City of Reedsburg, WI Chapter 556 Tourist Rooming Houses

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Reedsburg 11-28-2016 by Ord. No. 1837-16. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 556-1 Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to establish local license, administration and enforcement standards for tourist rooming houses.

§ 556-2 Definitions; license and registration; room tax.

[Amended 8-26-2019 by Ord. No. 1888-19; 7-13-2020 by Ord. No. 1905-20]

A "tourist rooming house" (TRH) is any lodging place or tourist cabin and cottage, 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, bed-and-breakfast establishments or units operated by a hotel, motel or resort. An "owner" means the holder of record of an estate in possession in fee simple, or for life, in land or real property, or a vendee of record under a land contract for the sale of an estate in possession in fee simple or for life but does not include the vendor under a land contract. A tenant in common or joint tenant is an owner to the extent of his or her interest.

A. The TRH shall have a current license from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection or the successor state licensing agency.

B. The owner shall register with the Clerk-Treasurer's office and pay room tax as required under Chapter 72, Finance and Taxation, of the Code of the City of Reedsburg.

C. An owner may operate one non-owner-occupied TRH, otherwise only the owner-occupant of the property may operate a TRH.

D. An annual TRH license is not transferable to a new owner.

E. A non-owner-occupied TRH may not be rented to nonassociated parties during the same dates.

F. The license shall remain in effect, subject to annual reviews by the Building Inspector, to verify in writing that a lodging license has been obtained and is current and the conditions attached to the license and all requirements of this chapter are adhered to. Reapplication for renewal shall be required with a change in ownership, alterations to the operational rules, noncompliance with the standards of this chapter, or documented violations. If there are two nuisance violations during an annual licensing period, the license may be revoked following a hearing by the Plan Commission.

§ 556-3 Standards for tourist rooming houses.

A. The TRH shall comply with Ch. 97, Wis. Stats., and Ch. ATCP 72, Wis. Adm. Code, or the successor statute and/or administrative code that is in effect at the time.

B. The maximum number of tenants allowed to reside in the TRH for overnight accommodations shall not exceed two persons per bedroom, plus two persons.

C. Each TRH shall have a registry available on site for inspection, indicating the identity of all guests and dates of stay. The registry shall include all information from the current registry year and the year immediately prior.

D. Contact information shall be posted on an exterior wall near the main and/or transient entrance and an interior common area of the TRH with a minimum display area of five inches by seven inches. The following must be provided:

(1) Address of property.

(2) Emergency contact information (police, fire, ambulance).

(3) Owner's and local contact person's telephone numbers.

(4) Maximum number of occupants allowed.

E. No TRH shall be located within 250 feet from any other TRH, bed-and-breakfast, or boardinghouse unless approved by the Plan Commission after notifying parties of interest.

[Amended 7-13-2020 by Ord. No. 1905-20]

F. At least one on-site, off-street, paved parking space shall be available.

G. No tourist shall use a gas grill, charcoal grill, or other similar device on or under any combustible surface or use a recreational camping vehicle in conjunction with the TRH.

H. Garbage and refuse shall be stored inside a building or concealed from public and neighbor view. It shall be placed in proper containers and comply with Chapter 518, Solid Waste, of the Code of the City of Reedsburg.

I. Performance standards shall comply with Chapter 690, Zoning, of the Code of the City of Reedsburg. The appearance of the dwelling shall not be altered in a manner that would cause the premises to differ from its residential character either by the use of colors, materials, construction, lighting, signs, or the emission of sounds, odors, dust, vibrations, or other effects that can carry beyond the premises.