Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Waupaca, WI

Yes — Airbnb and other short-term rentals are allowed in Waupaca, WI, but operators must obtain a permit before listing. City requires a Hotel/Motel (Room Tax) permit for lodging operations; Waupaca County Public Health requires Food & Recreational (tourist rooming house/hotel) licensing for short-term lodging—county classifies each whole-property rental as one unit for licensing purposes; operators must comply with state DATCP requirements for tourist rooming houses where applicable and comply with room/sales tax collection. "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.

City requires a Hotel/Motel (Room Tax) permit for lodging operations; Waupaca County Public Health requires Food & Recreational (tourist rooming house/hotel) licensing for short-term lodging—county classifies each whole-property rental as one unit for licensing purposes; operators must comply with state DATCP requirements for tourist rooming houses where applicable and comply with room/sales tax collection.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Waupaca. 1) Obtain required Waupaca County Public Health license via the Food & Recreational Licensing program. 2) Obtain City of Waupaca Hotel/Motel (Room Tax) Permit annually by applying via the SmartGov portal or submitting a paper application with a $25 fee to the Clerk-Treasurer. 3) Ensure compliance with municipal code Chapter 3.08 and state DATCP tourist rooming house regulations.

1) Obtain required Waupaca County Public Health license via the Food & Recreational Licensing program. 2) Obtain City of Waupaca Hotel/Motel (Room Tax) Permit annually by applying via the SmartGov portal or submitting a paper application with a $25 fee to the Clerk-Treasurer. 3) Ensure compliance with municipal code Chapter 3.08 and state DATCP tourist rooming house regulations.

Yes. Vrbo operates under the same short-term rental rules as Airbnb in Waupaca, 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 Waupaca 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 Waupaca. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.