How to Rent Out Your Home for the NFL Draft (posted March 19, 2025)

You can almost feel the excitement in the air around Brown County. In little more than a month, the NFL Draft will be held at Lambeau Field and the surrounding properties. For a community this size, this event represents a massive undertaking with multiple challenges, including where all the thousands of visitors will stay during Draft week.  

The high demand for lodging has prompted an increase in people setting up their homes to be short-term rentals for the NFL Draft. Much has been made of the lofty prices for which these places are being advertised, as local hotel space has dwindled down to practically nothing. Many people are considering the crowds they will have to contend with during the Draft and wondering, “Is it worth renting out my place and getting away for the week?” 

Today’s edition of the Healthy Herald explains how to secure a short-term rental license so you can officially help welcome the masses next month when they descend on Northeast Wisconsin. 

Time is running out 

Anyone seriously considering turning their home into a Tourist Rooming House (the official term for a short-term rental) must know the time has come to make a decision. It takes a few weeks to legally license a property, so there is no time to waste in starting the process to join the nearly 950 others who hold a TRH license with Brown County Public Health. To make an obvious comparison: this is like the 4th quarter of a football game and time is running out for someone to get off the sidelines and participate. 

How to get licensed 

Tourist rooming houses fall under the same state code as hotels and motels. Known as ATCP 72, the code lays out this definition: “Tourist rooming house means all lodging places and tourist cabins and cottages, 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, or bed and breakfast establishments...”   

Every tourist rooming house in Brown County, save for two exceptions, must be licensed by Brown County Public Health to operate legally. The initial inspection (or yearly follow-up inspection) to obtain the license is intended to ensure the health and safety of the community and all who will be visiting here. Properties that fall within the City of De Pere or Oneida Nation must work with their respective health department to obtain a short-term rental license. If you don’t live in Brown County and are interested in starting a short-term rental, you can contact your local public health department to learn how. 

An annual public health license costs $350, which includes having an Environmental Health inspector come out and review your property and release the license. The total cost, including a pre-inspection fee, will be $490 or $455 depending on whether the property has been licensed as a short-term rental in the past or is new.   

Our tourist rooming house license application comes with a checklist the homeowner should complete before scheduling their inspection. It covers basic features the property must have, such as hot and cold running water, working plumbing, soap and towels, and sleeping rooms with washed linens.  



After you’ve submitted the application and payment, an Environmental Health Technician will reach out to schedule a visit. If no issues arise during the inspection, the technician will release the TRH license, and you can advertise your rental! 

Since late 2024, Brown County Public Health has focused additional staffing on lodging and licensing to address the increased local interest in short-term rentals due to the upcoming NFL Draft. The timeline of the process, from submitted application to on-site inspection, usually takes a few weeks. 

Homeowners who advertise a short-term rental without first obtaining a license are subject to fines and citations up to $2,500. 

Check your municipal requirements 

Some municipalities have their own licensing process in addition to Brown County Public Health. You’ll have to check to see what requirements are in place for where you live. It’s important to note that a municipal license does not take the place of a Brown County Public Health license for a tourist rooming house. 

Other considerations 

While getting licensed is the primary task required before you can rent out your home for the NFL Draft, there are other considerations of which one should be made aware. Namely, you’ll need to obtain a seller’s permit, for a nominal fee, if you anticipate making $2,000 or more from your Tourist Rooming House. This ensures it remains tax compliant with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. Additionally, you’ll want to check with your homeowner’s insurance about whether your plan covers short-term rentals. Brown County Public Health strongly encourages anyone planning to rent out their home to NOT skip this step, because finding out you don’t have coverage after a loss happens on your property would be quite consequential.   

Conclusion 

As always, Brown County Public Health remains a resource for the community. Anyone with questions about short-term rentals and how to get licensed can give us a call at (920) 448-6400 or visit the lodging section of StayHealthyBC.com. Like you, we are excited Brown County gets to showcase how great it is while the NFL Draft is in town. We sincerely hope everyone involved has a safe, healthy and wonderful time! 

For information about other Draft-related topics, visit the NFL Draft Resources section of our website.

Stay Healthy, Brown County!  

Resources 

https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/atcp/055/72 

https://www.browncountywi.gov/i/f/files/HHS-Public-Health/TRH%20Application%20%26%20Checklist%202024-%20Fillable%20%26%20DocuSign.pdf 

https://www.revenue.wi.gov/TaxForms2017through2019/btr-101.pdf 

https://www.stayhealthybc.com/businesses/business-licensing/lodging/

https://www.stayhealthybc.com/residents/nfl-draft-resources/

https://www.greenbay.com/rent-your-home/6-step-guide-to-short-term-rentals/