Madison CHAPTER 114: APARTMENTS AND RENTAL PROPERTY; LODGING § 114.03
LICENSE REQUIRED
Operative Text
All owners of residential rental units, as above described, shall be licensed. It shall be unlawful for any person or firm to conduct, keep, manage or operate or cause to be conducted, kept, managed or operated, any dwelling, dwelling unit, apartment house, two-family dwelling, multi-family dwelling, single-family dwelling for rent, hire or lease or for services rendered without a license therefor. (Ord. 1302, passed 3-27-1996) Penalty, see § 114.99
Madison § 114.03 establishes that every owner of a residential rental unit in the city must hold a valid license before renting out any dwelling, whether it is a single-family home, duplex, apartment, or multi-family building. Operating, managing, or leasing a residential unit without that license is explicitly unlawful under this provision. The licensing requirement applies regardless of the size of the rental operation or the form of compensation received.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Madison § 114.03, compliant residential rental property owners obtain and maintain a current license for each applicable dwelling before accepting any tenant, rent, or lease agreement. Operators of apartment houses, two-family dwellings, multi-family buildings, and single-family rentals alike are covered by this requirement. Penalties for unlicensed operation are referenced in § 114.99, so keeping licensure current and renewing on schedule is a standard part of property management practice in Madison.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Madison § 114.03 requires that any landlord renting a residential unit to you hold a valid city license — operating without one is unlawful. If you have reason to believe your rental unit is being operated without the required license, you may have grounds to raise that violation as part of a housing complaint or legal proceeding. Tenant-rights organizations in Madison can help you understand what options are generally available under this provision and the associated penalty section, § 114.99.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.