All short-term rentals in the City of Wauwatosa must be licensed through the City of Wauwatosa Health Department. The license year runs from July 1-June 30 each year.

Short-term rentals include rentals through Airbnb, VRBO, or other software.

Short-term Rental Inspections

Your short-term rental must be inspected annually to verify the operation meets all requirements of Wisconsin Statutes & Wauwatosa Municipal Ordinances related to public health and safety.

Prior to occupancy or advertising a property for or as a short-term rental, the property owner (or local representative) must receive a Wauwatosa permit. Review and approval of a permit application may take up to 30 business days, assuming all needed information is supplied.

How to License your Short-Term Rental:

1. License: Fill out and submit a short-term rental license application.
2. Inspection: Only after Step 1 is complete can you contact the Health Department to schedule your pre-inspection. This can be done either through a phone call to (414) 479-8936, or by email, with the subject line Short-Term Rental Pre-Inspection. To begin operating your short-term rental, you must have your license approved and your inspection completed.
3. Review the inspection checklist before pre-inspection.

Questions and Complaints:

To ask a question or to file a complaint, contact the Wauwatosa Health Department.

Resources:

• View Short Term Rental Inspection reports for Wauwatosa establishments
• ATCP 72: Hotels, Motels, and Tourist Rooming Houses, Administrative Code 
• Short Term Rental Guide