Which disclosures must a Wisconsin lease include?
Wisconsin landlord-tenant law is governed by Wisconsin's ATCP 134 consumer-protection rules and Chapter 704. The core disclosures a Wisconsin landlord must give at or around lease signing:
| Disclosure | Authority | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Owner/manager identity | ATCP 134.04(1) | Most leases |
| Code violations and habitability | ATCP 134.04(2) | Before the lease or deposit |
| Utilities / shared metering | ATCP 134.04(3) | When utilities aren't included or aren't separately metered |
| Nonstandard rental provisions | ATCP 134.09 | When unusual terms are used |
| Lead-based paint hazard + EPA pamphlet | Title X (federal) | Housing built before 1978 |
The main Wisconsin lease disclosures
Owner/manager identity (ATCP 134.04(1)): the landlord must disclose the person who manages the property and the owner or agent for service and notices (owner-occupied buildings of four or fewer units are excepted)
Code violations and habitability (ATCP 134.04(2)): the landlord must disclose uncorrected building/housing code violations it knows of and conditions affecting habitability
Additional Wisconsin disclosures
Utilities / shared metering (ATCP 134.04(3)): the landlord must disclose which utilities aren't included and the basis for allocating any shared-utility charges
Nonstandard rental provisions (ATCP 134.09): any lease term outside the standard statutory scheme must be in a separate document titled "NONSTANDARD RENTAL PROVISIONS" and specifically discussed with the tenant
Federal lead-based paint disclosure
Federal law overlays Wisconsin's own rules here. Any pre-1978 rental triggers Title X (42 U.S.C. § 4852d): the landlord must supply a signed lead-warning statement, disclose known lead hazards, share available inspection records, and give the tenant the EPA booklet Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home. Skipping it exposes the landlord to civil and, in serious cases, criminal liability.
What happens if a Wisconsin landlord skips a required disclosure?
Consequences depend on the disclosure:
- ATCP 134 violations let a tenant recover double damages plus reasonable attorney's fees under Wis. Stat. § 100.20(5).
- An unusual term not placed in the titled Nonstandard Rental Provisions document and discussed is unenforceable (ATCP 134.09).
- A federal lead-paint violation carries civil and, in egregious cases, criminal penalties plus tenant damages.
For the full set of Wisconsin lease rules, see What Must a Wisconsin Lease Agreement Include. Managing rentals in more than one state? Compare Wisconsin's list with our Illinois and Michigan disclosure checklists, and see the baseline in What Every Residential Lease Agreement Must Include.
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Create your Wisconsin lease agreement →Frequently asked questions
What disclosures are required in a Wisconsin lease?
A Wisconsin lease must include owner/manager identity; code violations and habitability; utilities / shared metering; nonstandard rental provisions (ATCP 134.04(1); ATCP 134.04(2); ATCP 134.04(3); ATCP 134.09), plus the federal lead-based paint disclosure for pre-1978 housing.
Does Wisconsin require a owner/manager identity disclosure?
Yes. the landlord must disclose the person who manages the property and the owner or agent for service and notices (owner-occupied buildings of four or fewer units are excepted) (ATCP 134.04(1)).
Does Wisconsin require a code violations and habitability disclosure?
Yes. the landlord must disclose uncorrected building/housing code violations it knows of and conditions affecting habitability (ATCP 134.04(2)).
Does Wisconsin require a utilities / shared metering disclosure?
Yes. the landlord must disclose which utilities aren't included and the basis for allocating any shared-utility charges (ATCP 134.04(3)).
Does Wisconsin require a lead-paint disclosure?
Yes, for pre-1978 housing. This is a federal requirement: the signed lead-warning disclosure, known records, and the EPA pamphlet.
Official sources
Primary statutes and official government references for this guide. Statutes change — always confirm against the current official text before you act.