Season
Up to 180 consecutive days in any 365-day period. You choose the dates on your application.
7 days
Booking Window
Only one party can arrive in any 7-day period. Arrive June 1, and the next arrival is June 8 at the earliest.
2 nights
Minimum Stay
Every rental must be at least two nights.
29 days
Off-Season Booking Window
Outside your Rental Season, arrivals must be at least 29 days apart.
25 miles
Designated Operator
Your operator must live or have their STR management business within 25 miles and be reachable 24/7.
2+ spaces
Off-Street Parking
Two spaces minimum, plus one for each bedroom over two. No parking on gravel, lawn, or planter beds.
License #
Listing Requirements
Every listing must show your City STR License Number and on-site parking, and cannot advertise more adults than your license allows.
$1,300
Annual License Fee
Licenses run by calendar year. Renew by January 31 or pay a $250 late fee.
Live more than 25 miles away? You need a local Designated Operator.
If you do not operate the rental yourself, the ordinance requires a company under a management contract that goes beyond marketing and accounting. It must be within 25 miles, reachable by phone 24/7, able to respond promptly, and hold all of your powers as owner while you are away.
Penalties
Operating without both a State Tourist Rooming House license and a City license: $1,000 per day, plus any unpaid room taxes and penalties for past rentals. Citations are issued to the property owner.
Major violations, counted in a rolling 12 months
1st
$250 per day plus court costs
2nd
$500 per day plus court costs, and a 3-month license suspension
3rd
$1,000 per day plus court costs, and a 1-year license suspension
4th
Permanent revocation. The property can no longer be licensed.
Citations are per day. Example from the ordinance: renting a 3-night weekend outside your permitted dates equals three citations. Major violations include missing or false listing information, no Designated Operator within 25 miles, not displaying the STR License Number, late room tax payment or reporting, and renting outside the booking rules. Three police citations for guest behavior at the same property in separate rentals within 12 months also counts as a major violation.
Not sure your property is actually in the City?
Many properties with a Lake Geneva mailing address sit in the Town of Geneva, the Town of Linn, or another nearby town. Each has its own licensing rules and fees, separate from the City. If you are not sure which applies to you, ask us.
How to Get a City of Lake Geneva STR License
The ordinance requires all of the following every year before the City issues your license. Requirements and fees can change, so always confirm with the City and apply through the official links.
Step 1: Get These First
- 1State of Wisconsin Tourist Rooming House license (small link DATCP)
- 2City of Lake Geneva room tax permit
- 3City of Lake Geneva general business license (items 2 and 3 share a small link City Licensing page)
- 4Proof of property and liability insurance for the home
- 5A Designated Operator: you, or a management company within 25 miles that is reachable 24/7
Step 2: Prepare Your Application
- 1Owner and Designated Operator names, addresses, and 24-hour phone numbers
- 2Your Rental Season dates: up to 180 consecutive days in a 365-day period
- 3Floor plan with each room's length, width, and ceiling height, plus the bedding and mattress size in every sleeping room
- 4Site plan showing property dimensions, on-site parking spaces, all bedrooms with ceiling heights, and trash storage areas
- 5Requested maximum occupancy, calculated under Wisconsin ATCP 72.14
- 6City Building Code inspection, with no outstanding compliance orders
- 7Knox-Box location, if you have one (optional)
Step 3: Apply and Pay
- 1Apply or renew online through the City's STR portal portal
- 2Pay the $1,300 annual fee
- 3Renew every year by January 31 to avoid the $250 late fee
Once You Are Licensed
- Show your STR License Number on every listing, post, and ad, or on the page the ad links to
- List your licensed maximum capacity and on-site parking spaces before confirming any booking
- Do not advertise until both your State and City licenses are issued
- Post your license and emergency contact information in a visible spot inside the home
- Post the City's "Requirements for Short-Term Rental Guests" form and your site plan on the inside of the front door
- Keep a guest register (primary guest's name and address, dates, number of adults, amount paid) for at least one year
- Pay room tax and report rentals from every booking channel monthly (small link: Room tax forms)
- Tell the City within 24 hours if your Designated Operator or their contact information changes
- No exterior STR signage other than the address, and no RVs, campers, or tents for guests
Rather not do this yourself?
Tell us about your property and we will help with licensing, renewals, and compliance.
Background Reading
Articles from Alderman Joel Hoiland About Lake Geneva STRs
Joel Hoiland is a retired business executive and has been a Lake Geneva Alderman since April 2024. He has also served on the Plan Commission for several years and chaired the Short-Term Rental Ad Hoc Committee in 2024, which led the effort to rewrite the city's STR ordinance. An avid traveler, he and his wife and family have stayed in short-term rentals across North America, Europe, and Asia.
See all of his writing on STRs
PDF
Visitor Lodging in Lake Geneva: Zoning, Demand, and the City's Future
Read ArticlePDF
Why Do We Have Short-Term Rentals in Lake Geneva?
Read ArticlePDF
What Is Rentalscape?
Read ArticlePDF
Living with Short-Term Rentals (STRs)
Read ArticlePDF
A Guide to Understanding Lake Geneva's Short-Term Rental Ordinance: Sec. 98-206(8)(y)
Read ArticlePDF
The Future of STRs
Read ArticleOfficial City Resources
- City of Lake Geneva Short-Term Rentals page
- Full ordinance, Sec. 98-206(8)(y), on eCode360
- Register or renew a City STR license (online portal)
- City Licensing page (general business license application and room tax forms)
- Building and Zoning Fee Schedule (PDF)
- Wisconsin Statute 66.1014 (state limits on local STR rules)
- Report a short-term rental concern to the City
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on City of Lake Geneva Ordinance Sec. 98-206(8)(y), enacted November 25, 2024, and the City's current fee schedule.
Licensing
$1,300 per year. The ordinance lets the City Council set the license fee by resolution, and the Council raised it from $683 to $1,300 at a special meeting on December 22, 2025.
Rental Rules
Designated Operators
Listings and Operations
Penalties and Inspections
For Neighbors
Getting Help
This is a plain-English summary for general reference, not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements with the City of Lake Geneva.
Request STR Licensing Info
Tell us about your property and we will follow up with what the City requires, what it costs, and how to stay compliant.
Preferred Local Service Providers
Whether you want everything handled or just need a local Designated Operator, these Lake Geneva companies can help.
Elite Lake Rentals
Full-service vacation rental management in Lake Geneva.
Elite Lake Home Watch
Home watch and property care for Lake Geneva homeowners, plus Designated Operator service for owners who manage their own rentals. Local, within 25 miles, and on call 24/7 during your Rental Season.