Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Columbia County, WI

Airbnb listings are allowed in Columbia County, WI, but with restrictions. Short-term rentals (Tourist Rooming Houses) are restricted to specific zones (AO-1, A-2, RR-1, R-1, R-2, C-1) and require a Conditional Use Permit. Occupancy is limited to two persons per bedroom plus two (max 8 total), and guest vehicles are limited to the number of bedrooms with no on-street parking allowed. In the Town of Lodi, additional restrictions apply including a 1000-foot distance between rentals, a 2-day minimum stay, and a 180-day annual rental cap. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rentals (Tourist Rooming Houses) are restricted to specific zones (AO-1, A-2, RR-1, R-1, R-2, C-1) and require a Conditional Use Permit. Occupancy is limited to two persons per bedroom plus two (max 8 total), and guest vehicles are limited to the number of bedrooms with no on-street parking allowed. In the Town of Lodi, additional restrictions apply including a 1000-foot distance between rentals, a 2-day minimum stay, and a 180-day annual rental cap.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Columbia County. 1. Obtain a State of Wisconsin license and a Columbia County Tourist Rooming House license. 2. Apply for a Conditional Use Permit through Columbia County Planning & Zoning (includes a $50 pre-application fee and $500 application fee). 3. For properties in the Town of Lodi, submit a local Short-Term Rental license application to the Town Clerk with a $250 initial fee and proof of ownership or primary residency.

1. Obtain a State of Wisconsin license and a Columbia County Tourist Rooming House license. 2. Apply for a Conditional Use Permit through Columbia County Planning & Zoning (includes a $50 pre-application fee and $500 application fee). 3. For properties in the Town of Lodi, submit a local Short-Term Rental license application to the Town Clerk with a $250 initial fee and proof of ownership or primary residency.

Vrbo is permitted in Columbia County, WI under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Columbia 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 Columbia County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.