Richland County, WI to Gut and Rewrite Its STR Ordinance: What Hosts Must Know

Richland County, Wisconsin is preparing to tear up its short-term rental rulebook entirely. On Monday, October 5, 2026 at 9:00 a.m., the county's Zoning and Land Information Committee will hold a public hearing on a proposal to repeal and replace Chapter 121, the ordinance that currently governs every Airbnb, VRBO, and short-term rental in the county. If you rent out a property here, this is the single most consequential local government meeting of the year.

What Is Actually Happening

This is not a tweak or an amendment. The county's own notice is explicit: "The existing ordinance is proposed to be repealed in its entirety and be replaced with the updated ordinance." That means the legal foundation every host currently operates under would be wiped clean and rebuilt from scratch. New rules, new requirements, potentially new fees and new enforcement teeth. The scope of what changes is still unknown until the draft is reviewed, but the mechanism is as sweeping as it gets.

The hearing is being run by the Richland County Zoning and Land Information Committee, and it will take place in the County Board Room at the Richland County Courthouse, 181 W. Seminary St., Richland Center, Wisconsin.

The Date That Matters

Mark October 5, 2026 on your calendar now. That is the only scheduled opportunity for hosts, neighbors, property managers, and anyone else with a stake in the outcome to speak on the record before the committee votes. The notice is clear: "All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the hearing." Once that window closes, the new ordinance could move forward without your input.

The county published this notice on September 24, 2026, giving the public roughly ten days to prepare. That is a short runway for operators who may need to review the proposed replacement text, consult an attorney, or coordinate with other hosts before showing up.

How to Get the Proposed Ordinance Before the Hearing

You do not have to walk in blind. A copy of the proposed replacement ordinance is available at the Richland County Land Conservation and Zoning office at the courthouse address above. If you have questions about the draft language or want to review it ahead of time, the county's Land Conservation and Zoning Office can be reached at 608-647-2447. Calling ahead to request the draft text is the single most useful thing a host can do right now.

What This Means for Operators

A full repeal and recreation of an STR ordinance is rare and significant. It signals that county officials believe the existing framework is not just outdated in spots but fundamentally inadequate. That could mean stricter licensing requirements, new occupancy limits, added inspection requirements, or tougher enforcement provisions. It could also mean a more streamlined process. The point is: no one outside the drafting committee knows yet, and that uncertainty is exactly why showing up on October 5 matters.

Hosts who currently operate in compliance with Chapter 121 should not assume their existing setup will automatically satisfy whatever replaces it. A full repeal means a clean slate, and a clean slate means re-reading every requirement from scratch once the new text is finalized.

What to Do Right Now

• Call the Richland County Land Conservation and Zoning Office at 608-647-2447 and request a copy of the proposed new ordinance.
• Read the draft carefully, paying attention to any new licensing, inspection, occupancy, or operational requirements.
• Plan to attend the October 5, 2026 hearing at 9:00 a.m. at the Richland County Courthouse if you want to comment on the record.
• Connect with other local hosts before the hearing so the committee hears a coordinated, informed perspective from the operator community.

For the complete Richland County compliance guide including tax calculator, checklist, and daily monitoring, see Richland County, SC STR Regulations.