How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in Wisconsin?
In Wisconsin, a landlord may charge an applicant the actual cost of a consumer credit report from a nationwide agency, up to $25, and nothing for one where the applicant provides a report less than 30 days old. The applicant must be told of the charge before the report is requested and given a copy of it. This is Wis. Admin. Code ATCP § 134.05(4); Wis. Stat. § 704.085(1)(a).
| What | Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Application fee | A credit report at cost, up to $25 |
Notes
The applicant must be told of the charge before the report is requested and given a copy of it.
Source
Wis. Admin. Code ATCP § 134.05(4); Wis. Stat. § 704.085(1)(a)
Read the statute in the Wisconsin Statutes (Wisconsin State Legislature): docs.legis.wisconsin.gov.
Checked against the statute on September 11, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
This page states what the state allows a landlord to charge somebody applying to rent, so a fee can be checked against it before it is advertised or collected.
Guides on this rule
- FCRA Adverse Action Notices: What Landlords Must Tell Applicants — When a screening report leads you to deny an applicant or ask for more, the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires a notice. What it must say, with the statute.
- Reusable Tenant Screening Reports: When Landlords Must Accept Them — Colorado requires landlords to accept a portable screening report; California, Maryland and Washington set disclosure and fee rules; New York waives the fee.
- Tenant Screening: What Landlords Need to Know — How to screen rental applicants fairly and legally: credit and background checks, consistent criteria, the FCRA’s adverse action notice and fair housing.
Compare this rule in every state
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