Door County Tourism Zone Update

In May of 2007, the Door County Tourism Zone Commission was established out of the hard work of a group of concerned citizens . Studies showed that Door County was losing its market share to other locations in the state; the only way for Door County to remain a relevant destination was to generate money for a broader marketing campaign. The Door County economy has benefited from those efforts with the generation of incremental economic impact for our communities by attracting visitors with marketing strategies that ensure sustainable tourism

In 2022, Door County once again exhibited the benefits of these efforts, with several record-high months throughout the year. One essential factor in ensuring tourism’s continued success is ensuring everyone is doing their part. In order to balance the costs and benefits of tourism against the preservation of our communities and quality of life, the Tourism Zone believes legal lodging providers who collect and remit room tax deserve a level playing field for following the requirements. Failing to collect or remit tax and maintain licenses may give an illegal unit an unfair advantage over a legal lodging property. The Tourism Zone proactively and diligently seeks out those who are offering their property for short term rentals via word-of-mouth and online rental by owner sites such as VRBO, Tripadvisor and Airbnb to ensure proper permitting and remittance of room tax. Over 980 Airbnb listings and 860 VRBO listings were tracked in the first quarter of 2023 alone, in addition to 12 other sites and platforms which offered rentals or advertising. Any property shown to be missing a permit is contacted and notified of thei necessity to obtain a permit. As of April 2023, there were 1452 active Door County Tourism Zone permits.

The Tourism Zone is also committed to assisting permit holders with other safety and documentation requirements. We work to ensure that property owners are comfortable with the short-term rental process and municipalities receive an accurate amount of tax dollars consistently.

Door County Tourism Zone Launches New Web Site

In addition to the Door County Tourism Zone permit, shortterm rental operators are required to obtain a license from the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection. This process carries an inspection and annual licensing fee, ensuring that all properties are safe for visitors. Licensing specialists can be contacted at (608) 224-4923 or by emailing datcpdfslicensing@wi.gov.

Short-term rental regulations also vary by municipality in Door County. The Tourism Zone Commission encourages all property owners looking to use their property for short-term rentals to contact their municipality and ensure they are in compliance with local requirements. Additional information on Door County’s short-term rental permits can be found on the Tourism Zone website, www.doorcountytourismzone.com or individual municipal sites.

We are proud to be a part of tourism in Door County and appreciate the community’s efforts to continue making Door County a desirable and welcoming destination, just as they had done when the community created the Tourism Zone in 2007.

Room Tax Collections

In response to public comment regarding the Door County Tourism Zone site’s age and usability issues, the Tourism Zone Commission is in the process of making major updates. The site has already been updated to clearly organize information and allow for easy navigation. In upcoming improvements, lodging provider profiles will be provided with increased security along with features to simplify tax filing and property management. Lodging providers will be able to file all forms online, receive notices from the Tourism Zone office directly to their profile, and access permit-related documents, all from their own secure individual sign-on.

www.DoorCountyTourismZone.com of all room tax collected in Door County goes back to the local government of the municipality where the tax was generated. Since it was first implemented in 2007, room tax has generated more than $21.5 million in revenue for municipal governments throughout Door County. The above chart reflects the yearly amount municipalities collectively received from 2007-2022. Municipal governments can use their 30% of room tax however they see fit.

The site hosts a wealth of resources to explore, and the Tourism Zone encourages all lodging providers and community members to review room tax revenues, municipal tax reports, permit records, and meeting packets. It’s a great way to see the positive impact of tourism on Door County’s economy and stay up to date with short-term rental regulations. The Tourism Zone will also be expanding available data and lodging provider education tools to keep the public informed.

If you have any questions or are interested in renting your property as a short-term rental, we encourage you to email info@doorcountytourismzone.com.