Announcements
ATCP 72 Rule Changes Update
Updates to Wis. Admin. Code. ch. ATCP 72 Hotel, Motel, Tourist Rooming Houses have now been finalized and went into effect on January 25, 2026.
These changes impact operational and compliance requirements for all hotel, motel, and tourist rooming house establishments.
We encourage you to review the updated ch. ATCP 72 and the Changes to ATCP 72 Fact Sheet.
Training Webinars
Have Questions or Suggestions?
If you have questions, suggestions, or need clarification on specific provisions, please contact the recreational technical mailbox at DATCPDFRSRec@Wisconsin.gov.
A tourist rooming house is defined as all lodging places and tourist cabins and cottages, other than hotels and motels, in which sleeping accommodations are offered for pay to tourists or transients. It does not include private boarding or rooming houses not accommodating tourists or transients, or bed and breakfast establishments.
In general, tourist rooming house establishments are vacation homes, cabins, and cottages that are rented out to tourists and transients for a short period of time.
Under a tourist rooming house license, an operator may rent as many as four units (e.g., rooms, cottages, cabins). You will need a hotel license if you rent five or more units.
Duration
-
Licenses issued by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) expire June 30 of each year.
-
License dates extend from July 1 of one year through June 30 of the following year.
-
If a license is granted after April 1 of a license year, that license will extend to June 30 of the following year. For example, if a business is licensed by DATCP on April 1, 2021, then its license will expire June 30, 2022.
-
Renewal fees for existing establishments shall be submitted to DATCP before June 30 each year.
Fees
| Tourist Rooming House (1-4 Rooms) | $110 | $300
|