Can you short-term rent in the City of Delavan?
Room tax permit required; zoning not confirmed.
Researched by ELITE Lake Real Estate from the town's published code and public records. Checked November 2026 · Next review February 2027.
The rules in plain English
- The City's room tax covers short-term rentals of fewer than 30 days. Each rental needs an annual room tax permit, applied for by June 30.
- The rate is set by the City Council (last changed November 18, 2025) and posted at City Hall.
- A state tourist rooming house license is required, as everywhere in Wisconsin.
- Walworth County's one-rental-per-7-days rule does not apply inside the City. Whether City zoning allows short stays in each district is not confirmed.
- Shoreline
- The north end of Delavan Lake around Lake Lawn, about 19% of the shoreline
- Confirm with
- City of Delavan Clerk
- Also worth knowing
- Rental count not published
The full research, with sources
Room tax and permit
Chapter 3-5 (Hotel-Motel Room Tax) applies to short-term rental owners. A short-term rental is a residential dwelling offered for rent for fewer than 30 consecutive days. Owners and booking platforms must apply each year by June 30 for a room tax permit for each rental; permits are not assignable and must be displayed. Returns are due within 30 days after each period (monthly or quarterly). The rate is set by Council resolution (§ 3-5-4(a), amended November 18, 2025, Ord. RC-518).
Confirm with: City of Delavan Clerk
Sources: Municipal code (eCode360)
Zoning
The City's land use regulations could not be read for this review, so where short-term rentals are allowed and any minimum stay inside the City are not confirmed. Walworth County's short-term rental license and one-rental-per-7-days rule apply only in unincorporated towns.
Confirm with: City of Delavan Zoning
Sources: Municipal code (eCode360), Walworth County
Quick answers
Can you short-term rent a home in the City of Delavan, Wisconsin?
Check with the City. Room tax permit required; zoning not confirmed.
Who confirms short-term rental rules in the City of Delavan?
City of Delavan Clerk. Rules change and associations can be stricter than the town, so confirm before you buy.
Homes and communities in the City of Delavan
Homes for sale in the City of Delavan · Delavan Lake
- Harbor Club at Lake Lawn · Delavan Lake
- The Lodges at Lake Lawn · Delavan Lake
Rental rules in other towns
- City of Lake Geneva · Allowed with a City license
- Town of Linn · Allowed with permits
- Village of Williams Bay · Allowed with a Village license
- Village of Fontana · Depends on location
- Town of Delavan · Allowed with permits
- Town of Geneva · Allowed with a Town license
- Town of Randall · Check with the Town
- Village of Bloomfield · Check with the Village
- Town of Wheatland · Check with the Town
- Town of La Grange · County license, one rental per 7 days
- Town of Sugar Creek · County license, one rental per 7 days
- Village of Twin Lakes · Allowed with a Village license
- Town of East Troy · County license, one rental per 7 days
- Village of East Troy · Check with the Village
- Town of Mukwonago · County license, check local zoning
- Village of Mukwonago · Room tax, no local license found
- Town of Whitewater · County license, one rental per 7 days
- Town of Richmond · County license, one rental per 7 days
- Town of Palmyra · Check with the Town and County
- Town of Walworth · Allowed with Town and County licenses
- Town of LaFayette · Allowed with a County license
- Town of Lyons · Allowed with a County license
- Town of Troy · Allowed with a County license
- Town of Spring Prairie · Allowed with a County license
- Town of Darien · Allowed with a County license
General information from town ordinances and public records, not legal advice. Rules change, and associations can be stricter than the town. Confirm with the town and the association before you buy. "Not found" means we could not find it in the town's published code on the date checked.