Short Term Rentals

Short term rentals (tourist rooming houses) are generally considered vacation homes, cottages and cabins rented out to tourists for stays shorter than 30 days.  Marquette County has a licensing process in place for these short-term rentals and requires property owners who offer this lodging option to be licensed through the Planning & Zoning Department.

Application Documents 

Application Form

Licensing guidelines follow the Marquette County Chapter 35 – Tourist Rooming House ordinance and Wisconsin State Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Chapter ATCP 72 as administered by local health departments.

Homeowners in Marquette County choosing to offer their residence as a short term rental will be required to obtain a license from both the Planning and Zoning Department and the Marquette County Health Department. Licensing application materials through the health department can be found on the Health Department webpage under Food & Recreational Inspection Program-REHA.

    Paperwork required when you apply for a Tourist Rooming House License:

    • Appropriate Fee (payable to Marquette County Zoning)
    • Completed Application (including floor and site plans)
    • Proof of Insurance against personal injury and property damage for tourist rooming house rentals.
    • Copy of Wisconsin Department of Revenue Seller’s Permit for Sales and Use Tax.
    • Proof of Application OR Copy of current Lodging License issued by Rural Environmental Health Alliance.
    • If applicable, copy of Property Management Agreement.
    • If applicable, current Inspection Report / Certification for any solid fuel fireplace used by renters.
      • Certificate from a licensed commercial building inspector, fire inspector, or a verified statement from a reputable stove or fireplace sales/installer entity, dated not more than thirty (30) days prior to submission, certifying that the fireplace and chimney have been inspected and are in compliance with National Fire Prevention Association Fire Code Chapter 211 Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances

    Inspection Guide for TRHs – Zoning Department Minimum Requirements 

    Licensing Resources 

    When applying for this license, the applicant grants permission for the Marquette County Zoning Department, its agents or assigns, to enter upon the premises and inspect the work to determine compliance with zoning ordinances and the terms of this license. Inspections are generally coordinated with health department personnel to complete both the lodging license and the zoning license inspections at the same time. 

    If the property is not served by a public sanitary sewer, a private onsite wastewater treatment system (POWTS) in full compliance with Chapter 74 of the Marquette County code must serve the property. 

    • The size of your property’s septic system will determine your potential renter occupancy level. 
    • If occupancy levels, calculated using habitable living space, exceeds the design of a septic system currently serving the tourist rooming house, the applicant can choose to limit occupancy to the septic system design or install a water meter to monitor daily flow averages. 
    • Properties with septic systems designed/installed using “Report on Soil Borings and Percolation Test” forms will be required to provide a system inspection report with a soil boring, completed by a licensed plumber and/or soil tester, as part of the application process to confirm current system compliance.

    License Issuance/Renewals

    Any license issued under Chapter 35 is nontransferable. The license holder shall notify the Planning, Zoning & Land Information  Department in writing of any transfer of the legal control of any property covered by the license.  Licenses are issued on a biennial basis with a renewal date of July 1st.  License holders will receive renewal application documentation every two years and must meet all current ordinance requirements before a renewal license is issued.

    Within thirty (30) days of determining that an initial tourist rooming house license application is complete, the Zoning Department will arrange for inspection of the property and act on the application.  A license shall be issued if the department determines that the initial application and the tourist rooming house meets the requirements of state and local licensing criteria.  The department does not have the authority to enforce private covenants or homeowner associations restrictions when considering an application for a license.

    Program Contacts

    Jean Potter, Zoning Administrator, Planning & Zoning Department
    Phone:  608-297-3035 
    Email:  jpotter@marquettecouintywi.gov

    Jessica Jungenberg, REHA Program Manager, Health Department
    Phone:  608-297-3128
    Email:  jejungenberg@marquettecountywi.gov