Security Deposit Rules
Security deposit limits, return deadlines, and landlord entry notice rules are set by state and sometimes local law, and they change. Confirm the current rule in the statute itself or with a local tenant resource before relying on it. Our Wisconsin security deposit interest page covers whether interest is owed.
Notice Requirements
Landlord entry, month-to-month termination, and rent increase notice periods are set by state and sometimes local law, and they change. Check the lease for its notice terms, and confirm the current legal minimums in the statute or with a local tenant resource before relying on them.
Rent Control
Rent control rules depend on state and local law, and they change. Check the current rules with your state or local housing agency, or a local tenant resource, before relying on them.
Habitability & Repair Requirements
Wisconsin landlords are required to maintain rental units in habitable condition.
Market Conditions & Lease-Risk Notes for Wisconsin
Madison's market is driven by University of Wisconsin, with residential vacancy under 3% near campus. Milwaukee's market has seen downtown recovery but significant outmigration in some neighborhoods. Green Bay is stable, driven by healthcare and manufacturing.
Madison's university market creates tight conditions.
Madison leases with August clustering around UW move-in dates. Wisconsin commercial leases where the entry clause gives tenants less privacy than they expect. Milwaukee commercial leases in older buildings with deferred maintenance obligations.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the security deposit limit in Wisconsin?
- Security deposit limits, return deadlines, and landlord entry notice rules are set by state and sometimes local law, and they change. Confirm the current rule in the statute itself or with a local tenant resource before relying on it.
- What is Wisconsin's ATCP 134?
- ATCP 134 is Wisconsin's administrative code governing landlord-tenant relationships. It provides detailed rules on security deposits, lease terms, disclosures, and landlord-tenant practices that supplement state landlord-tenant law.
- Does Wisconsin have rent control?
- Rent control rules depend on state and local law, and they change. Check the current rules with your state or local housing agency, or a local tenant resource, before relying on them.
- How long does a Wisconsin landlord have to return a security deposit?
- Security deposit limits, return deadlines, and landlord entry notice rules are set by state and sometimes local law, and they change. Confirm the current rule in the statute itself or with a local tenant resource before relying on it.
- What are 'nonstandard rental provisions' in Wisconsin?
- State rules can set defaults for residential leases, so lease terms that differ from them are worth a close look, such as fee schedules for specific damages. Make sure any such terms are clearly pointed out at signing rather than buried in the standard lease.
Cities in Wisconsin
Find city-specific lease guides for major markets in Wisconsin: