Skip to content
Oakclause

Rental Application Fee Laws in Wisconsin

Wisconsin lets a landlord charge a prospective tenant only the actual cost of a consumer credit report, up to $25, and no charge if the applicant provides a nationwide credit report less than 30 days old.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Wisconsin at a glance

Fee limit
Actual credit report cost, up to $25
Landlord must notify the applicant of the charge first and give the applicant a copy of the report.
Dollar cap
$25
Portable screening report rule
Yes, credit report under 30 days old

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Wisconsin

How much can a landlord charge for a rental application in Wisconsin?

Fee limit in Wisconsin: Actual credit report cost, up to $25. Landlord must notify the applicant of the charge first and give the applicant a copy of the report.

Is there a fixed dollar cap on rental application fees in Wisconsin?

Dollar cap in Wisconsin: $25.

Does Wisconsin law address reusable (portable) tenant screening reports?

Yes, credit report under 30 days old. Portable screening report rule in Wisconsin: yes, credit report under 30 days old.

Where do the Wisconsin rental application fee laws come from?

The rules above come from Wis. Stat. 704.085 and Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.05(4). Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

A landlord may also charge an applicant who is not a Wisconsin resident the actual cost, up to $25, of a background check, after giving notice and with a copy of the report (Wis. Stat. 704.085(2)). The statute was created by 2017 Wisconsin Act 317, effective April 18, 2018.

What this means in practice

Before collecting a fee, landlords can tell applicants in writing how much it is, what it pays for, and the screening criteria that will be used. Several statutes require some of this disclosure, and it also reduces disputes when an application is denied.

Keep a copy of the invoice or receipt from the screening company. Where the law ties the fee to actual cost or requires an itemized receipt, that record shows the fee was lawful.

Check local law as well as state law. In many states a city or county ordinance can set a lower limit or add refund and notice rules, and the stricter rule usually applies. A few states bar local rules on application fees.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.