Wisconsin Eviction Laws

Wisconsin notice periods for ending a tenancy and starting an eviction, each as LeaseCraft read it in the statute at the official source, with its citation and read date (most recently ).

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Wisconsin notice periods

Periods are as the statute states them: some are minimums, some apply unless the lease sets another. "Lease controls" means there is no statutory period; "No pre-suit notice" means none is required before filing.

SituationNotice periodSource
Unpaid rent 5 days Wis. Stat. 704.17(1p)(a), (2)(a), (3), (4); 704.21; 704.19(7)
Read
Lease violation 5 days Wis. Stat. 704.17(1p)(b), (2)(b), (3)
Read
Ending the tenancy without a chance to cure 5 days Wis. Stat. 704.17(1p)(c); 704.17(2)(c); 704.17(3m)
Read
Ending a month-to-month tenancy 28 days Wis. Stat. 704.19(2)(a), (3), (5), (7)
Read
Tenant staying after the lease ends Lease controls Wis. Stat. 704.19(8)
Read
Ending a week-to-week tenancy 7 days Wis. Stat. 704.19(3)
Read

What the Wisconsin statute says

Unpaid rent 5 days
  • Month-to-month/week-to-week (704.17(1p)(a)) and leases of one year or less / year-to-year (704.17(2)(a)): notice requiring the tenant to pay rent or vacate on or before a date at least 5 days after the giving of the notice.
  • Alternative for periodic tenancies: while the tenant is in default, landlord may instead give a 14-day unconditional notice to vacate (704.17(1p)(a)). For one-year-or-less leases, a second default within one year permits a 14-day notice to vacate (704.17(2)(a)).
  • Leases for more than one year: 30 days to pay/comply (704.17(3)).
  • Notice is 'given' on the day of personal delivery/leaving, or the 2nd day after mailing if addressed within Wisconsin (704.19(7), applied via 704.17(4)/704.21).
Lease violation 5 days
  • Breach other than rent, periodic tenancy (704.17(1p)(b)) or lease of one year or less/year-to-year (704.17(2)(b)): notice requiring the tenant to remedy the default or vacate on or before a date at least 5 days after the giving of the notice; if the same kind of default recurs within one year after the earlier notice, landlord may give a 14-day notice to vacate with no cure.
  • Lease for more than one year (704.17(3)): notice to pay rent, repair the waste or otherwise comply with the lease on or before a date at least 30 days after the giving of the notice.
Ending the tenancy without a chance to cure 5 days
  • Criminal activity / drug-related criminal activity / drug or criminal gang nuisance (704.17(3m)(b)): notice to vacate on or before a date at least 5 days after giving; no cure; notice must state the basis, describe the criminal activity, and state the tenant's right to contest in court.
  • Nuisance under 704.17(1p)(c) (periodic tenancies): 5-day notice to vacate; notice 'shall state the basis for its issuance and the right of the tenant to contest the termination of tenancy'.
  • Repeat defaults within one year: 14-day notice to vacate, no cure (704.17(1p)(a)-(b); (2)(a)-(b)).
Ending a month-to-month tenancy 28 days
  • At least 28 days' written notice; a periodic tenancy 'can be terminated by notice under this section only at the end of a rental period' (704.19(2)(a), (3)).
  • Parties may agree expressly on another method of termination if established by clear and convincing proof (704.19(2)(a)); an inaccurate termination date makes the notice effective at the next proper date (704.19(5)).
Tenant staying after the lease ends Lease controls
  • 704.19(8): after a proper notice the tenant is not entitled to possession after the termination date; no separate holdover notice found in 704.17/704.19 (704.25 on holdover not researched).
Ending a week-to-week tenancy 7 days
  • 704.19(3): 'If rent is payable on a basis less than monthly, notice at least equal to the rent-paying period is sufficient' — 7 days for weekly rent; must end at the end of a rental period.

Just cause, delivery, form and local rules in Wisconsin

How the notice may be delivered

Wis. Stat. 704.21(1): (a) personal delivery to the tenant or leaving a copy at the tenant's usual place of abode in the presence of a competent family member at least 14 years old who is informed of the contents; (b) leaving a copy with any competent person apparently in charge of the rented premises or occupying it; (c) affixing a copy in a conspicuous place on the premises where it can be conveniently read AND mailing a copy; (d) registered or certified mail to the tenant's last known address; (e) service as a summons under 801.11. 704.19(7): notice is given on the day of giving/leaving, or the 2nd day after mailing (in-state address). 704.21(5): actual receipt cures an improper method.

Wis. Stat. 704.21; 704.19(7) · read

Required form or contents

none found — no statutory form; notices must be in writing (704.17(4)); criminal-activity and nuisance notices must state the basis for issuance, describe the criminal activity (704.17(3m)(b)) and state the tenant's right to contest the termination (704.17(1p)(c), (3m)).

Wis. Stat. 704.17(1p)(c), (3m)(b), (4) · read

Statewide just-cause rule

No statewide just-cause requirement

  • No just-cause requirement; either party may end a periodic tenancy by 28-day notice (704.19).

Wis. Stat. 704.19(2)(a) · read

For Wisconsin landlords

  • Find the period for your situation in the table above and count it from the day the notice is delivered.
  • Deliver the notice the way Wisconsin law allows and keep a record of how and when.
  • A notice is not a court order and does not by itself remove a tenant.

For Wisconsin tenants

  • Compare the notice you received with the period for its situation in the table above and the date it reached you.
  • A notice is not a court order. If a case is filed, the court papers say how and by when to respond.
  • Local legal aid and tenant organizations can explain your options.

How an eviction generally proceeds

A general outline, not Wisconsin law: the steps, their names and their deadlines differ by state and court. The Wisconsin rules LeaseCraft has verified are the ones above.

  1. Written notice. The landlord gives the notice the situation calls for and waits out its period.
  2. Court filing. If the tenant has not paid, cured or left, the landlord files an eviction case in court.
  3. Hearing. Both sides can be heard; the tenant may raise defenses such as an improper notice.
  4. Judgment. The court decides who has the right to the property.
  5. Removal. If the court rules for the landlord, removal follows its order. A notice is not a court order and does not by itself remove a tenant.

Wisconsin eviction questions

  • 5 days, under Wis. Stat. 704.17(1p)(a), (2)(a), (3), (4); 704.21; 704.19(7). Month-to-month/week-to-week (704.17(1p)(a)) and leases of one year or less / year-to-year (704.17(2)(a)): notice requiring the tenant to pay rent or vacate on or before a date at least 5 days after the giving of the notice. LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.

  • 5 days, under Wis. Stat. 704.17(1p)(b), (2)(b), (3). Breach other than rent, periodic tenancy (704.17(1p)(b)) or lease of one year or less/year-to-year (704.17(2)(b)): notice requiring the tenant to remedy the default or vacate on or before a date at least 5 days after the giving of the notice; if the same kind of default recurs within one year after the earlier notice, landlord may give a 14-day notice to vacate with no cure. LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.

  • 28 days, under Wis. Stat. 704.19(2)(a), (3), (5), (7). At least 28 days' written notice; a periodic tenancy 'can be terminated by notice under this section only at the end of a rental period' (704.19(2)(a), (3)). LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.

  • Wis. Stat. 704.21(1): (a) personal delivery to the tenant or leaving a copy at the tenant's usual place of abode in the presence of a competent family member at least 14 years old who is informed of the contents; (b) leaving a copy with any competent person apparently in charge of the rented premises or occupying it; (c) affixing a copy in a conspicuous place on the premises where it can be conveniently read AND mailing a copy; (d) registered or certified mail to the tenant's last known address; (e) service as a summons under 801.11. 704.19(7): notice is given on the day of giving/leaving, or the 2nd day after mailing (in-state address). 704.21(5): actual receipt cures an improper method. Source: Wis. Stat. 704.21; 704.19(7). LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.

  • No statewide just-cause requirement, under Wis. Stat. 704.19(2)(a). No just-cause requirement; either party may end a periodic tenancy by 28-day notice (704.19). LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.

  • 7 days, under Wis. Stat. 704.19(3). 704.19(3): 'If rent is payable on a basis less than monthly, notice at least equal to the rent-paying period is sufficient' — 7 days for weekly rent; must end at the end of a rental period. LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.

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Cities and counties can add rules. LeaseCraft is not a law firm and this is not legal advice.