Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Brown County, WI

Yes — Airbnb and other short-term rentals are allowed in Brown County, WI, but operators must obtain a permit before listing. Short-term rentals are defined as lodging offered for pay to tourists or transients for less than 60 days. All operators must pass a health and safety inspection and maintain a valid Public Health Division license; operating without a license carries a $500 penalty. Operators must also comply with any additional municipal-level zoning or permitting requirements. "Airbnb" is a brand name; the rules on this page apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.). See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rentals are defined as lodging offered for pay to tourists or transients for less than 60 days. All operators must pass a health and safety inspection and maintain a valid Public Health Division license; operating without a license carries a $500 penalty. Operators must also comply with any additional municipal-level zoning or permitting requirements.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Brown County. 1. Contact Brown County Public Health to speak with an inspector and submit the Tourist Rooming House (TRH) application with the required fee ($490 for new licenses). 2. Schedule and pass a pre-licensing health and safety inspection. 3. Obtain the final license and renew annually by June 30th to avoid late fees.

1. Contact Brown County Public Health to speak with an inspector and submit the Tourist Rooming House (TRH) application with the required fee ($490 for new licenses). 2. Schedule and pass a pre-licensing health and safety inspection. 3. Obtain the final license and renew annually by June 30th to avoid late fees.

Yes. Vrbo operates under the same short-term rental rules as Airbnb in Brown County, WI, since regulations apply to the rental activity rather than the booking platform. A permit is required before you list on Vrbo or any other platform. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Brown County are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Brown County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.