Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin
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Prairie Du Chien, WI
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Local STR Agent
Local STR Agent
STR Regulations for Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin
Key Findings:
- Short-term rentals (less than 30 days) are explicitly allowed as conditional uses in residential districts R-1, R-2, and R-3.
- No city-wide STR permit exists beyond standard zoning compliance and conditional use approvals.
- Regulations vary by zoning district, with stricter limits in lower-density residential areas.
- Commercial districts (B-1, B-2) allow hotels/motels but do not explicitly permit transient rentals in residential structures.
1. Overview: STR Legality in Prairie du Chien
Short-term rentals (rentals for <30 days) are permitted in Prairie du Chien, but only as conditional uses in specific residential zoning districts (R-1, R-2, R-3). This requires approval from the City Plan Commission after a public hearing (Section 8.0). Commercial districts (B-1, B-2) allow hotels/motels but do not explicitly permit STRs in residential structures.
Allowed Districts:
- R-1 Low-Density Residential (single-family)
- R-2 Medium-Density Residential (duplexes/townhomes)
- R-3 High-Density Residential (multi-family)
Prohibited/Not Explicitly Allowed:
- R-4 (Mobile Home District)
- Commercial/Industrial Districts (B-1, B-2, I-1, I-2)
- Riverfront (RF) and Agricultural Transition (AT) Districts
2. Starting an STR Business: Step-by-Step
- Verify Zoning Eligibility: Confirm your property is in R-1, R-2, or R-3.
- Apply for Conditional Use Permit: Submit to the Zoning Administrator (Section 8.2).
- Plan Commission Review: Attend a public hearing for approval (Section 8.3).
- Obtain Zoning Permit: After conditional approval, apply for a Zoning Permit (Section 9.0).
- Certificate of Occupancy: Required if converting an existing structure (Section 9.6).
3. Required Documents & Permits
- Conditional Use Application: Form available from the Zoning Administrator (Section 8.2).
- Zoning Permit: Issued by the Zoning Administrator (Section 9.5).
- Certificate of Occupancy: Mandatory for new STR conversions (Section 9.6).
- Fees: Set by the Plan Commission (Section 9.7).
- Home Occupation Permits: Not required for STRs (covered under conditional use).
4. STR-Specific Regulations by District
R-1 (Low-Density Residential)
- Permitted: Existing single-family dwellings rented short-term (Section 3.6(b)(10)).
- Requirements:
- Min. lot area: 6,000 sq. ft.; width: 60 ft.
- Max. height: 35 ft. (3 stories).
- Max. lot coverage: 30%.
- Yard setbacks: 15 ft. front, 8 ft. sides, 25 ft. rear.
R-2 (Medium-Density Residential)
- Permitted: Duplexes and townhomes (Sections 3.7(a)(2), 3.7(b)(11)).
- Requirements:
- Min. lot area: 8,000 sq. ft. (duplex); 10,000 sq. ft. (townhomes).
- Max. height: 35 ft. (3 stories).
- Max. lot coverage: 35%.
R-3 (High-Density Residential)
- Permitted: Multi-family apartments (Section 3.8(b)(11)).
- Requirements:
- Min. lot area: 12,000 sq. ft. (apartment buildings).
- Max. height: 45 ft. (4 stories).
- Max. lot coverage: 40%.
Commercial Districts (B-1, B-2)
- Allowed: Hotels/motels (Section 3.10(a), 3.11(a)).
- Not Allowed: STRs in residential structures.
5. City/County/State Regulations
- City: STRs must comply with zoning, conditional use, and building codes (Sections 2.4, 8.0).
- County: Crawford County has no additional STR-specific regulations.
- State: Wisconsin State Statutes (e.g., short-term rental tax collection requirements) may apply.
6. Contact Information
Zoning Administrator
- Phone: [Not provided in document]
- Email: [Not provided in document]
- Website: City of Prairie du Chien Official Site
Plan Commission
- Function: Reviews conditional use permits for STRs (Section 8.3).
7. Source Links
- [Prairie du Chien Zoning Code (2024)](cityofpdc.com/vertical/sites/%7B2B4E3FAC-3791-4F66-96C1-96E5F2FDBF40%7D/uploads/2024-CHAPTER_17_(ZONING_CODE.pdf)
Note: Investors must verify all requirements with the Zoning Administrator, as local regulations may update frequently.
What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Prairie Du Chien?
Prairie Du Chien hosts earn a median $20,347/year with $191 ADR and 48% occupancy.
Top performers pull in $30,695+ per year.
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Overview of Prairie Du Chien
Prairie du Chien sits in the southwestern corner of Wisconsin, in Crawford County, where the Wisconsin River meets the Mississippi. With a population of roughly 5,700, it carries the distinction of being one of the oldest European-settled communities in the Upper Midwest, and its riverfront location gives it a small-town feel layered with deep history. The city is well known as a launch point for exploring the Driftless Area, the unglaciated corner of the region prized for its bluffs, winding back roads, and outdoor recreation. Madison, Wisconsin's capital and nearest major metro, lies about 100 miles to the east, while La Crosse is roughly an hour upriver to the north.
Just across the Mississippi in northeastern Iowa, Effigy Mounds National Monument preserves more than 200 prehistoric Native American earthworks in the shapes of bears, birds, and other forms, all set on bluffs overlooking the river. The monument is about a 15-minute drive from Prairie du Chien via the Highway 18 bridge to Marquette, Iowa, and combines a small visitor center with miles of hiking trails. It is one of the most distinctive archaeological sites in the Midwest and a major draw for visitors interested in Indigenous history and bluff-top scenery.
A short drive south of town leads to Pikes Peak State Park, an Iowa state park perched above the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers. About 25 minutes away by car, the park offers panoramic views from its 500-foot bluffs, a network of trails that descend to the water, and a chance to see the rivers converge. Photographers and leaf-peepers in autumn especially favor the overlook here, which is one of the most photographed river scenes in the region.
Back in town, Villa Louis anchors Prairie du Chien's historic identity. The Victorian estate on St. Feriole Island was the home of the Dousman family, prominent fur traders and steamboat operators in the 19th century, and is now preserved as a Wisconsin historical site offering guided tours, costumed interpreters, and beautifully restored interiors. The Fort Crawford Museum, located nearby on the same island, occupies the site of a former U.S. military post and tells the story of early Prairie du Chien through artifacts, exhibits, and a replica of the second Fort Crawford, the same structure where the painter George Catlin once lived. Together, these two stops give visitors a compact and well-curated look at frontier and Victorian-era life along the Upper Mississippi.
For travelers who love the outdoors, the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge stretches for hundreds of miles along both sides of the river, with public access points, boat launches, and backwater sloughs right outside Prairie du Chien. The combination of two historic house museums, a national monument, an iconic state-park overlook, and one of the largest river refuges in the country makes Prairie du Chien a quietly compelling base for a short-term rental. Visitors get the walkability of a small river town, the scenery of the Driftless bluffs, and easy day trips in every direction, all without the crowds of Wisconsin's better-known destinations.
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