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Two Rivers

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Two Rivers, WI

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Two Rivers, Wisconsin skyline

STR Regulations for Two Rivers, Wisconsin

Executive Overview

Yes, short-term rentals are explicitly allowed in Two Rivers, Wisconsin under Chapter 6-13 of the City Code of Ordinances, subject to licensing requirements and compliance with all applicable regulations. The city has established a formal licensing process that requires both city and county approvals, with strict operational standards to ensure community standards are maintained.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Two Rivers?

Two Rivers hosts earn a median $28,421/year with $182 ADR and 53% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $43,429+ per year.

See the full Two Rivers market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Two Rivers

Step 1: Pre-Application Preparation

Before submitting your city license application, you must first secure the required county-level approvals:

  1. Obtain a Tourist Rooming House License from Manitowoc County Health Department under Wisconsin Statute Section 254.64
  2. Schedule and pass a Lodging Inspection Report from Manitowoc County Health Department (must be dated within one year of your city application)
  3. Secure appropriate insurance coverage meeting the city's minimum requirements

Step 2: City License Application Process

  1. Complete the official STR application - available on the city website
  2. Pay the application fee - $150 for initial licensing
  3. Submit all required documentation (detailed requirements below)
  4. Undergo criminal background check - conducted by the Police Chief or designee
  5. Submit application to City Clerk at 1717 E. Park Street, Two Rivers, WI 54241

Step 3: Operational Requirements

Upon license approval, operators must:

  • Maintain compliance with all city, county, and state regulations
  • Display required information prominently
  • Keep detailed guest registers
  • Collect and remit room taxes
  • Ensure 24/7 availability of property manager or owner

Required Documents, Permits, and Licenses

County-Level Requirements (Must be obtained FIRST)

  • Tourist Rooming House License from Manitowoc County Health Department
  • Current Lodging Inspection Report from Manitowoc County Health Department (dated within one year of application)

City-Level Requirements

  • Short-Term Rental License Application (Form available on city website)
  • $150 application fee (payable to City of Two Rivers)
  • Proof of casualty and liability insurance with minimum coverage of:
    • $300,000 per individual occurrence
    • $1,000,000 aggregate
  • Criminal background check (conducted by city)
  • Property manager information (if owner not acting as property manager)

State-Level Requirements

  • STRs must comply with Wisconsin Statute § 66.0615(1)(dk) definition
  • Insurance company must be authorized to do business in Wisconsin by the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
  • Property must comply with Chapter SPS 321 of Wisconsin Administrative Code (smoke/carbon monoxide detectors)

Specific Regulations for Two Rivers STRs

Operational Standards

  • Maximum rental term: Fewer than 30 consecutive days
  • Annual operation limit: No license required if operating fewer than 10 nights per year
  • Noise compliance: Must comply with Section 9-2-5 of city ordinances
  • No on-site signage: Property cannot display advertising signs (off-site advertising permitted after licenses obtained)

Accommodation Restrictions

  • No RVs, campers, or tents allowed on property for additional guests
  • No grills on balconies/decks: Prohibits hibachi, gas grills, charcoal grills, or similar devices on balconies, decks, or within 10 feet of any structure
  • Outdoor cooking restrictions: Must comply with Section 3-1-3

Safety and Building Requirements

  • Minimum one off-street parking space (except in downtown area per Section 10-1-14.A.(2)(c))
  • Fireplace restrictions: Accessible wood-burning fireplaces require inspection certificate from licensed inspector dated within 30 days of application
  • Parking surfaces: Must be paved or gravel (Chapter 8-2)
  • Egress requirements: Safe, unobstructed means of egress to ground level
  • Detector requirements: Functional smoke and carbon monoxide detectors per Chapter SPS 321

Capacity and Guest Management

Current ordinance does not specify capacity limits, though city council has discussed implementing a "maximum capacity" definition of "two individuals for every bedroom plus four" with children under age two excluded. This proposal is under development and not yet enacted.

Guest Register Requirements

  • Maintain guest register for two years containing:
    • Full name and current address of all renters
    • Rental dates
    • Monetary consideration paid
  • Make register available upon city request
  • Quarterly reporting: Draft ordinance proposes quarterly submission of guest register to city within one month of quarter end

Financial Obligations

  • Room tax collection and remittance required (Chapter 6-11)
  • Insurance maintenance: Continuous compliance with minimum coverage requirements
  • Fee schedule:
    • Initial license: $150
    • Late fee: $100 (for renewals not filed by December 1)
    • Renewal fee: $75

Property Manager Requirements

If owner is not managing the property:

  • 24/7 availability: Property manager must be accessible by phone or in person
  • Designated authority: Must be authorized to act as owner's agent for:
    • Emergency response
    • Receiving violation notices
    • Accepting service of process
    • Allowing city entry for inspections

Zoning Compliance

  • Sexual offender residency restrictions: Must comply with Title 9, Article 9 (Sections 9-9-3.A. and 9-9-3.C.)
  • All applicable zoning regulations must be observed (Chapter 6-10 and Chapter 10)

License Duration and Renewal

  • Annual license term: January 1 to December 31
  • Renewal deadline: December 1 for continued operation
  • License lapses upon ownership change
  • Outstanding obligations: Cannot be renewed if fees, taxes, or forfeitures are owed to city

Enforcement and Appeals

Grounds for License Denial, Suspension, or Revocation

  • Material omissions or inaccurate statements in application
  • Repeated complaints from other jurisdictions where applicant conducted similar business
  • Criminal convictions materially related to services provided
  • Failure to comply with application requirements
  • Two or more police/fire service calls within 12 months for criminal, nuisance, or code violation activities
  • Outstanding fees, taxes, or forfeitures
  • Non-compliance with building inspection requirements
  • Failure to maintain required licenses
  • Zoning violations
  • Violations that harm residential neighborhood character

Appeals Process

  • Written appeal request must be filed with City Clerk within 10 days of denial
  • City Council hearing will consider appeal
  • Due process hearing for suspension, revocation, or non-renewal

Penalties

  • License revocation for violations
  • Additional penalties as provided in Section 1-1-5 of City Code

Contact Information for Local Authority

City of Two Rivers - Planning, Zoning & Building Inspection

  • Phone: (920) 793-5566
  • Economic Development: (920) 793-5564
  • Fax: (920) 793-5512
  • Address: 1717 E. Park Street, Two Rivers, WI 54241
  • Business Hours:
    • Monday-Thursday: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
    • Friday: 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Manitowoc County Health Department

  • Contact for Tourist Rooming House License and Lodging Inspection Report
  • [Contact information available through county website]

City Clerk

  • Phone: (920) 793-5523
  • Address: 1717 E. Park Street, PO Box 87, Two Rivers, WI 54241

Source Links and References

  1. City STR License Application Page: www.two-rivers.org/planning/page/short-term-rental-license-application
  2. Two Rivers Code of Ordinances - Chapter 6-13: library.municode.com/wi/two_rivers/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CD_ORD_TIT6LI_CH6-13LISHRMRE
  3. 2025 STR Application Form: www.two-rivers.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/community_development_services/page/6318/two_rivers_short_term_rental_application_final-2025-1.pdf
  4. Citizen Portal - Council Meeting Coverage: citizenportal.ai/articles/6313521/Two-Rivers/Manitowoc-County/Wisconsin/Council-reviews-draft-short-term-rental-ordinance-consensus-on-capacity-lighting-rules-to-be-reworked
  5. Draft STR Ordinance (March 2022): mccmeetingspublic.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/tworivrswi-meet-dfe72ece7ea04b8d9d75e6945209f455/ITEM-Attachment-001-fb97cb71c51048dd92c5a74997b0a909.pdf

Important Notes for Investors

  • Enacted vs. Proposed: The ordinances referenced above are the current enacted regulations. The draft amendments discussed in council meetings (capacity limits, lighting restrictions, quarterly reporting) are proposals under development and may change before enactment.
  • County Requirements: Always secure county approvals before applying for city licensing, as city license issuance depends on valid county documentation.
  • Timeline Planning: Plan for 6-8 weeks minimum to complete all requirements, including background checks and document processing.
  • Professional Assistance: Consider engaging local legal counsel or property management companies familiar with Two Rivers regulations for guidance through the process.

This guide reflects regulations as of the latest available information. Always verify current requirements with the city before proceeding with licensing.

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Two Rivers

Market Saturation Score

036912
Mild Saturation
4/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
2–4 declining months: early saturation pressure - watch for trend persistence.
View Full Two Rivers Market Analysis

Photos of Two Rivers

Overview of Two Rivers

Two Rivers is a small coastal city in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, situated on the western shore of Lake Michigan where the East Twin and West Twin Rivers empty into the bay. With a population of roughly 11,000 residents, the city has the easygoing feel of a working Lake Michigan town, with a fishing heritage, sandy shoreline, and a cluster of small woodcarving studios that have earned it a quiet reputation as a haven for the craft. Two Rivers sits about 90 miles north of Milwaukee and roughly 45 miles south of Green Bay, placing it within a comfortable day-trip distance of both larger Wisconsin cities while retaining the slower pace of a smaller lakefront community. The city is best known for its connection to the origins of the ice cream sundae, a claim that local restaurants and an annual summer celebration still lean into, and for serving as a gateway to the natural stretches of Lake Michigan shoreline just north of town.

A short drive north of the city brings visitors to Point Beach State Forest, a roughly 3,000-acre ribbon of forest, dunes, and beach running along Lake Michigan. The forest offers miles of marked hiking and biking trails, campgrounds, and access to the Rawley Point Lighthouse, one of the tallest lighthouses on the Great Lakes. Its combination of shoreline and old-growth pine draws visitors year-round, and it is roughly a 10-minute drive from the center of Two Rivers.

Within the city itself, Neshotah Beach stretches along the Lake Michigan shoreline at the mouth of the Twin Rivers and serves as the main summer gathering spot for swimming, sunbathing, and walks along the breakwater. The sand and gently shallow water make it a family-friendly anchor for the warm months, and the adjacent bandshell hosts community concerts in summer.

A few blocks inland, the Rogers Street Fishing Village is a small complex of historic fishing shanties, a commercial fishing museum, and docked vessels that tell the story of the city's commercial fishing past. Visitors can tour the tugboat and learn about the families who worked the lake for generations, and the site is within easy walking distance of most downtown lodging.

Downtown Two Rivers is also home to a notable concentration of woodcarving galleries and studios, with carvers displaying everything from songbird carvings to life-sized figures. Several studios welcome visitors to watch the work in progress, which has helped give the city a small but distinctive artistic identity along the lakefront.

For short-term rental owners, Two Rivers offers an appealing mix of Lake Michigan appeal, accessible outdoor recreation, and a base from which guests can explore both the Manitowoc area and the broader stretch of coast up toward Green Bay. Its proximity to Green Bay and Milwaukee, paired with quieter natural attractions like Point Beach State Forest, gives the city a steady appeal for couples, families, and outdoor travelers looking for a less crowded alternative to Wisconsin's more famous lake destinations.

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