Short Term Rentals

Short term rentals (tourist rooming houses) are generally considered vacation homes, cottages and cabins rented out to tourists or transients 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 and Land Information Department as well as the Health Department.

Licensing Resources 

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.

The following resources can help you as you prepare to apply for a tourist rooming house license and ensure your paperwork and onsite inspections process is successful:

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

Application Documents 

Tourist Rooming House License – Application Form

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.

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

  • Completed Application (including floor and site plans)
  • Appropriate Fee (payable to Marquette County Zoning)
  • 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

Onsite Inspections

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.

Applicability and Purpose

On November 10, 2015, Marquette County passed the Tourist Rooming House (TRH) Ordinance Chapter 35. Chapter 35 applies to all lodging places, tourist cabins or cottages where sleeping accommodations are offered as short term rentals to tourists or transients, or to persons who stay, or intend to stay, for thirty (30) days or less.  Chapter 35 does not apply to hotels, motels or bed and breakfasts.  Those establishments are regulated under different statutes.  Tourist rooming houses that had been previously licensed or permitted through the Health Department or the Marquette County Board of Adjustment are NOT exempt from Chapter 35. 

On August 16, 2022, Marquette County passed a resolution adopting updated ordinance language for the licensing ordinance.  You can view the new language here:  Chapter 35 – Tourist Rooming House

The Tourist Rooming House ordinance ensures that the quality of short term rentals operating within the County is adequate for protecting public health, safety and general welfare, including established minimum standards of space for human occupancy and for an adequate level of maintenance offered by owners, operators and resident agents to tourists; as well as the proper collection of taxes and to protect the character and stability of all areas within the County.  Chapter 35 also provides those minimum standards necessary for the health and safety of persons occupying and/or using the licensed buildings, structures or premises; including provisions for the administration and enforcement of tourist rooming house licensing rules and regulations.