Milwaukee Could Impose Owner Occupancy Rules on Short-Term Rentals

The city could tighten regulations on short-term rentals, many of which remain unregistered despite rules requiring permits.

1 minute read

July 26, 2024, 6:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Aerial view of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin with Quadracci Pavilion on waterfront in foreground.

Downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Nicholas J. Klein / Adobe Stock

Milwaukee officials will consider new regulations on short-term rentals (STRs) such as Airbnb, reports Tom Daykin in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

One of the proposed rules would require owners to live on-site at the properties they rent, a rule already in place in Madison, Wisconsin. “The new regulations would be a response to complaints about loud parties and other nuisance behavior linked to short-term rentals.”

Although the city requires STR owners to register their properties and acquire a license, the city says the majority of the roughly 1,000 operating STRs are not registered.

Jezamil Arroyo-Vega, commissioner of Mayor Cavalier Johnson's Department of Neighborhood Services, said the department would need $500,000 to $1 million to create a master list of rentals and boost enforcement.

Wednesday, July 24, 2024 in Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 4, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

White and yellow DART light rail train in Dallas, Texas with brick building in background.

DARTSpace Platform Streamlines Dallas TOD Application Process

The Dallas transit agency hopes a shorter permitting timeline will boost transit-oriented development around rail stations.

May 28, 2025 - Mass Transit

Group of five people sitting on blanket in park on sunny day having picnic.

Parks: Essential Community Infrastructure — and a Smart Investment

Even during times of budget constraint, continued investment in parks is critical, as they provide proven benefits to public health, safety, climate resilience, and community well-being — particularly for under-resourced communities.

June 10 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Close-up on older woman holding contented looking cat on her lap.

Porches, Pets, and the People We Grow Old With

Neighborhood connections and animal companions matter to aging with dignity, and how we build can support them. Here’s a human-scale proposal for aging in place.

June 10 - Shelterforce Magazine

Concrete staircase next to elevator in bright building with large windows.

Single-Stair Design Contest Envisions Human-Scale Buildings

Single-stair building construction is having a resurgence in the United States, where, for the last several decades, zoning codes have required more than one staircase in multi-story housing developments.

June 10 - Congress For New Urbanism

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.