(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
SALEM LAKES, Wis. — Salem Lakes officials unanimously voted Tuesday night to begin pursuing what could become broad new restrictions on Airbnb and other short-term rental properties, directing Village Attorney Remzy Bitar — whose legal services bill the village at hundreds of dollars per hour — to begin developing options and possible ordinance language that could ultimately impose additional fees, permitting requirements and regulations beyond what Wisconsin already requires.
The village board, which following the recent election now consists of one conservative member and a liberal majority, approved the measure unanimously after an extended discussion focused on complaints involving short-term rentals, neighborhood impacts, safety concerns and possible revenue opportunities.
Village President Rita Bucur (D) strongly supported moving forward and repeatedly emphasized that she believes action needs to be taken before Airbnb-style properties become more common in Salem Lakes. “I am completely in favor of this,” Bucur said, later adding that the village has a responsibility to protect residents’ “assets, welfare, safety and way of life.”
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Trustee Amanda Procknow (D) was also supportive and discussed possible room-tax revenue opportunities during the meeting. The issue was initially brought before the board by Village Clerk Sara “Casara” Spencer. Spencer is known within village circles by the nickname “Casara,” a reference to her close relationship with former Village Administrator Cassandra Hiller. Spencer briefly served as interim co-administrator after Hiller’s departure and brought the issue to the attention of village officials and onto the board’s agenda.
Spencer told trustees she had already spoken with clerks from other communities and gathered examples of regulations being used elsewhere. “These ordinances can range from very basic,” Spencer told trustees. Trustee Dennis Faber (D) said he had received complaints involving short-term rentals and described one situation that he said involved concerns about a property being used as a party location.
“But the letter we got the other day was entirely different,” Faber said. “This is a big party place where people can just use it and abuse it.” Faber said numerous municipalities had already created similar ordinances and voiced support for Salem Lakes doing the same.
Officials discussed a wide range of possible restrictions, including registration requirements, local permitting systems, occupancy rules, annual well testing, smoke detector verification and even a minimum 30-day stay requirement.
If implemented, a 30-day minimum stay requirement could substantially affect — or potentially eliminate — many Airbnb-style weekend rentals. Pete Poli (R), the lone conservative on the board, discussed safety concerns and suggested possible additional measures including well testing and smoke detector verification.
However, Wisconsin already imposes state-level regulation on many short-term rental properties. Village Attorney Bitar acknowledged that during Tuesday’s discussion. “First, the state does require permitting,” Bitar told trustees.
Under Wisconsin’s Tourist Rooming House requirements, many operators already must obtain state licensing, comply with health and safety standards and undergo inspections. State fees can include approximately $592 for an initial inspection and approximately $296 annually for licensing and ongoing regulation.
State oversight already covers matters discussed Tuesday night, including smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, sanitation requirements, occupancy issues and other safety-related standards. Residents who spoke with Kenosha County Eye questioned whether additional village regulation would simply create another layer of local bureaucracy and cost for property owners who already comply with state rules.
Several residents told Kenosha County Eye they believed relying on safety concerns as a primary justification was disingenuous because many of those same protections already exist through state oversight.
One resident who spoke with Kenosha County Eye said:
“I can’t believe this government is putting up more red tape for people who simply want rights for their own property. The state already handles licensing and safety issues, so I’m confused why the board wants to add more rules and more taxes on us. Taxes in Salem Lakes are going up each year, and it seems like President Bucur looks for any reason to tax us more.”
Revenue also surfaced as a recurring topic during the meeting. Procknow discussed room-tax possibilities, although Spencer later clarified that the village itself would only retain a portion of those revenues while much would be directed elsewhere.
No ordinance has yet been drafted and no new restrictions currently exist.
Tuesday night’s vote simply begins the process, but with unanimous board support and village legal counsel now directed to move forward, Salem Lakes has officially started down the path toward potentially imposing additional regulations and fees on short-term rental properties.
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20 Responses
Great job Salem, way to vote in a whole herd of liberals
The state already does all of this. Why the hell are they creating another level of government overreach?
My husband and I own and operate an Airbnb in Trevor. We bought a house that was run down, disrespected, a constant mess and an eye-sore. We renovated it and maintain it impeccably. Our neighbors thank us for what we did. Our neighbors tell us our guests are a pleasure to have. Our neighbors and us have a great relationship and they’re happy we’re there. The county inspects us every year and we have no issues. We test our water. We have maximum occupancy requirements. We pay our taxes.
Our property is an escape for guests. A small quiet getaway from work, jobs, etc. The guests have all been 5 star and I have had all 5 star reviews. Imposing additional restrictions on us would make this more difficult; a 30 night minimum would make it impossible. My property has only benefited the neighborhood and has brought out of town traffic to the local shops, restaurants, and bars.
We bought this house as an escape for ourselves and as a retirement home. We can’t afford it without the ability to rent it as an Airbnb. I’ll be following this closely and be present to voice my stance.
Sell now, go.
It will only get worse
And u are now in their cross hairs.
Just sell.
Make a profit and go to a demonstrated conservative place.
Can’t have competition from the proposed hotel/water park planned… or did we forget about that? Wonder if they will require the hotel to have min. 30 day stays.
Btw, after 30 days if they don’t pay they are considered tenants and require an eviction process.
14 days
How can we fight back on this? I also have a Bnb in Salem. This is ridiculous.
Just copy an ordinance from a nearby community and use it. Stop wasting money on the attorney; we’ve spent enough already.
This is a good thing. Air B&B is part of the reason for the housing crisis. Burn the whole company down.
You win the most ignorant comment award!
A lot of properties in the community have a highest and best use as a second home and are priced accordingly. Having airbnb with responsible owner’s keeps economic revenue in the community while these properties would otherwise sit empty.
The 30 requirement is restrictive to being almost criminal !
To tell a tax paying property owner how they can “use” their property is wrong on so many levels.
Simple decorum of the guest vacationers and good vetting by the owners is simple and doesn’t need government oversight.
If a house becomes know as a party house because of access to a lake and boats, so be it !
Would you tell a full time owner he can’t have parties every weekend ? Would you tell him he can’t take his boat out every minute of every day ?
If he can afford it who is anyone to stop him ?
We have plenty of existing laws for all these things !
If something gets out of hand that needs police intervention then go that route. But unless someone is breaking the law then Fuck Off !!
If you don’t want that property to be a party house then buy it from that guy !! You are not the master of your street or neighborhood beyond calling law enforcement if laws are being broken and or danger exists like shooting off guns in the air or lake.
As for the owner commenting here saying this is an investment and goal for retirement, I support your way of affording your choice. Model landlords. Model citizens. Model taxpayers.
They took a dump and made it better. More tax value. More taxes for the community and schools.
And why are we paying a lawyer for something the clerk seems to have all figured out ? If it is to go forward the clerk can write this and just have the lawyer glance it over. If the lawyer can’t approve it or find something wrong in a simple 5 minute proof read then we need a new attorney.
And by the way, who asked the clerk to do this in the first place ?
Was this discussed in a previous meeting ?
And how about the back room “meetings” the other night at the TID presentation ? Were those legal ?
I VOTE NO FOR ANY AIRBNB ORDINANCE !!
WHO are any neighbors or supervisors to tell me or anyone else what to do with my property ?!?!?.
Peter, make the motion to kill this at your next opportunity. Jumping on the bandwagon with well testing and smoke detectors is weak at best. It doesn’t make you look good.
Stand up a be heard like we expect you to be !
Don’t just try to look concerned or involved.
Just Stop this Shit !!
According to state statute they can not restrict rentals of 7 days or more. The 30 days statement is wrong.
In Wisconsin, state law prohibits local municipalities from completely banning short-term rentals (STRs) of 7 consecutive days or longer. However, local governments can still require permits, impose a 180-day annual cap on rentals lasting between 7 and 29 days, and require state licenses.
… with your comment.
So the State already has laws in this regard.
You say it limits rentals of 7 to 29 days to 180 days.
What about the 3 day Friday-Saturday-Sunday rentals. Or as with this coming holiday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday ?
How are those calculated ?
I agree 100%!
We all appreciate you taking phone calls. Listening to your constituents. Having their backs on lake issues.
But this is not the cause to hitch your wagon to and get behind. There is nothing illegal here. Nothing wrong with a party house.
Sure I bet you love living on the water. Seeing the wildlife. Watching parents on the water with their kids having fun. Seeing a father and son in a boat at 5:30 in the morning getting the lines wet.
Even looking at all the ice fishermen sitting on the ice in the winter.
But if you want to keep busy then be ready for when the wake boat issue comes up again here !
Last year it went away. Waiting for state regulations if I remember correctly. Doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.
Elkhart Lake just got sued for their wake boat ordinance. Start paying attention to that !!
That’s something to pay attention to here because of the shallowness of some of our lakes.
Yes or no that fight is coming.
Party house ? Because we have nice lakes here ?
Down the road you might be happy that’s all anyone is complaining about !
Good for you. Glad you can afford it.
But don’t think just because you got more money than me you can tell me what to do with my house. Or even restrict the things you have to see and listen to because sound carry’s loudly over the water.
Protect the lakes ? Sure.
But to limit my income because you don’t like my choice of how I make it ?
Rules are rules. Building codes are building codes.
My house is in good shape. Safe as can be.
But don’t think you can tell me who I can let in my house !
Or when !
This board can’t even manage a basic budget; they had to borrow money just to stay afloat. Now they’re trying to act like a nanny state on top of it. It feels like we’re getting hit with Illinois-style politics, and nobody asked for that.
Bucur keeps pushing high‑density development, but thankfully she’s standing alone. She and Cassandra can take that idea back to Illinois if they love it so much.
I’d rather pay a little more and keep our roads clear, our town rural, and our quality of life intact. And I’m not the only one who feels this way, I’m the majority. It’s time people wake up; we need better officials who actually listen and understand what this community wants.
Salem lakes board has finically burden the tax payers enough.leave people alone.when they fix the muddle miss they created then they can screw something else up.
Soon they will be paying Remzy 10s of thousands of dollars to write an ordinance forcing us all to wrap ourselves in bubble wrap in the name of safety!! Let’s see what this costs. I’d bet $20k and it will take years like the chicken ordinance! Your concern is a noisy neighbor! How about the child running a full size ATV down Cogswell this past Saturday well over the speed limit with no helmet on! Probably not even 10! I’ve traveled all over the country ATVing. Glamis (CA), Deadwood (SD), Kentucky, Moab (UT), West Virginia. Never seen a circus with ATVs like I see in Salem Lakes. Amazing we have the most expensive municipal legal in Wisconsin and supposedly a competent board and we still can’t get a simple ordinance right! How about we copy and past from a local functional community and stop putting Remzy’s grandkids through law school?I believe we have had one ATV death and two major accidents within the last 2 years. But we’re worried about well water! But Rita says that the water testing is a source of revenue. Maybe it will buy Remzy a roller dog at the Kwik Trip after the meeting. We currently have something history making in this current board, but it’s not good history! Can we get Linda back? Please!! Valentine for president 2027.