Wisconsin Rent Increase Law
Wisconsin has no statute setting a notice period for raising rent; on a month-to-month tenancy the practical minimum is the 28-day written notice, ending at the end of a rental period, needed to change the tenancy's terms (Wis. Stat. § 704.19; Wis. Stat. § 704.44(1m)(a)). Wisconsin has no rent control and bars cities and counties from adopting it.
Last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed
Wisconsin rent increase rules at a glance
| Notice of a rent increase | No state ruleWis. Stat. § 704.19 (periodic-tenancy notice), Wis. Stat. § 704.44(1m)(a) (retaliatory rent-increase clauses void) |
|---|---|
| Rent control | None; cities barred from adopting itWis. Stat. § 66.1015 |
| Ending a month-to-month tenancy | 28 days (either side)Wis. Stat. § 704.19 |
What Wisconsin law says
How much notice is required for a rent increase in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has no statute setting a notice period for raising rent; on a month-to-month tenancy the practical minimum is the 28-day written notice, ending at the end of a rental period, needed to change the tenancy's terms (Wis. Stat. § 704.19; Wis. Stat. § 704.44(1m)(a)) (Wis. Stat. § 704.19 (periodic-tenancy notice)).
Does Wisconsin have rent control?
Wisconsin has no rent control, and no city, village, town or county may regulate the rent or fees charged for residential rental units (Wis. Stat. § 66.1015(1)).
How much notice ends a month-to-month tenancy in Wisconsin?
Either party may end a Wisconsin month-to-month tenancy with written notice given at least 28 days in advance, and the termination date must fall at the end of a rental period (Wis. Stat. § 704.19(2)–(4)).
How Wisconsin compares
23 of 51 verified jurisdictions set a statewide period.
Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota follow the same rule as Wisconsin; 1 of its 4 neighbors differs.
Local rules in Wisconsin
Madison is reported to cap residential late fees at 5% of monthly rent by ordinance (not verified against the Madison General Ordinances); check local codes in Madison and Milwaukee.
Other Wisconsin rules
| Security deposit limit | No state capWis. Stat. § 704.28 (no amount limit), Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.06 & Note (prepaid rent over one month treated as security deposit) |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 21 days after the lease endsWis. Stat. § 704.28(4), Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.06(2) |
| Late-fee cap | No state capWis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.09(8) |
| Entry notice | 12 hours' noticeWis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.09(2), Wis. Stat. § 704.05(2) |
| Notice for unpaid rent | 5 days (5-day notice to pay rent or vacate)Wis. Stat. § 704.17(1p)(a), (2)(a), (3)(a) |