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Eagle River, WI STR Regulations (2026) | License Required, 0.5% Tax | HostReady

Eagle River, WI

Short-Term Rental Regulations

Moderate Risk Market

65

Risk Score

Tourist Rooming Houses (short-term rentals) in Vilas County require an annual permit from the Zoning & Planning Department, though TRHs located in the City of Eagle River are exempt from the County Zoning Permit requirement but still require a license from the Public Health Department and any necessary permits from the City. TRHs also require a sellers permit from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue and may require payment of room tax. Permits are non-transferable and expire if the property changes ownership.

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At a Glance

Last verified todayVerified from 7 sources

STR License

Yes

Parking Required

Yes

Tax Rate

0.5%

Potential Fines

Up to $500

Permit Status

Accepting

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These fields are being verified against Eagle River's official ordinance and permit records. Drop your email and we'll send you the verified data the moment it's published.

Eagle River, WI Regulations Guide

Tourist Rooming Houses (short-term rentals) in Vilas County require an annual permit from the Zoning & Planning Department, though TRHs located in the City of Eagle River are exempt from the County Zoning Permit requirement but still require a license from the Public Health Department and any necessary permits from the City. TRHs also require a sellers permit from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue and may require payment of room tax. Permits are non-transferable and expire if the property changes ownership.

Licensing and Permits

Eagle River requires hosts to obtain an STR license or permit before listing their property on platforms like Airbnb or VRBO. An inspection is required as part of the permitting process.

Get the full Eagle River compliance guide

Tax rates, platform collection details, occupancy limits, operational requirements, and more.

Compiled from 7 official government sources and continuously monitored for changes. Always verify current requirements with your local municipality before making investment or operational decisions.

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. STR regulations change frequently. Always verify current requirements with your local municipality before making investment or operational decisions.

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Full Requirements

Local Contact

Yes

Insurance Required

Yes

Permit Transferable

No

Inspection Required

Yes

Signage Required

Yes

Restrictions & Limits

Occupancy Formula

two people per bedroom as listed on the sanitary permit

Minimum Stay

29 nights

Max Nights/Year

10 nights

Permit Renewal

annual

Potential Fines

$500

Potential fines

Tax Obligations

Combined Rate

0.5%

State Tax

5%

Filing Frequency

quarterly

Airbnb auto-collects lodging tax

VRBO auto-collects lodging tax

Manual tax submission required (quarterly)

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Tax Calculator

Enter your revenue and see exactly what you owe in Eagle River, broken down by state, local, and what your platform collects.

Key Details

TRHs in the City of Eagle River are exempt from the County Zoning Permit requirement but still require a Public Health Department license and any necessary City permits.
All TRH permits expire on January 31 of the year after they are issued and must be renewed annually.
Permits are non-transferable; new owners must apply for a new permit upon purchase.
Occupancy is limited to two people per bedroom as listed on the sanitary permit; flows and loads affidavits or water meter data cannot be used to determine occupancy.
One off-street parking space is required for each two occupants plus one (e.g., 6 occupants = 4 parking spaces).
Parking spaces must be greater than 75 feet from the Ordinary High-Water Mark of a lake or river, 5 feet from a lot line, and at least 15 feet from a septic system, and cannot be in wetland, floodplain, easement, or mitigation areas.
A resident agent with a physical address or office within Vilas County or within 40 miles of the TRH is required.
TRHs in the Single-Family Residential (R-1) Zoning District must be rented for a term of seven days or more.
Property rules must be posted in view of renters and a list of property rules must be attached to the TRH application.

Building & Fire Code

Building Inspection

Yes

Fire Suppression

Yes

Egress Windows

Yes

Fire Extinguisher

Yes

Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors are required in all sleeping areas and on each level of the home.

Additional Requirements

Dwellings without a septic system, dwellings using a cesspool or other prohibited type of system, campers located outside of a campground, and mobile or manufactured homes located in a manufactured home park are not permitted to be used as a tourist rooming house. TRHs utilizing structures with septic systems installed using percolation tests (generally 1993 or before) will require a soil boring if one is not on file.

County & Property Requirements

Septic Limits

occupancy limited based on the size of the septic system, which is two people per bedroom

Setback Requirements

parking spaces must be located greater than seventy-five (75) feet from the Ordinary High-Water Mark of a lake or river, and five feet from a lot line

Enforcement & Permit Status

Permits

accepting

Enforcement Trend

stable

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Operational Rules

Noise

true

Parking

one off-street parking space for each two occupants, plus one

Posting Requirements

Property rules must be posted in view of renters, including: maximum occupancy permitted by the Vilas County General Zoning Ordinance; contact information for the owner or resident agent; number of vehicles and trailers permitted and where they should be parked; non-emergency contact information for law enforcement, fire, and EMS services; information on the high-water alarm for the septic system (if applicable) and what to do if it activates; where to locate outdoor burning regulations, hunting & fishing regulations, and local boating, snowmobile and off-road vehicle regulations.

Verification

Verified from 7 government sources

Regulations are continuously monitored for changes. Always confirm with your local jurisdiction before acting.

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Citation receipts

9 cited facts for Eagle River

7 corroborated2 single source

Every published fact below is taken from the city's own ordinance text. Quotes are verbatim — click through to the source to read them on the issuing authority's page.

Annual night cap10Corroborated
verified 12 days ago
“No person may maintain, manage, or operate a short-term rental more than ten nights each year without a city short-term rental license issued pursuant to this article.”
library.municode.com →
Inspection requiredYesCorroborated
verified 13 days ago
“Each short-term rental property shall have an annual fire inspection conducted by the local fire chief or designee.”
library.municode.com →
Insurance minimum$300,000.00 per individual and $1,000,000.00 aggregateCorroborated
verified 13 days ago
“All property managers shall carry casualty and liability insurance issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in the state with liability limits of not less than $300,000.00 per individual and $1,000,000.00 aggregate.”
library.municode.com →
License nameShort-Term Rental LicenseCorroborated
verified 13 days ago
“No person may maintain, manage, or operate a short-term rental more than ten nights each year without a city short-term rental license issued pursuant to this article.”
library.municode.com →
Local contact requiredYesCorroborated
verified 13 days ago
“A local property management contact, either the property owner or an appointed property manager, must be on file with the city at all times and must be located within 40 miles of the short-term rental.”
library.municode.com →
Minimum fine$500Corroborated
verified 13 days ago
“Any property owner who violates any provision of this article may be subject to a forfeiture of $500.00 plus court costs for each offense.”
library.municode.com →
Minimum stay29
verified 13 days ago
“Short-term rental means a residential dwelling that is offered for rent for a fee and for fewer than 29 consecutive days.”
library.municode.com →
Parking requiredYesCorroborated
verified 13 days ago
“Each short-term rental property shall have adequate off-street parking for those using the property at any given time.”
library.municode.com →
Where to applyhttps://www.vilascountywi.gov/departments/administration___officials/zoning_and_planning/tourist_rooming_.php
verified 12 days ago
“Tourist Rooming House Permit Application (updated 11/7/2025)”
vilascountywi.gov →