General Information

More than 1.5 million Wisconsin residents live in rental housing. With hundreds of rentals occurring annually, it is important to both tenants and landlords that rules ensure these transactions are conducted fairly.

This booklet outlines the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants and provides a background and analysis of Wisconsin’s Residential Rental Practices Code.

IMPORTANT NOTE: 2011 WI Act 143, enacted in March 2012, made several important changes to landlord-tenant law. Click here https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/704.pdf for a copy of the new law and click here to see a copy of 2011 WI Act 143 https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/related/acts/143 and WI Legislative Council Act memo https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/related/lcactmemo/sb466.pdf explaining the changes. This information replaces sections of The Wisconsin Way.

Most of the information in The Wisconsin Way is still accurate and provides valuable information and plain language explanations of the laws for both landlords and tenants.

DATCP’s administrative rule is being updated to reflect the changes in the statute. The Wisconsin Way will be revised when the rulemaking is complete.

Copies of this booklet and other consumer protection brochures are available by contacting:

Bureau of Consumer Protection
Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
2811 Agriculture Dr
PO Box 8911
Madison WI 53708-8911
Toll-free Hotline: 800 422-7128
Email: datcphotline@wi.gov

For a copy of The Wisconsin Way, complete and return this form along with a check
for $10.00 (per copy) payable to “WDATCP."