Waupaca, Wisconsin Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Waupaca, WI?

YES, short-term rentals are explicitly allowed in Waupaca, WI and throughout Waupaca County. The municipalities of Farmington, Dayton, and the City of Waupaca have established frameworks to regulate and collect taxes from short-term rental operations. All three municipalities participate in a Room Tax Commission to ensure equitable distribution of room tax revenues, with 70% going to tourism promotion and 30% staying within the originating municipality for local priorities.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Waupaca?

Waupaca hosts earn a median $25,586/year with $269 ADR and 50% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $43,746+ per year.

See the full Waupaca market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in This Market

Starting a short-term rental business in Waupaca requires a multi-step compliance process across state, county, and municipal levels:

Step 1: State Registration and Licensing

Register for a tourist rooming house license from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
Anyone hosting short-term stays for 10+ days per year must complete this registration
Complete pre-inspection before license approval
Display the license prominently in your listing

Step 2: County-Level Licensing

Obtain a Food and Recreation Establishment License from Waupaca County Public Health
Submit annual permit application to Waupaca County Courthouse
The county considers each private rental unit as one room, regardless of bedroom count
For example, a 5-bedroom home is considered "one room" under the "Tourist Rooming House" category

Step 3: Municipal Permits

Obtain a Hotel/Motel/Short Term Rental Permit from your local municipality (Farmington, Dayton, or City of Waupaca)
This permit ensures municipalities have records of all STRs within their boundaries
If operating multiple properties across municipalities, complete separate applications for each property

Step 4: Tax Registration and Compliance

Register for room tax collection with your municipality
Register for Wisconsin state sales tax
If using major platforms like Airbnb or VRBO, verify automatic tax collection in your platform agreements

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

State-Level Requirements:

Tourist Rooming House License (Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection)
- Cost: $110 annual fee plus $300 one-time pre-inspection fee
- Renewal deadline: Annually by June 30
- License period: July 1 through June 30 of following year
- Application form available through state website

County-Level Requirements:

Food and Recreation Establishment License (Waupaca County Public Health)
- Annual permit
- Application submitted to Waupaca County Courthouse
- Checks payable to "Waupaca County DHHS"
- Application available at county health department website

Municipal Requirements:

Hotel/Motel/Short Term Rental Permit
- Annual permit with $25 fee
- Required for each property in each municipality
- Applications available on each municipality's website
- Provides municipal record-keeping for STR oversight

Tax Registration:

Room Tax Registration (Municipal)
- Town of Farmington: 8% room tax effective January 1, 2021
- Separate registration for each municipality where you operate
Sales Tax Registration (State)
- Wisconsin state sales tax: 5% of listing price including cleaning and guest fees
- Waupaca County tax: 0.5% of listing price including fees
- For reservations 29 nights or shorter

Specific Regulations for Short-Term Rentals

State Regulations (Wisconsin):

Licensing Threshold: Hosts renting for 10+ days per year must register
Inspection Requirement: Pre-inspection mandatory before license approval
Display Requirements: License must be visibly displayed in listing
Tax Obligations: State sales tax applies to rentals 29 nights or shorter

County Regulations (Waupaca County):

Licensing Authority: Waupaca County Public Health handles food and recreation licensing
Classification System: Each rental unit considered single "room" regardless of bedroom count
Category: Properties fall under "Tourist Rooming House" classification
Annual Renewal: All permits require annual renewal

Municipal Regulations:

Town of Farmington:

Room Tax Rate: 8% (effective January 1, 2021)
Separate Tourist Rooming House Permit required from Waupaca County DHHS
Town Room Tax Permit required in addition to county permit
Room Tax Reporting Form required quarterly

Town of Dayton:

Participates in regional Room Tax Commission
Requires Hotel/Motel/Short Term Rental Permit ($25 annual fee)
Room tax collection managed through commission structure

City of Waupaca:

Participates in regional Room Tax Commission
Requires Hotel/Motel/Short Term Rental Permit ($25 annual fee)
Room tax distribution through established commission framework

Tax Distribution Requirements:

70% of room tax revenues directed to tourism promotion through Convention and Visitor's Bureau
30% retained by originating municipality for local priorities
Room Tax Commission ensures equitable distribution across participating municipalities

Contact Information for Local STR Authorities

Waupaca County Public Health

Phone: (715) 258-6323
Email: publichealth@co.waupaca.wi.us
Address: 811 Harding St, Waupaca, WI 54981
Website: www.waupacacounty-wi.gov/departments/health_and_human_services/food_safety.php

Town of Farmington

Phone: (715) 258-2779
Email: clerk@farmingtonwaup.gov
Address: E913 Prairie View Lane, Waupaca, WI 54981
Website: farmingtonwaup.gov/
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

Phone: (608) 224-5012
Purpose: Tourist rooming house license inquiries

Waupaca Area Room Tax Commission

Contact through: Convention and Visitor's Bureau
Purpose: Room tax collection and distribution inquiries

Source Links

Waupaca County Room Tax Letter to Residents: town-dayton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2021-Room-Tax-Letter-to-Residents.pdf
Waupaca County Public Health Licensing: www.waupacacounty-wi.gov/departments/health_and_human_services/food_safety.php
Wisconsin Admin Code - Hotels, Motels, Tourist Rooming Houses: docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/atcp/055/72
Airbnb Wisconsin STR Guide: www.airbnb.com/help/article/3624
Town of Farmington Taxes Page: farmingtonwaup.gov/taxes/
Farmington Room Tax Permit Application: farmingtonwaup.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Application-for-Room-Tax-Permit-T-of-Farmington.pdf
Farmington Room Tax Reporting Form: farmingtonwaup.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Farmington-Room-Tax-Reporting-FormFILLABLE.pdf
Wisconsin Department of Revenue STR Information: www.revenue.wi.gov/Pages/TaxPro/2021/Homeowners-and-Individuals-Selling-Short-Term-Lodging.aspx
Waupaca County Code of Ordinances: www.waupacacounty-wi.gov/departments/government_departments/county_clerk/waupaca_county_code_of_ordinances.php

Important Notes for Investors:

Operating without proper licensing can result in penalties and legal action
Multiple municipalities may require separate permits if you operate in more than one jurisdiction
Tax obligations vary by platform - always verify your specific platform's tax collection practices
Room tax and sales tax must be paid quarterly if not automatically collected through online platforms
All permits are annual and require timely renewal to maintain legal operation

Next step

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Ask the AI Advisor about Waupaca

Waupaca is a small city in central Wisconsin and the county seat of Waupaca County, with a population of approximately 6,000 residents. It sits at the heart of a region shaped by more than twenty interconnected glacial lakes and is best known as the gateway to the Chain O' Lakes, a beloved four-season recreation area. The town has the feel of a classic Midwestern county seat, with a compact historic downtown, locally owned shops, and a community life tied closely to the surrounding outdoors. Waupaca lies about 50 miles west of Green Bay and roughly 120 miles northwest of Milwaukee, placing it within an easy drive of several of Wisconsin's larger urban centers and within a couple of hours of the Wisconsin Dells.

The Chain O' Lakes is a connected waterway of 22 lakes just north of downtown Waupaca, with public accesses, sandy swimming beaches, small marinas, and a mix of public and private shoreline. In summer the chain draws boaters, kayakers, anglers, and families, while winter brings ice fishing, snowmobiling, and the chance to warm up afterward in one of the nearby lodges or supper clubs that have anchored the local tourism economy for generations. The chain is the single most important draw for visitors to Waupaca and the reason many guests book a stay in the area year after year.

Just a few miles west of town, Hartman Creek State Park offers more than 2,800 acres of woodlands, prairie, and lakeshore, with hiking and biking trails, a family campground, and access to the calm waters of Hartman Lake. It is a favorite of visitors who want a quieter, more rugged outdoor experience than the busier chain of lakes and pairs naturally with a day of fishing or paddling back in Waupaca.

Downtown Waupaca centers on a preserved Main Street with brick storefronts, small galleries, coffee shops, and a year-round calendar of farmers markets, art walks, and seasonal festivals. The restored Waupaca Opera House anchors the cultural side of the downtown and hosts concerts, plays, and community events that give the city a liveliness well beyond what its size would suggest. The walkable core makes the city a comfortable base for visitors who want to spend evenings out without ever needing to get back in the car.

Waupaca's appeal as a short-term-rental market comes from the way it bundles natural beauty, small-town charm, and accessibility. It is close enough to Green Bay, Appleton, and the Fox Cities to draw weekend visitors, far enough from the state's largest tourist hubs to feel like a genuine escape, and surrounded by lakes, state-park acreage, and trails that fill the calendar from ice-out to the first snowfall. For travelers and investors alike, that combination of year-round demand drivers, walkable downtown amenities, and a recognizable regional identity tends to make Waupaca a place that rewards a longer look.