Wisconsin has no rent control anywhere in the state — it's prohibited by state law. Landlords can raise rent by any amount with proper notice. Wisconsin's landlord-tenant law (Wis. Stat. § 704) provides solid protections on deposits, habitability, and notice — among the more detailed in the Midwest.
Wisconsin at a Glance
Rent control: None
Statewide rent cap: None — landlords can raise rent by any amount
Preemption: Wisconsin state law explicitly prohibits local governments from enacting rent control ordinances (Wis. Stat. § 66.1015).
What Protections Wisconsin Tenants Do Have
Even without rent control, Wisconsin law gives renters meaningful rights in these areas:
Security Deposit
Wisconsin has no statutory cap on security deposits. Landlords must return the deposit within 21 days of move-out with an itemized statement. Wrongful withholding entitles you to double the amount improperly withheld plus attorney's fees (Wis. Stat. § 704.28).
Notice to Terminate
Month-to-month tenants must receive at least 28 days' written notice before the landlord terminates the tenancy (Wis. Stat. § 704.19). Many landlords use 30 days — both are legal.
Repairs & Habitability
Wisconsin landlords must maintain the premises in a reasonable state of repair and comply with housing codes. After written notice, landlords have a reasonable time to make repairs. Tenants may have the right to withhold rent or terminate the lease (Wis. Stat. § 704.07).
Retaliation Protection
Landlords cannot retaliate against tenants for reporting code violations or exercising legal rights. A rebuttable presumption of retaliation applies for adverse actions within 6 months of a protected act (Wis. Stat. § 704.45).
Lockout Prohibition
Self-help eviction is illegal in Wisconsin. Unauthorized lockouts entitle the tenant to punitive damages of up to 2 months' rent plus actual damages (Wis. Stat. § 704.11).
Allouez — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Appleton — No rent control. Wisconsin law prohibits rent control statewide (Wis. Stat. § 66.1015).
Ashwaubenon — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Baraboo — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Beaver Dam — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Bellevue — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Beloit — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Brookfield — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Brown Deer — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Burlington — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Caledonia — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Cedarburg — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Chippewa Falls — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Cudahy — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
De Pere — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
DeForest — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Eau Claire — No rent control. Wisconsin law prohibits rent control statewide.
Elkhorn — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Fitchburg — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Fond du Lac — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Fort Atkinson — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Fox Crossing — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Franklin — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Germantown — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Glendale — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Grafton — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Green Bay — No rent control; Wisconsin state preemption prohibits it.
Greendale — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Greenfield — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Greenville — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Harrison — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Hartford — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Hartland — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Hobart — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Holmen — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Howard — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Hudson — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Janesville — No rent control. Wisconsin law prohibits rent control statewide.
Kaukauna — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Kenosha — No rent control; Wisconsin state preemption prohibits it.
La Crosse — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Little Chute — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Madison — No rent control; Wisconsin state preemption prohibits it. Madison has an active Tenant Resource Center.
Manitowoc — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Marinette — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Marshfield — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Menasha — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Menomonee Falls — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Menomonie — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Mequon — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Middleton — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Milwaukee — No rent control; Wisconsin state preemption prohibits it.
Monroe — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Mount Pleasant — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Muskego — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Neenah — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
New Berlin — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
New Richmond — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Oak Creek — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Oconomowoc — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Onalaska — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Oregon — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Oshkosh — No rent control. Wisconsin law prohibits rent control statewide.
Pewaukee — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Platteville — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Pleasant Prairie — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Plover — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Port Washington — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Portage — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Racine — No rent control. Wisconsin law prohibits rent control statewide (Wis. Stat. § 66.1015).
Reedsburg — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Richfield — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
River Falls — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Salem Lakes — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Sheboygan — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Shorewood — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
South Milwaukee — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Stevens Point — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Stoughton — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Suamico — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Sun Prairie — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Superior — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Sussex — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Two Rivers — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Verona — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Watertown — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Waukesha — No rent control. Wisconsin law prohibits rent control statewide.
Waunakee — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Waupun — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Wausau — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Wauwatosa — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
West Allis — No rent control. Wisconsin law prohibits rent control statewide.
West Bend — No rent control. Wisconsin prohibits local rent control ordinances statewide (Wis. Stat. § 66.1015).
Weston — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Whitefish Bay — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Whitewater — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Wisconsin Rapids — No rent control; Wisconsin state protections apply.
Wisconsin Tenant Resources
These organizations offer free or low-cost help to Wisconsin renters:
Legal Action of Wisconsin — Free civil legal aid for low-income residents of Southern Wisconsin, including Madison and Milwaukee, covering housing and eviction.
Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee — Free legal help for low-income Milwaukee County residents, including tenant rights and eviction defense.
Wisconsin Judicare — Free civil legal services for low-income residents of Northern and Central Wisconsin, including housing cases.