Washburn County is a northwestern Wisconsin county of approximately 16,000 residents situated between the agricultural communities of Barron County to the south and the deep Northwoods of Sawyer and Burnett Counties to the north. The county seat of Shell Lake, with approximately 1,400 residents on Shell Lake, is one of Wisconsin’s smaller county seats — a compact lakeside village that serves governmental functions while Spooner, approximately 15 miles to the west with approximately 2,600 residents, is the county’s commercial and transportation hub. Spooner sits at the junction of US Highways 63 and 70, making it the market center for a large rural area that draws customers from several surrounding counties. The Namekagon River — the upper section of the federally designated St. Croix National Scenic Riverway — flows through the county’s southern portion, providing exceptional canoeing, fishing, and wild river recreation. The county’s lakes district, centered on Shell Lake, Long Lake, and dozens of smaller bodies, attracts seasonal visitors and vacation property buyers from the Twin Cities and Chicago metros. The county’s economy combines dairy and agricultural employment in its southern townships with tourism and recreation in the lake areas.
All residential landlord-tenant matters in Washburn County are governed by Wis. Stat. Ch. 704 and ATCP 134. Eviction actions are filed at the Washburn County Circuit Court in Shell Lake. Wisconsin has no statewide rent control, and Wis. Stat. §66.1015 prohibits municipalities from enacting rent stabilization. No Washburn County municipality has a just-cause eviction ordinance.
County and municipal rules that apply alongside Wisconsin state law
Category
Details
Rental Registration
No statewide rental registration in Wisconsin. Washburn County and its municipalities including Spooner and Shell Lake have not enacted mandatory landlord licensing. Code enforcement is complaint-driven. Pre-1978 properties require lead paint disclosure under ATCP 134.04.
Rent Control
Banned statewide under Wis. Stat. §66.1015. No Washburn County municipality may enact rent stabilization. No local rent ordinance exists.
Security Deposit
No statutory cap in Wisconsin. ATCP 134.06 requires return within 21 days of tenancy end with itemized written deduction statement. Wrongful withholding: double damages plus attorney’s fees. Written check-in sheet at move-in required; tenant has 7 days to note disagreements.
Landlord Entry
Minimum 12 hours’ advance notice for non-emergency entry under Wis. Stat. §704.05(2). Emergency entry permitted without notice. Entry at reasonable times only.
Spooner, Shell Lake, the Namekagon & Lakes Economy
Washburn County’s dual-community structure of Shell Lake (county seat, governmental functions) and Spooner (commercial hub, transportation crossroads) gives the county a governing-commercial split common in rural Wisconsin but somewhat exaggerated here. Spooner’s position at the Highway 63/70 junction makes it a market center drawing from Burnett, Sawyer, and Barron Counties as well as Washburn itself. The Namekagon River — designated as part of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway — flows through the county’s southern portion providing nationally significant wild river canoeing and trout fishing. Shell Lake and the surrounding lakes district attract vacation property buyers and seasonal tourists from the Twin Cities metro, providing a seasonal recreation economy that supplements the permanent governmental and agricultural employment base. Washburn County also borders Burnett County to the west, and the combined northwest Wisconsin lakes country attracts significant vacation property investment.
Just-Cause Eviction
No just-cause requirement in Washburn County. Month-to-month tenancies may be terminated with 28-day written notice. Milwaukee’s just-cause ordinance (MCO §200-51.5) has no application here.
Wis. Stat. Ch. 704 and ATCP 134 statutes, notice requirements, and landlord rights that apply in Washburn County
⚡ Quick Overview
5 (first offense with cure); 14 (repeat within 1 year - no cure)
Days Notice (Nonpayment)
5 (first curable violation); 14 (repeat within 1 year - no cure); 5 (criminal/drug-gang activity - no cure)
Days Notice (Violation)
21-45
Avg Total Days
$$94.50-$114.50
Filing Fee (Approx)
💰 Nonpayment of Rent
Notice Type5-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate (first offense) / 14-Day Notice to Vacate (repeat within 1 year)
Notice Period5 (first offense with cure); 14 (repeat within 1 year - no cure) days
Tenant Can Cure?Yes for first 5-day notice - tenant can pay all rent to stop eviction; No for 14-day notice (repeat nonpayment within 1 year)
Days to Hearing5-25 (hearing 5-25 days after filing; tenant has 5 days to answer after service) days
Days to WritWrit of Restitution issued after judgment; sheriff executes days
Total Estimated Timeline21-45 days
Total Estimated Cost$200-500
⚠️ Watch Out
5-day pay or vacate for first nonpayment. CRITICAL: If landlord has given 5-day notice within past year, can instead give 14-day notice to vacate with NO cure right (§ 704.17(2)(a)). Acceptance of rent during nonpayment action does NOT waive right to proceed (§ 799.40(1m)). Eviction records appear on CCAP (public court records website) for 2-10 years - significant consequence for tenants. Small Claims Court handles all evictions. Declaration of Non-Military Service required (GF-175 form). If tenant wrongfully overstays, landlord can recover 2x daily rent for each day (§ 799.44(3)). 12-hour advance notice required for landlord entry (unless emergency or shorter notice agreed in lease). Some leases with terms >1 year can override statutory notice provisions (§ 704.17(5)).
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the Small Claims Court (Circuit Court) - Eviction Action (Wis. Stat. Ch. 799, §§ 799.40-799.45). Pay the filing fee (~$$94.50-$114.50).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Wisconsin eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified Wisconsin attorney or local legal aid organization.
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⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
Shell Lake county seat, Spooner commercial hub (Hwy 63/70 junction), Namekagon River (St. Croix National Scenic Riverway), northwest Wisconsin lakes district, dairy agriculture, Twin Cities vacation property market. Very thin rental market, modest rents.
Washburn County
Screen Before You Sign
County government and school district employees, Spooner-area retail and commercial workers, healthcare staff, agricultural workers, and lakes recreation economy employees are your core profiles. Written leases required in all cases. Verify income at 3x rent, run Wisconsin circuit court records.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Washburn County, Wisconsin
Washburn County occupies the transitional zone between northwestern Wisconsin’s agricultural communities and its lake-dominated Northwoods, giving it a mixed economic character that includes dairy farming, outdoor recreation, and the commercial services that Spooner provides to a large multi-county rural area. For landlords, the market is thin but stable, concentrated in Spooner and Shell Lake, with very modest rents reflecting the county’s small permanent population and rural character.
Spooner as Regional Hub
Spooner’s position at the intersection of US Highway 63 (running north-south through the county) and US Highway 70 (running east-west) makes it a natural crossroads market center for a large geographic area. Residents of Burnett County to the west, Sawyer County to the north, Barron County to the south, and the rural townships throughout the region drive to Spooner for grocery shopping, medical appointments, hardware and farm supply, auto services, and other retail and service needs. This regional commercial function sustains Spooner’s economy beyond what the immediate county population would support and provides employment for county residents across retail, healthcare, and service sectors.
The Namekagon River
The Namekagon River, which flows from Namekagon Lake in Bayfield County through Washburn County on its way to join the St. Croix River, is one of the most significant wild river assets in the upper Midwest. As the upper portion of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway — a federal designation that protects the river corridor from development while maintaining public canoe access — the Namekagon provides outstanding trout fishing, canoeing through remote natural corridors, and wildlife habitat that makes it a destination for paddlers and anglers from throughout the region. The river’s federal protection has preserved the natural character of the Washburn County landscape in ways that benefit both recreation economy and quality of life for permanent residents.
Wisconsin Legal Framework in Washburn County
All residential tenancies in Washburn County follow the standard Wisconsin Ch. 704 and ATCP 134 framework. The 5-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate for nonpayment, 5-Day Notice to Cure or Vacate for lease violations, and 28-Day Written Notice for no-cause month-to-month termination apply in full. Eviction actions are filed at the Washburn County Circuit Court in Shell Lake. No rent control (Wis. Stat. §66.1015). No just-cause eviction requirement.
Washburn County landlord-tenant matters are governed by Wis. Stat. Ch. 704 and ATCP 134. Nonpayment notice: 5-day pay or vacate. Lease violation: 5-day cure or vacate. No-cause termination: 28-day written notice. Security deposit return: 21 days; double damages for wrongful retention. Landlord entry: 12 hours’ advance notice required. No rent control (Wis. Stat. §66.1015). No just-cause eviction requirement. Eviction actions filed at Washburn County Circuit Court, Shell Lake. Milwaukee just-cause ordinance (MCO §200-51.5) does not apply. Last updated: April 2026.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Washburn County, Wisconsin and is not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Always verify current requirements with a licensed Wisconsin attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: April 2026.
