Wisconsin Eviction Laws
Wisconsin requires a 5-day written notice to pay rent or vacate for nonpayment of rent for month-to-month tenancies.
Key Rules
- Nonpayment Notice
- 5 days written notice to pay rent or vacate (month-to-month tenancy)
- Lease Violation Notice
- 5 days to cure for certain lease violations; others allow immediate termination
- Periodic Tenancy Notice
- 28 days notice for month-to-month termination
- Rent Control
- No rent control — Wisconsin preempts local rent control ordinances
Some citations below have not been confirmed against their official source. Confirm current requirements with local legal aid or an attorney.
Applicable Statutes
Notice requirements for eviction: for nonpayment of rent, landlord must give 5-day written notice to pay or vacate for tenancies of 1 year or less; 30 days for tenancies exceeding 1 year.
Source confirmed · Official state source
View archived excerpt
“704.17704.17 Notice terminating tenancies for failure to pay rent or other breach by tenant. 704.17(1g)(1g) Definition. In this section, “rent” includes any rent that is past due and any late fees owed for rent that is past due. 704.17(1p)(1p) Month…”
Eviction (forcible entry and detainer) procedure: all evictions must proceed through court. Self-help eviction is prohibited.
Not confirmed against its source · checked
Retaliation prohibited: landlord may not retaliate against tenant for reporting habitability violations, joining a tenant organization, or exercising legal rights.
Source confirmed · Official state source
View archived excerpt
“704.45704.45 Retaliatory conduct in residential tenancies prohibited. 704.45(1)(1) Except as provided in sub. (2), a landlord in a residential tenancy may not increase rent, decrease services, bring an action for possession of…”
Legal Aid Resources
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Not Legal Advice. This site provides general educational information only — not legal counsel. Laws vary by location. Consult a qualified attorney for advice on your specific situation.