Regulations >
Wisconsin >
Menomonie

Want to see how Menomonie compares to other top cities in Wisconsin?  Explore all city regulations in Wisconsin. →

B

Menomonie, WI

Generally Investor Friendly

Local STR Agent

Local STR Agent

Menomonie STR Expert
Menomonie, Wisconsin skyline

STR Regulations for Menomonie, Wisconsin

Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed?

Yes—short-term rentals are allowed in Menomonie, Wisconsin. Under Wisconsin’s 2017 “Right to Rent” law, no political subdivision (city, village, town, or county) may prohibit rentals of residences for seven consecutive days or longer. The City of Menomonie does not appear to maintain city-specific short-term rental ordinances in the material provided, so the statewide framework governs in Menomonie unless and until the city adopts additional local requirements.

Practically, that means you may legally rent a residential property for stays between 7 and 30 days in Menomonie, subject to state license requirements (for operators exceeding 10 nights per year) and any non-conflicting local rules the city may later enact.

Source:

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Menomonie?

Menomonie hosts earn a median $24,925/year with $168 ADR and 52% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $37,938+ per year.

See the full Menomonie market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental in Menomonie

  1. Confirm Zoning and Land Use

    • Verify your property’s zoning allows lodging uses. While Wisconsin prohibits bans on rentals of 7+ days, local zoning can determine whether a lodging use (e.g., rooming/lodging house) is permissible on your parcel. If the zoning code is not provided, contact the Building Inspection/Zoning department to confirm permissible uses for your address.
    • Source on regulatory framework (confirm locally for zoning): www.menomonie-wi.gov/187/Residential-Rental-Properties

  2. Register as a Rental Property (City of Menomonie)

    • Menomonie requires rental property registration for any rental building, regardless of STR status. The registration fee is $10 per building and is governed by City Code Title 9, Chapter 2.
    • Obtain and submit the Rental Property Registration Form (PDF) and the required fee.
    • Source: www.menomonie-wi.gov/187/Residential-Rental-Properties

  3. Obtain State Licensing (If Applicable)

  4. Safety and Compliance

    • Comply with state carbon monoxide alarm requirements for residential rental properties.
    • For Commercial/Residential properties (multi-family or mixed-use): Carbon Monoxide Alarms for Commercial Residential Properties (PDF).
    • For One- and Two-Family Dwellings: Carbon Monoxide Alarms for One and Two Family Dwellings (PDF).
    • Source and PDFs: www.menomonie-wi.gov/187/Residential-Rental-Properties

  5. Post-Rental Notice to Political Subdivision

    • Under state law, before renting, you must notify the clerk of the political subdivision (the City of Menomonie) of your intent to operate a short-term rental. The clerk’s contact details are included below.

  6. Prepare for Operations

    • Implement guest screening, house rules, and local resources. If you anticipate nuisance issues (noise, parking, occupancy), adopt a property management plan; while not mandated by state law, such plans can help reduce neighbor conflict and potential enforcement.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Specific Regulations: City, County, and State

City of Menomonie

Dunn County

  • No county-specific short-term rental regulations were identified in the provided content. If the city has not adopted STR-specific rules, the statewide framework governs.

State of Wisconsin (Applicable)

  • Right to Rent Law (2017): Political subdivisions may not prohibit short-term rentals of 7 consecutive days or longer.
  • Political subdivisions may limit the total number of rental days per 365-day period beyond 180 days; they may also require that the maximum allowable rental days run consecutively (i.e., the cap period cannot be split across the year).
  • Operators renting more than 10 nights per year must obtain a Tourist Rooming House license from DATCP. A $300 pre-inspection is required before initial licensing.
  • Before renting, the operator must notify the clerk of the political subdivision of the intent to operate a short-term rental.
  • Political subdivisions may enact additional non-conflicting requirements (e.g., occupancy, noise, traffic, manager availability, hours for outdoor events). While such local rules have been upheld in other Wisconsin jurisdictions (e.g., Town of Holland), Menomonie-specific ordinances of this type were not found in the provided materials.
  • Sources:

Contact Information (Local Authority)

City of Menomonie – Building Inspection/Zoning

City of Menomonie – City Clerk (for STR notifications)

  • Mailing Address: 800 Wilson Avenue, Menomonie, WI 54751
  • Phone: 715-232-2221
  • Note: The state law requires “before renting” notice to the clerk of the political subdivision. Use the general city contact to reach the appropriate clerk.

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP)

  • Tourist Rooming House licensing
  • Licensing URL: datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Homepage.aspx
  • Phone/email: Consult DATCP’s official contact page (not included in provided URLs).

Links to Source Pages (for Verification and Compliance)

Practical Notes for Investors

  • Confirm zoning use before listing: Lodging uses can be zoning-sensitive. The city’s general rental registration does not substitute for a zoning determination on whether “rooming/lodging” is a permitted use at your site.
  • License early: Factor DATCP’s pre-inspection lead time into your launch timeline.
  • Monitor for local updates: Menomonie may adopt STR-specific ordinances (e.g., caps, manager requirements, noise/occupancy standards). Check the City Ordinances portal and the Residential Rental Properties page periodically for changes.
  • Build a compliance file: Maintain copies of your city registration form, the state Tourist Rooming House license, and proof of carbon monoxide alarm compliance to streamline any future inspections or complaints.

Next step

Found a property in Menomonie?

Paste any address and get estimated revenue, cash-on-cash return, and comparable STR performance in under 5 minutes. 3 free analyses per day.

Ask the AI Advisor about Menomonie

Free brief

Get the free Menomonie STR Investment Brief

Revenue data, top neighborhoods, seasonal trends, and the key regulations for Menomonie, Wisconsin in one email.

Menomonie

Market Saturation Score

036912
Moderate Saturation
7/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
5–7 declining months: moderate saturation risk - market may be nearing capacity.
View Full Menomonie Market Analysis

Photos of Menomonie

Overview of Menomonie

Menomonie is a small city of roughly 16,000 residents in Dunn County, Wisconsin, situated along the Red Cedar River in the rolling landscape of western Wisconsin. Known primarily as the home of the University of Wisconsin–Stout, the state's designated polytechnic university, Menomonie blends a classic college-town atmosphere with the outdoorsy character of the upper Midwest. Visitors encounter a walkable historic downtown, an active arts scene, and easy access to rivers, lakes, and wooded bluffs. The city sits about 60 miles east of Minneapolis–Saint Paul, making it a convenient weekend escape from the Twin Cities metro.

One of Menomonie's most distinctive landmarks is the Mabel Tainter Memorial Hall, a striking Victorian-era theater and memorial building completed in 1889. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the building sits just off the downtown core and continues to host concerts, theatrical productions, and community events, drawing both regional audiences and travelers passing through the area on weekend getaways.

Just outside town, the Red Cedar State Trail follows the Red Cedar River south toward the city of Rice Lake, providing a paved and crushed-stone route for cycling, walking, jogging, and snowmobiling. The trailhead is a short drive from downtown Menomonie and connects to a broader network of Wisconsin rail-trails, making it a steady draw for outdoor recreation enthusiasts in every season. For those who prefer to stay closer to town, Lake Menomin offers fishing, paddling, and shoreline paths right at the edge of the city.

A short drive north of Menomonie brings visitors to the Devil's Punchbowl, a deep, fern-lined sandstone ravine that has become one of the area's signature natural attractions. Managed as a county park, it features a series of wooden stairways descending into the gorge, where a small waterfall tumbles into a bowl-shaped pool below. It is the kind of quick, free stop that adds a memorable layer to any stay in the region.

With its mix of small-city amenities, university energy, and easy access to the natural beauty of western Wisconsin, Menomonie makes a compelling base for a short-term rental. Travelers can enjoy the cultural offerings of a college town, spend days on the river or the trail, and still be back in the Twin Cities in roughly an hour and a half, a balance that appeals to both weekend visitors and longer-stay guests exploring the region.

Want to know if a property in Menomonie is a good investment?

Enter an address to get instant revenue potential and comps.