Wisconsin Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
Wisconsin rules on rent increases & late fees for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: Preempted. No city, village, town, or county may regulate the amount of rent or fees charged for a residential rental unit. Inclusionary zoning is also prohibited. Wis. Stat. § 66.1015
The rules in Wisconsin
| Rent control / increase limits | Preempted. No city, village, town, or county may regulate the amount of rent or fees charged for a residential rental unit. Inclusionary zoning is also prohibited. Exceptions: units owned or operated by a municipality, county, housing authority, or WHEDA, and voluntary agreements with private owners. Source: Wis. Stat. § 66.1015 |
|---|---|
| Late fees | No statutory cap. A late fee may be charged only if the rental agreement specifically provides for it. Prepaid rent must be applied before a late fee is charged, and no fee may be charged for not paying a late fee. Late fees on past-due rent count as 'rent' for termination notices (Wis. Stat. § 704.17(1g)). Source: Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.09(8) |
Free calculators
- Late Fee Checker — Check a late fee against your state's cap and grace period.
- Rent Increase Calculator — In states with a statewide rent cap, see the most your rent can go up this year.
Related questions
- Can a landlord raise the rent in the middle of a lease?
- How much can a landlord charge for a late fee?
- How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent?
- Can a landlord evict you for no reason?
Wisconsin vs. neighboring states
| State | Rent control / increase limits | Late fees |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | Preempted. No city, village, town, or county may regulate the amount of rent or fees charged for a residential rental unit. Inclusionary zoning is also prohibited. Wis. Stat. § 66.1015 | No statutory cap. A late fee may be charged only if the rental agreement specifically provides for it. Prepaid rent must be applied before a late fee is charged, and no fee may be charged for not paying a late fee. Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.09(8) |
| Illinois | No statewide rent control, and home rule units are preempted from regulating the amount of rent charged for private residential or commercial property. 50 ILCS 825/10 (Rent Control Preemption Act) | No statutory cap statewide. AG: landlord may charge a reasonable fee for late rent. Landlords with 100+ units and an on-site office must accept rent there without penalty. Illinois AG fact sheet; 735 ILCS 5/9-218 |
| Iowa | Preempted: cities and counties may not adopt or enforce any limit on the amount of rent for private residential or commercial property (except property in which the local government has an interest). No statewide cap. Iowa Code § 364.3(9) (cities); § 331.304(10) (counties) | Rent of $700/month or less: late fee may not exceed $12 per day or $60 per month. Rent over $700/month: not more than $20 per day or $100 per month. Iowa Code § 562A.9(4) |
| Michigan | Statewide preemption: local governments may not adopt, maintain, or enforce any ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of controlling rent on private residential property. No statewide rent cap. MCL 123.411 | No statutory cap None (common law) |
| Minnesota | No statewide rent cap. State law preempts local rent control unless the measure is approved by voters in a general election. Saint Paul has a rent stabilization ordinance (originally adopted 'Ord of 11-2-2021', the 2021 general election date, per the ordinance's history notes): a 3% cap on increases within any 12-month period, with exceptions. Minn. Stat. § 471.9996; Saint Paul Legislative Code ch. 193A | Allowed only if the landlord and tenant agreed in writing. The agreement must say when the fee will be charged. The fee may not exceed 8% of the overdue rent payment. There is no statutory grace period. Minn. Stat. § 504B.177 |
City rules that may add to state law
More Wisconsin rental law
- Wisconsin Security Deposit Law
- Wisconsin Eviction Laws
- Wisconsin Notice to Vacate Rules
- Landlord Entry Rules in Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Repairs & Tenant Remedies
- Breaking a Lease in Wisconsin
- Squatters' Rights in Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Rental Fee Rules
- Wisconsin Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- Wisconsin Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- Wisconsin Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
- Wisconsin Landlord Selling the House
- Wisconsin Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
- Wisconsin Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All Wisconsin landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in Wisconsin
Compare rent increases & late fees in all 50 states and DC →
Wisconsin Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws FAQ
Is there rent control or a limit on rent increases in Wisconsin?
Preempted. No city, village, town, or county may regulate the amount of rent or fees charged for a residential rental unit. Inclusionary zoning is also prohibited. (Wis. Stat. § 66.1015)
Is there a limit on late fees in Wisconsin?
No statutory cap. A late fee may be charged only if the rental agreement specifically provides for it. Prepaid rent must be applied before a late fee is charged, and no fee may be charged for not paying a late fee. (Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.09(8))
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.