Sister Bay Faces Lawsuit for Imposing Bedroom Limits on Rental Properties

9/25/2024

The Wisconsin-based Village of Sister Bay Board adopted a policy limiting short-term rental properties, which was enacted this summer. Four Door County property owners have sued claiming the new rules are illegal. The ordinance was adopted due to violations, concerns and complaints from residents, and incomplete applications. Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty attorney Luke Berg, who represents the property owners, said, "The Village of Sister Bay, in the summer of 2023, passed a law limiting short-term rentals to four bedrooms." The owners who have filed suit include those who were existing short-term rental owners or own properties that were in the process of being build when the zoning changes were made. Berg argues, "Well-established rule of property law is that zoning code changes can't be applied retroactively. Existing properties are grandfathered and the changes can't apply to them." Berg said the property owners are not interested in exceeding the 12-person occupancy limit for the village, but they want renters to be able to access and use all of the rooms and areas available in the homes they're renting.

FOX 11 News (09/17/24) Emily Matesic