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Second Lawsuit Filed Alleging Local Ordinance Violates Wisconsin's New Landlord Tenant Law (Act 76)

Posted by Tristan R. Pettit, Esq. in Legislation, Act 76 (SB 179) / Comments

I just read in the Wausau Daily Herald today that a second legal challenge has been filed based on Wisconsin's new landlord-tenant law (Act 76). The city of Wausau is getting sued by several local landlords over its Residential Rental Licensing Ordinance which requires that rentals be inspected every three years for compliance with the city's local building codes.

One of the arguments in the lawsuit is that the ordinance is contrary to sec 66.0104, Wis. Stats (which was created by Act 76) and prohibits municipalities from enacting or enforcing certain ordinances that affect landlords and tenants. I have covered this aspect in great detail in a prior blog post.

The first lawsuit was filed in La Crosse by the same attorney that is representing the Wausau landlords.

The Wausau landlords are seeking a permanent injunction to prevent the city from enforcing their Residential Rental Licensing Ordinance.

Tristan is the Executive Vice President and shareholder with the law firm of Petrie+Pettit and focuses his practice in the area of landlord-tenant law representing landlords and property management companies throughout Wisconsin.