Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Marathon County, WI

Airbnb listings are allowed in Marathon County, WI, but with restrictions. Tourist rooming houses must obtain a county lodging permit and pass an annual health and safety inspection covering items like utensil washing, bedding, room size, and locks. Licenses must be visibly posted on the property, and the license ID must be included in all online advertising; unpermitted listings must be removed. 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.

Tourist rooming houses must obtain a county lodging permit and pass an annual health and safety inspection covering items like utensil washing, bedding, room size, and locks. Licenses must be visibly posted on the property, and the license ID must be included in all online advertising; unpermitted listings must be removed.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Marathon County. 1) Contact a Marathon County Health Department Environmental Health Sanitarian (715-261-1900) to discuss the permit process. 2) Schedule and pass an initial health and safety inspection. 3) Receive the license, post it conspicuously on the property, and include the license ID in all online advertisements.

1) Contact a Marathon County Health Department Environmental Health Sanitarian (715-261-1900) to discuss the permit process. 2) Schedule and pass an initial health and safety inspection. 3) Receive the license, post it conspicuously on the property, and include the license ID in all online advertisements.

Vrbo is permitted in Marathon 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 Marathon 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 Marathon County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.