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Pleasant Prairie is a fast-growing village in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, situated along Lake Michigan just south of the City of Kenosha and near the Illinois state line. Its proximity to both Chicago and Milwaukee has driven significant residential development, and a substantial share of residents rent their homes in apartment complexes, townhomes, and single-family rentals scattered across the community.
Renters in Pleasant Prairie are governed entirely by Wisconsin state law — primarily Wis. Stat. Chapter 704 — because the village has enacted no local tenant-protection ordinances beyond what the state requires. The most common questions tenants here ask involve security deposit returns, rent increase limits, and what their landlord must do before starting an eviction. Wisconsin law answers each of those questions in meaningful detail, providing renters with a clear set of rights and remedies.
This page summarizes those protections in plain language. It is intended as an educational resource only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a specific dispute with your landlord, consult a licensed Wisconsin attorney or one of the legal aid organizations listed at the bottom of this page.
Pleasant Prairie has no rent control, and no Wisconsin municipality does. Wisconsin state law explicitly strips local governments of the authority to regulate rent amounts. Wis. Stat. § 66.1015 states: "No local governmental unit may enact an ordinance or adopt a resolution that controls the amount of rent charged for a private dwelling unit." This blanket preemption has been in effect statewide and applies equally to villages, cities, towns, and counties throughout Wisconsin.
In practical terms, this means a landlord in Pleasant Prairie can raise your rent by any dollar amount at any time — as long as they provide the legally required advance written notice before the increase takes effect. For month-to-month tenants, that notice period is at least 28 days under Wis. Stat. § 704.19. For tenants with a fixed-term lease, rent cannot be increased until the lease ends unless the lease itself permits mid-term adjustments. There is no cap, no formula, and no government body that reviews or approves rent increases in Pleasant Prairie.
Renters who receive a rent increase notice should verify that it was delivered in writing and that the effective date falls at least 28 days after receipt. An improperly noticed increase may not be legally enforceable.
Wisconsin's Wis. Stat. Chapter 704 establishes comprehensive baseline protections for all renters in Pleasant Prairie. The major provisions are summarized below.
Security Deposits (Wis. Stat. § 704.28): Wisconsin imposes no statutory cap on the security deposit amount a landlord may collect, so the deposit is set by negotiation or market custom. After a tenant vacates, the landlord must return the deposit — along with a written, itemized statement of any deductions — within 21 days. If the landlord wrongfully withholds any portion of the deposit, the tenant is entitled to double the amount improperly withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees. Normal wear and tear may not be deducted.
Habitability and Repairs (Wis. Stat. § 704.07): Landlords in Wisconsin must keep rental units in a reasonable state of repair and in compliance with applicable housing codes throughout the tenancy. If a defect materially affects health or safety, the tenant must give written notice of the problem. After receiving notice, the landlord has a reasonable time to complete repairs. If the landlord fails to act, the tenant may have the right to withhold a proportionate share of rent, terminate the lease, or repair and deduct costs — subject to the specific procedures and limitations set out in § 704.07.
Notice to Terminate (Wis. Stat. § 704.19): A landlord must provide a month-to-month tenant with at least 28 days' written notice before terminating the tenancy. This notice must specify the termination date. Tenants who receive shorter notice should document it, because a defective notice can be challenged in eviction court.
Anti-Retaliation (Wis. Stat. § 704.45): A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for reporting housing code violations to a government agency, complaining to the landlord about habitability, or exercising any other legal right. If a landlord takes an adverse action — such as a rent increase, notice to vacate, or reduction in services — within six months of a protected act, Wisconsin law presumes the action was retaliatory. The landlord must rebut that presumption to proceed.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Wis. Stat. § 704.11): Self-help eviction is illegal in Wisconsin. A landlord who locks a tenant out, removes doors or windows, shuts off utilities, or otherwise attempts to physically remove a tenant without a court order is liable for punitive damages of up to two months' rent plus actual damages and attorney's fees. The only lawful way to remove a tenant in Wisconsin is through the formal court eviction process.
Wisconsin sets no statutory maximum on the security deposit amount that landlords in Pleasant Prairie may charge — the deposit is determined by whatever the landlord and tenant agree to at lease signing. Despite the absence of a cap, Wisconsin law imposes strict rules on how deposits must be handled and returned.
Return Deadline: Under Wis. Stat. § 704.28, a landlord must return the security deposit — or whatever portion is not subject to legitimate deductions — within 21 days after the tenant vacates the premises and returns possession to the landlord. The deadline runs from the later of move-out or key return. The refund must be accompanied by a written, itemized statement explaining any amounts withheld.
Permissible Deductions: A landlord may deduct for unpaid rent, damage to the unit beyond normal wear and tear, and any other charges expressly authorized by the written lease. Normal wear and tear — scuffs on walls, minor carpet wear from ordinary use — is not deductible. Before move-in, tenants should complete a detailed move-in checklist and retain a signed copy, as this documentation is critical if there is later a dispute about pre-existing damage.
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding: If a landlord fails to return the deposit within 21 days, fails to provide an itemized statement, or makes deductions that are not legally justified, the tenant is entitled to recover double the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees under Wis. Stat. § 704.28(4). Tenants may pursue this remedy in small claims court, which handles disputes up to $10,000 in Wisconsin.
Eviction in Pleasant Prairie follows Wisconsin's formal court process set out in Wis. Stat. Chapter 799 (small claims procedure) and Wis. Stat. Chapter 704. A landlord cannot remove a tenant without going through every step of this process.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, the landlord must serve the tenant with a written notice. The type and length of notice depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Filing a Court Action: If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord may file an eviction ("unlawful detainer") action in Kenosha County Circuit Court. The tenant will be served with a summons and complaint and notified of a hearing date.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: The tenant has the right to appear and present a defense. Defenses may include improper notice, retaliatory eviction under Wis. Stat. § 704.45, habitability issues, or payment of overdue rent. If the court rules in the landlord's favor, it issues a judgment for eviction.
Step 4 — Writ of Restitution: After a judgment, the court issues a writ of restitution. A law enforcement officer — not the landlord — carries out the physical removal. Tenants typically have a brief window (often 10 days) to vacate voluntarily before the writ is executed.
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal: Under Wis. Stat. § 704.11, any landlord who attempts to remove a tenant by changing locks, removing belongings, shutting off utilities, or using threats or force — without a court order — is liable for punitive damages of up to two months' rent plus actual damages and attorney's fees. Tenants who experience a lockout should call local law enforcement and contact legal aid immediately.
The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws can change, and the specific facts of your situation may affect how the law applies to you. Always verify current statutes directly or consult a licensed Wisconsin attorney or qualified legal aid organization before taking action regarding a landlord-tenant dispute. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and cannot represent you or advise you on your individual legal matter.
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