Cal. Civ. Code § 66.1015
Municipal rent control, inclusionary zoning, prohibited.
Operative Text
66.1015 Municipal rent control, inclusionary zoning, prohibited. (1) No city, village, town or county may regulate the amount of rent or fees charged for the use of a residential rental dwelling unit. (2) This section does not prohibit a city, village, town, county, or housing authority or the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority from doing any of the following: (a) Entering into a rental agreement which regulates rent or fees charged for the use of a residential rental dwelling unit it owns or operates. (b) Entering into an agreement with a private person who regulates rent or fees charged for a residential rental dwelling unit. (3) (a) In this subsection: 1. “Inclusionary zoning” means a zoning ordinance, as defined in s. 66.10015 (1) (e), regulation, or policy that prescribes that a certain number or percentage of new or existing residential dwelling units in a land development be made available for rent or sale to an individual or family with a family income at or below a certain percentage of the median income. 2. “Median income” has the meaning given in s. 234.49 (1) (g). (b) No city, village, town, or county may enact, impose, or enforce an inclusionary zoning requirement.
Wisconsin Statute § 66.1015 prohibits cities, villages, towns, and counties from setting caps or limits on the rent or fees that landlords charge for residential rental units. The law also bars local governments from enacting inclusionary zoning requirements—rules that would compel developers to make a share of new or existing housing available to lower-income households. Exceptions exist for government entities and housing authorities that own or operate rental units themselves, or that voluntarily enter into agreements with private parties to regulate rents on specific properties.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Wis. Stat. § 66.1015, no Wisconsin municipality has the legal authority to impose rent control ordinances or inclusionary zoning mandates on privately owned residential rental properties. Compliant operators in Wisconsin set rents and fees according to market conditions and the terms of their lease agreements, without concern that a local government will override those amounts through a local ordinance. Landlords who participate in voluntary agreements with housing authorities or government programs, however, may still be subject to rent or fee conditions tied to those specific arrangements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Wis. Stat. § 66.1015 means that Wisconsin tenants do not have the protection of local rent control ordinances, since the state law prohibits municipalities from enacting them. Tenants whose housing is provided through a government-owned property or a housing authority program may still have rent protections tied to those specific agreements. Tenants with questions about their rights under existing lease terms or government-assisted housing programs may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service familiar with Wisconsin housing law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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