Short-term rental rules · Door County (Sturgeon Bay), Wisconsin
Short-term rentals in Door County (Sturgeon Bay), explained properly.
In Sturgeon Bay, Door County's largest city, short-term rentals need a city license and a permit from the Door County Tourism Zone Commission, which administers room tax across the county's participating municipalities. The city license costs $100, renews annually and expires June 30, and the operator or a management company must be within a 90-minute drive of the rental. Wisconsin law bars local bans on rentals of seven days or longer, but allows limits on shorter stays, and rentals of more than 10 nights a year need a state Tourist Rooming House license. Other Door County towns and villages have their own ordinances.
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Draft. These rules were compiled from the sources listed below — official where available, with fields that rely on secondary sources marked for review — and have not yet been checked line by line. Confirm with the city before making decisions.
At a glance
What you need to know before you buy or list
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| City license plus Tourism Zone permit | Anyone renting transiently in the City of Sturgeon Bay needs a permit from both the Door County Tourism Zone Commission and the city[1] |
| $100 annual license, expires June 30 | The city's STR license costs $100, renews every year and expires June 30; more than 100 STRs were active in the city[2]Confirming |
| Operator within a 90-minute drive | The operator or its management company must be located within a 90-minute drive of the rental; this replaced an earlier rule requiring them to live in Door, Kewaunee or Brown County[2]Confirming |
| Wisconsin limits on local rules; state TRH license | Under 2017 Wisconsin Act 59, local governments cannot prohibit rentals of seven consecutive days or longer, but may regulate shorter stays. Rentals of more than 10 nights a year need a Tourist Rooming House license from the state or local health agency. State sales tax is 5% plus county sales tax, and municipalities add room tax[3]Confirming |
| Last researched | September 25, 2026 |
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Detailed rules
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Changes
Recent and pending changes
Watch the City of Sturgeon Bay Common Council and the Door County Tourism Zone Commission. The date of the license-rule change (a January 9 council approval) and the Tourism Zone room tax rate weren't confirmed in this pass. Egg Harbor, Sister Bay, Ephraim, Baileys Harbor and other Door County municipalities have separate ordinances.
Sources
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This page is general information compiled from public sources, not legal or tax advice. HOA rules, deed restrictions and zoning for a specific property can be stricter. Confirm with the local permitting office and a qualified professional before buying or listing a property.