Wisconsin Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
Wisconsin rules on mold, pests, heat & ac for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: No statute — neither Wis. Stat. ch. 704 nor the rental-practices rule (ATCP 134) mentions mold. Mold is handled under the general repair duty (structural repairs, keeping equipment and landlord-controlled areas in repair, complying with any local housing code) and the pre-lease… Wis. Stat. 704.07(2), (4); Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.04(2)
The rules in Wisconsin
| Mold | No statute — neither Wis. Stat. ch. 704 nor the rental-practices rule (ATCP 134) mentions mold. Mold is handled under the general repair duty (structural repairs, keeping equipment and landlord-controlled areas in repair, complying with any local housing code) and the pre-lease disclosure rule: before signing or taking a deposit, the landlord must disclose known uncorrected code violations that significantly threaten health or safety, and conditions that are a substantial hazard to the tenant's health or safety. A tenant may also use the untenantability remedies if the premises become unfit for occupancy. ATCP 134 text: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/administrativecode/ch.%20ATCP%20134.pdf. Local housing codes may address mold or moisture. Statutes as published Oct. 1, 2026. |
|---|---|
| Pests & bed bugs | No bed-bug-specific statute. If the premises are damaged by an infestation of insects or other pests caused by the tenant's acts or inaction, the landlord may let the tenant remediate or may do the work itself and charge the tenant the reasonable cost (materials, labor, and the landlord's time at a reasonable hourly rate). Infestations not caused by the tenant fall under the landlord's general repair and local housing-code duties. The landlord's cost is presumed reasonable unless the tenant proves otherwise. Source: Wis. Stat. 704.07(2), (3)(a) |
| Heat | Partly. The landlord must keep in reasonable repair any equipment it has expressly or impliedly agreed to provide to supply heat, and must comply with any local housing code. Before renting, the landlord must disclose if the heating facilities are not in safe operating condition or cannot maintain at least 67 degrees F (measured at the center of the room, midway between floor and ceiling) in all living areas during all seasons the unit may be occupied. The 67-degree figure is a disclosure standard, not a stand-alone minimum-temperature mandate; local housing codes (for example, in Milwaukee or Madison) may set enforceable minimums. |
| Air conditioning | No state requirement to provide air conditioning and no maximum indoor temperature. If the landlord has expressly or impliedly agreed to provide air conditioning, it must keep that equipment in a reasonable state of repair. Source: Wis. Stat. 704.07(2)(a)2. |
| Smoke and CO detectors | Owners of apartment buildings and other residential buildings must install smoke detectors per the manufacturer's directions and maintain those in common areas; the occupant maintains detectors inside the unit, but if the tenant gives written notice that one is not working, the owner must fix it within 5 days. Owners of dwellings with an attached garage, fireplace or fuel-burning appliance must install a working carbon monoxide detector in the basement and on each floor level; the occupant maintains it, and the owner must fix it after written notice that it is not working. Section 101.145 applies to 'residential buildings' such as apartment houses and rooming houses; § 101.647 applies to 'dwellings' as defined in the one- and two-family dwelling code. The repair deadline for CO detectors is in § 101.647(3)(b). |
Related questions
- Does a landlord have to fix mold?
- Who pays for pest control and bed bugs in a rental?
- Does a landlord have to provide heat?
- Does a landlord have to provide air conditioning?
Wisconsin vs. neighboring states
| State | Mold | Pests & bed bugs | Heat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | No statute — neither Wis. Stat. ch. 704 nor the rental-practices rule (ATCP 134) mentions mold. Mold is handled under the general repair duty (structural repairs, keeping equipment and landlord-controlled areas in repair, complying with any local housing code) and the pre-lease disclosure rule: before signing or taking a deposit, the landlord must disclose known uncorrected code violations that significantly threaten health or safety, and conditions that are a substantial hazard to the tenant's health or safety. A tenant may also use the untenantability remedies if the premises become unfit for occupancy. Wis. Stat. 704.07(2), (4); Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.04(2) | No bed-bug-specific statute. If the premises are damaged by an infestation of insects or other pests caused by the tenant's acts or inaction, the landlord may let the tenant remediate or may do the work itself and charge the tenant the reasonable cost (materials, labor, and the landlord's time at a reasonable hourly rate). Infestations not caused by the tenant fall under the landlord's general repair and local housing-code duties. Wis. Stat. 704.07(2), (3)(a) | Partly. The landlord must keep in reasonable repair any equipment it has expressly or impliedly agreed to provide to supply heat, and must comply with any local housing code. Before renting, the landlord must disclose if the heating facilities are not in safe operating condition or cannot maintain at least 67 degrees F (measured at the center of the room, midway between floor and ceiling) in all living areas during all seasons the unit may be occupied. Wis. Stat. 704.07(2)(a)2., 5.; Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.04(2)(b)2. |
| Illinois | No statute — Illinois has no statewide mold disclosure or remediation law for rentals. Mold falls under the landlord's general duty to keep the unit fit to live in, make necessary repairs, and comply with state and local health and housing codes. For small repairs required by the lease or by law (lesser of $500 or half a month's rent), a tenant may use the statutory repair-and-deduct procedure after 14 days' written notice. Illinois Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws, p. 1; 765 ILCS 742/5 | No statute — Illinois has no statewide pest or bed-bug law for private rentals. Infestations are handled under the landlord's duty to keep the unit fit to live in and comply with local health and housing codes. Illinois Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws, p. 1 | No statewide statute sets a heat requirement, minimum temperature, or heating season for private rentals. Heat is generally covered by the landlord's duty to keep the unit fit to live in and by local housing codes, which often set minimum temperatures (for example, in Chicago). Illinois Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws, p. 1 |
| Iowa | No statute — Iowa has no mold-specific landlord-tenant law. Mold is handled under the landlord's duties to comply with building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety and to make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to keep the premises fit and habitable. Iowa Code § 562A.15(1)(a)(1), (2) | No statute — Iowa does not specifically assign pest or bed-bug treatment or require a bed-bug disclosure. Infestations fall under the landlord's fit-and-habitable and code-compliance duties; tenants must keep their unit clean and dispose of garbage and waste in a clean and safe manner. Iowa Code §§ 562A.15(1)(a)(1), (2), (5); 562A.17(2), (3) | Yes. The landlord must supply running water, reasonable amounts of hot water at all times, and reasonable heat — unless the building is not required by law to be so equipped or the heat/hot water is generated by equipment under the tenant's exclusive control with a direct utility connection. Heating facilities supplied by the landlord must be kept in good and safe working order. No numeric minimum temperature is set by state statute. Iowa Code § 562A.15(1)(a)(4), (6) |
| Michigan | No statute — Michigan has no mold disclosure or remediation law. Every residential lease includes statutory covenants that the premises and common areas are fit for their intended use, that the landlord will keep the premises in reasonable repair, and that the landlord will comply with state and local health and safety laws. The exception is disrepair caused by the tenant's willful or irresponsible conduct. Where the Housing Law of Michigan applies, the owner must keep the roof from leaking and drain rainwater so as to avoid dampness in walls and ceilings. An occupant can sue for damages and injunctive relief if unsafe or unsanitary conditions go unabated after notice. MCL 554.139(1); MCL 125.471; MCL 125.536 | No statute — no state law specifically assigns pest or bed bug treatment or requires disclosure. Infestations fall under the landlord's statutory covenants of fitness and reasonable repair and the duty to comply with health and safety laws, unless the tenant's willful or irresponsible conduct caused the problem. Local housing codes often set specific extermination duties. MCL 554.139(1) | No statewide minimum indoor temperature or heating season was found in state statute. Where the Housing Law of Michigan applies, the owner must keep heating, plumbing, ventilation and wiring in good repair. More generally, the landlord's covenants of fitness, reasonable repair and compliance with health and safety laws apply to heating the landlord supplies. Many cities set minimum temperatures in local housing codes. MCL 125.471; MCL 554.139(1) |
| Minnesota | No statute — no mold-specific disclosure or remediation law. Mold is covered by the general statutory covenants that the unit and common areas are fit for their intended use, kept in reasonable repair, and kept in compliance with state and local health and safety laws. A condition with a serious negative impact on health or safety can support an emergency tenant remedies action, and tenants can also use rent escrow or a tenant remedies action. Minn. Stat. § 504B.161, subd. 1(a)(1), (2), (4); § 504B.381, subd. 1 | The landlord's statutory duty to keep the premises in reasonable repair expressly includes extermination of insects, rodents, vermin or other pests, including bed bugs. The exception is when the problem was caused by the willful, malicious or irresponsible conduct of the tenant or someone under the tenant's control. A serious infestation is an emergency that can support an expedited emergency tenant remedies action. No bed-bug-specific disclosure statute. Minn. Stat. § 504B.161, subd. 1(a)(2); § 504B.381, subd. 1(2)(i) | Yes, statewide. The landlord must provide heat of at least 68°F in all places intended for habitation, including kitchens and bathrooms, from October 1 through April 30. The only exception is when a utility company requires and instructs the heat to be reduced. Loss of heat that the landlord is responsible for is an emergency that can support an emergency tenant remedies action. Minn. Stat. § 504B.161, subd. 1(a)(5); § 504B.381, subd. 1(2)(iv) |
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Wisconsin Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules FAQ
Does a landlord have to fix mold in Wisconsin?
No statute — neither Wis. Stat. ch. 704 nor the rental-practices rule (ATCP 134) mentions mold. Mold is handled under the general repair duty (structural repairs, keeping equipment and landlord-controlled areas in repair, complying with any local housing code) and the pre-lease disclosure rule: before signing or taking a deposit, the landlord must disclose known uncorrected code violations that significantly threaten health or safety, and conditions that are a substantial hazard to the tenant's health or safety. A tenant may also use the untenantability remedies if the premises become unfit for occupancy. (Wis. Stat. 704.07(2), (4); Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.04(2))
Who pays for pest control and bed bugs in Wisconsin?
No bed-bug-specific statute. If the premises are damaged by an infestation of insects or other pests caused by the tenant's acts or inaction, the landlord may let the tenant remediate or may do the work itself and charge the tenant the reasonable cost (materials, labor, and the landlord's time at a reasonable hourly rate). Infestations not caused by the tenant fall under the landlord's general repair and local housing-code duties. (Wis. Stat. 704.07(2), (3)(a))
Does a landlord have to provide heat in Wisconsin?
Partly. The landlord must keep in reasonable repair any equipment it has expressly or impliedly agreed to provide to supply heat, and must comply with any local housing code. Before renting, the landlord must disclose if the heating facilities are not in safe operating condition or cannot maintain at least 67 degrees F (measured at the center of the room, midway between floor and ceiling) in all living areas during all seasons the unit may be occupied. (Wis. Stat. 704.07(2)(a)2., 5.; Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.04(2)(b)2.)
Does a landlord have to provide air conditioning in Wisconsin?
No state requirement to provide air conditioning and no maximum indoor temperature. If the landlord has expressly or impliedly agreed to provide air conditioning, it must keep that equipment in a reasonable state of repair. (Wis. Stat. 704.07(2)(a)2.)
Who is responsible for smoke detectors in a rental in Wisconsin?
Owners of apartment buildings and other residential buildings must install smoke detectors per the manufacturer's directions and maintain those in common areas; the occupant maintains detectors inside the unit, but if the tenant gives written notice that one is not working, the owner must fix it within 5 days. Owners of dwellings with an attached garage, fireplace or fuel-burning appliance must install a working carbon monoxide detector in the basement and on each floor level; the occupant maintains it, and the owner must fix it after written notice that it is not working. (Wis. Stat. §§ 101.145(3)-(4), 101.647(2)-(3))
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.