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Stevens Point, WI

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STR Regulations for Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Overview: Are short‑term rentals allowed in Stevens Point, WI?

Yes. Short‑term rentals (STRs) are allowed in Stevens Point and throughout Portage County. In Wisconsin, STRs are commonly regulated as “Tourist Rooming Houses” (TRH). In the City of Stevens Point, TRHs are:

  • Permitted by right when owner‑occupied.
  • Permitted with a conditional use permit when the property is not owner‑occupied. All STR/TRH operations must obtain Portage County lodging licensing and pass health inspections, comply with county zoning, and comply with state tax obligations and local room tax.

Source: Stevens Point – Tourist Rooming Houses (stevenspoint.com/1291/Tourist-Rooming-Houses)

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Stevens Point?

Stevens Point hosts earn a median $32,894/year with $205 ADR and 53% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $45,056+ per year.

See the full Stevens Point market breakdown

How to start a short‑term rental business in this market

Investor‑focused, step‑by‑step process for Portage County (including the City of Stevens Point):

  1. Review the state health and safety framework and key definitions
    • Wisconsin Statute §66.0615(1)(dk) defines a short‑term rental as a dwelling offered for rent for fewer than 30 days.
    • Wisconsin Administrative Code ATCP 72 governs Tourist Rooming House (TRH) health and safety requirements.
  2. Contact your municipality for local requirements
    • Stevens Point requires a conditional use permit (CUP) if the STR is not owner‑occupied. Owner‑occupied STRs are permitted as of right.
  3. Apply for a Portage County lodging license
    • Submit the Portage County Establishment License Application and fees to Portage County Health & Human Services (PCHHS). Processing takes at least 10 business days.
  4. Arrange and pass a pre‑licensing inspection
    • After application review, PCHHS will schedule an inspection. Health inspection is required and must be passed.
  5. Obtain a Portage County zoning permit for STR/TRH
    • STR/TRH are permitted uses in Residential, Agricultural, and Neighborhood Commercial zoning districts in towns under Portage County zoning. The county requires a zoning permit and site plan review for road access, stormwater/erosion, parking/paving, landscaping/screening, lighting, and proposed occupancy.
  6. Assess state tax obligations and obtain any required seller’s permit
    • If you will earn $2,000 or more in a 365‑day period from STRs, obtain a Wisconsin seller’s permit and collect/remit sales tax and local room tax.
  7. List your property
    • Ensure you have completed the steps above before listing on Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.
  8. Ongoing compliance
    • Maintain annual licensing, inspections, and tax filings. Display local contact information to guests and neighbors.

Source: Stevens Point Area CVB – Complete Guide to Short Term Rentals (www.stevenspointarea.com/guide-to-short-term-rentals/complete-guide-to-short-term-rentals/)

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

State and local obligations:

  • Portage County lodging license (TRH)
    • Application: Portage County Establishment License Application
    • Mail to: Portage County Health & Human Services, 817 Whiting Avenue, Stevens Point, WI 54481
    • Processing time: minimum 10 business days
    • Annual health inspections (license year July 1–June 30)

Source: Stevens Point Area CVB – Complete Guide (www.stevenspointarea.com/guide-to-short-term-rentals/complete-guide-to-short-term-rentals/)

  • Zoning permit (Portage County)
    • Short‑term rentals/TRH are permitted in Residential, Agricultural, and Neighborhood Commercial districts in towns under Portage County zoning.
    • Site plan review criteria include road access, stormwater/erosion, parking/paving, landscaping/screening, lighting, proposed occupancy.
    • Submit the Portage County Zoning Permit Application to the Planning and Zoning Department.

Source: Portage County Zoning Application Procedures (www.co.portage.wi.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2574/Short-Term-Rental---Tourist-Rooming-House-Application-Procedures-PDF)

  • City of Stevens Point requirements
    • Permitted when owner‑occupied; conditional use permit (CUP) required when not owner‑occupied.
    • Enforcement and penalties under Zoning Code Chapter 23.

Source: Stevens Point – Tourist Rooming Houses (stevenspoint.com/1291/Tourist-Rooming-Houses)

  • Seller’s permit (Wisconsin Department of Revenue)
    • Required if STR gross revenue is $2,000 or more in any 365‑day period.

Source: Stevens Point Area CVB – Complete Guide (www.stevenspointarea.com/guide-to-short-term-rentals/complete-guide-to-short-term-rentals/)

  • Health and safety standards
    • Governed by Wisconsin ATCP 72.

Source: Stevens Point – Tourist Rooming Houses (stevenspoint.com/1291/Tourist-Rooming-Houses)

  • Tax collection and remittance
    • State sales tax and local room tax apply; lodging marketplaces may collect on your behalf.

Source: Stevens Point – Tourist Rooming Houses (stevenspoint.com/1291/Tourist-Rooming-Houses) and Wisconsin DOR guidance (www.revenue.wi.gov/Pages/TaxPro/2021/Homeowners-and-Individuals-Selling-Short-Term-Lodging.aspx)

Specific regulations (City, County, State)

City of Stevens Point

  • Zoning and licensing
    • Owner‑occupied STRs/TRHs are permitted uses.
    • Non‑owner‑occupied STRs/TRHs require a conditional use permit.
    • Operating without permits may result in fines per Chapter 23 of the City Zoning Code.

Source: Stevens Point – Tourist Rooming Houses (stevenspoint.com/1291/Tourist-Rooming-Houses)

Portage County (unincorporated towns)

  • Zoning
    • STR/TRH permitted in Residential, Agricultural, and Neighborhood Commercial districts in towns under Portage County zoning.
    • Zoning permit required; site plan review criteria include road access, stormwater/erosion, parking/paving, landscaping/screening, lighting, proposed occupancy.
    • Occupancy may be limited by private on‑site wastewater treatment system capacity; inspections may be required prior to permit issuance.

Source: Portage County Zoning Application Procedures (www.co.portage.wi.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2574/Short-Term-Rental---Tourist-Rooming-House-Application-Procedures-PDF)

State of Wisconsin

  • Definitions
    • Short‑term rental (STR) defined by statute as any building or structure used as a home or sleeping place offered for rent for fewer than 30 days.
  • Health and safety
    • TRH health and safety standards governed by ATCP 72; inspections required.
  • Taxes
    • Sales tax applies to lodging; room tax applies at the municipality level (e.g., City of Stevens Point requires room tax for stays).
    • Seller’s permit required once STR revenue reaches $2,000 or more in a 365‑day period; lodging marketplaces may collect/remit state sales tax on your behalf.

Sources: Stevens Point Area CVB – Guide Overview (www.stevenspointarea.com/guide-to-short-term-rentals/), Complete Guide (www.stevenspointarea.com/guide-to-short-term-rentals/complete-guide-to-short-term-rentals/), Stevens Point – Tourist Rooming Houses (stevenspoint.com/1291/Tourist-Rooming-Houses), and Wisconsin DOR guidance (www.revenue.wi.gov/Pages/TaxPro/2021/Homeowners-and-Individuals-Selling-Short-Term-Lodging.aspx)

Contact information (phone, email, website)

  • Portage County Health & Human Services (lodging licenses, health inspections)
    • Phone: 715‑345‑5350
    • Email: PCHHSD@co.portage.wi.us
    • Specific licensing contact (TRS health/licensing): Cheryl Helms, RS — Phone: 715‑345‑5772 — Email: helmsc@co.portage.wi.us

Source: Stevens Point – Tourist Rooming Houses (stevenspoint.com/1291/Tourist-Rooming-Houses)

  • Portage County Planning & Zoning (zoning permits for STR/TRH)
    • Phone: 715‑346‑1334
    • Email: planningandzoning@co.portage.wi.us
    • Key contacts:
      • Christ Mrdutt (Zoning Coordinator): mrduttc@co.portage.wi.us
      • Emmet Simkowski (Zoning Coordinator): simkowskie@co.portage.wi.us

Source: Stevens Point Area CVB – Guide Overview (www.stevenspointarea.com/guide-to-short-term-rentals/)

Source: Stevens Point Area CVB – Guide Overview (www.stevenspointarea.com/guide-to-short-term-rentals/)

Links to source pages

This guide reflects current local and state guidance and is designed to help investors plan, license, zone, and operate compliant short‑term rentals in Stevens Point and Portage County.

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Stevens Point

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 Stevens Point Market Analysis

Photos of Stevens Point

Overview of Stevens Point

Stevens Point sits in the heart of central Wisconsin, serving as the county seat of Portage County and home to a population of roughly 26,000 residents. The city carries a relaxed college-town character, shaped in large part by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, one of the larger campuses in the UW System. Long known for its brewing heritage and its location along the Wisconsin River, Stevens Point functions as a natural gateway to the lakes, forests, and small towns of central Wisconsin. It lies about 100 miles north of Madison and roughly 150 miles northwest of Milwaukee, making it a convenient stopover or home base for travelers exploring the middle of the state.

A defining outdoor feature of the area is the Green Circle Trail, a roughly 27-mile network of hiking, biking, and ski trails that loops through and around the city, threading past wetlands, the Wisconsin River, and several city parks. Right in town, the Schmeeckle Reserve offers an additional 280 acres of protected woodlands, lakes, and interpretive trails managed in partnership with the university, providing a quiet, easily accessible slice of nature for visitors who never leave the city limits. Together, these trail systems give Stevens Point a walkable, outdoors-forward identity that contrasts with the broader agricultural and forested landscape surrounding it.

The city's brewing roots remain a point of local pride, anchored by the Point Brewery, generally regarded as the oldest continuously operating brewery in Wisconsin. Its riverside facility and beer garden have long drawn visitors interested in regional craft brewing history, and the brewery's presence reinforces the casual, midwestern-pub atmosphere that runs through downtown. Nearby, the downtown area itself clusters restaurants, coffeehouses, and small shops around the river, giving short-term rental guests an easy walkable evening out without leaving the city.

Within about an hour's drive south, the Wisconsin Dells region offers a dramatically different experience, with its sandstone gorges, waterparks, and family-oriented attractions pulling visitors from across the Midwest. To the north and east, central Wisconsin opens up into a network of state wildlife areas, lakes, and the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, all of which support fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, and fall-color tourism depending on the season.

For short-term rental owners, Stevens Point appeals because it blends year-round demand drivers: a steady university population, a trail-and-river lifestyle that draws outdoor travelers, and proximity to larger regional draws like the Dells. Its central location within Wisconsin, approachable size, and mix of natural and cultural amenities make it a comfortable base from which to explore a wide swath of the state.

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