Waupaca County is a central Wisconsin county of approximately 52,000 residents anchored by the city of Waupaca — one of Wisconsin’s most charming small cities at approximately 6,500 residents, situated at the heart of the Chain O’ Lakes region whose 22 interconnected spring-fed lakes draw summer tourists and vacation property buyers from the Fox Valley, Milwaukee, and Chicago metros. Waupaca’s compact downtown, its Victorian commercial buildings, and its lakeside resort hotels give it a character that stands apart from most central Wisconsin county seats. New London, approximately 15 miles to the southeast on the Wolf River, is the county’s second-largest city at approximately 7,000 residents, serving as an industrial and commercial hub anchored by Menasha Corporation, Kimberly-Clark operations, and manufacturing employment. Clintonville and Manawa are the county’s other significant communities. The county’s economy combines tourism and lake recreation in the Waupaca area, industrial and manufacturing employment in New London and Clintonville, dairy agriculture across the rural townships, and county governmental and healthcare employment.
All residential landlord-tenant matters in Waupaca County are governed by Wis. Stat. Ch. 704 and ATCP 134. Eviction actions are filed at the Waupaca County Circuit Court in Waupaca. Wisconsin has no statewide rent control, and Wis. Stat. §66.1015 prohibits municipalities from enacting rent stabilization. No Waupaca County municipality has a just-cause eviction ordinance.
Waupaca (~6,500), New London (~7,000), Clintonville (~4,500)
Median Rent
~$700–$900
Major Economy
Chain O’ Lakes tourism, Menasha/manufacturing (New London), dairy agriculture, healthcare
Rent Control
None (banned statewide §66.1015)
Landlord Rating
6/10 — Charming Waupaca lake city, Fox Valley fringe, New London manufacturing
⚖️ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
5-Day Pay or Vacate
Lease Violation
5-Day Cure or Vacate
No-Cause (Month-to-Month)
28-Day Written Notice
Court
Waupaca County Circuit Court, Waupaca
Process Name
Eviction (formerly Forcible Entry & Detainer)
Post-Judgment Move-Out
As ordered by court; writ issued after judgment
Avg Timeline
3–6 weeks (uncontested)
Waupaca County Local Ordinances
County and municipal rules that apply alongside Wisconsin state law
Category
Details
Rental Registration
No statewide rental registration in Wisconsin. Waupaca County and its municipalities including Waupaca, New London, and Clintonville 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 Waupaca 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.
Chain O’ Lakes, New London Manufacturing & County Character
Waupaca’s Chain O’ Lakes — 22 spring-fed lakes connected by natural channels and short portages — is one of Wisconsin’s most distinctive inland lake systems and the primary driver of the Waupaca-area tourism economy. The lakes’ clarity, their interconnected navigability by canoe and kayak, and the charming village of Waupaca at the chain’s northern end make the area a preferred destination for Fox Valley, Milwaukee, and Chicago vacationers who have steadily bought lake properties and sustained the resort economy. New London’s manufacturing base — anchored by Menasha Corporation’s packaging operations and other industrial employers along the Wolf River corridor — provides working-class employment that anchors a more conventional residential rental market in the eastern portion of the county. The county’s proximity to the Fox Valley metro (Appleton is approximately 30 miles from New London) provides modest commuter rental demand.
Just-Cause Eviction
No just-cause requirement in Waupaca 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 Waupaca 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.
Chain O’ Lakes (22 interconnected spring-fed lakes), Waupaca Victorian downtown, New London Wolf River manufacturing (Menasha Corp.), Clintonville industrial, dairy agriculture, Fox Valley commuter fringe. No rent control, 5-day pay/vacate.
Waupaca County
Screen Before You Sign
Chain O’ Lakes resort and hospitality workers, New London/Clintonville manufacturing employees, county government and school district staff, healthcare workers, and Fox Valley commuters are your core profiles. Verify income at 3x rent, run Wisconsin circuit court records.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Waupaca County, Wisconsin
Waupaca County’s rental market reflects the county’s divided economic geography: the lake-and-tourism character of the Waupaca city area, whose Chain O’ Lakes drives the seasonal recreation economy, versus the Wolf River industrial and manufacturing character of New London and Clintonville, whose factory floors and packaging plants anchor a more conventional working-class residential rental market. For landlords, understanding which market you are operating in shapes the appropriate strategy, tenant profile, and seasonal management approach.
The Chain O’ Lakes
Waupaca’s Chain O’ Lakes is genuinely unique among Wisconsin lake systems — 22 spring-fed lakes connected by natural channels and short portages that allow continuous canoe and kayak travel through a remarkably scenic and preserved corridor. The lakes’ spring-fed character gives them exceptional clarity compared to lakes in more agricultural watersheds, and the surrounding landscape of wooded hillsides and historic resort properties gives the chain an aesthetic quality that has attracted visitors since the Victorian era. Waupaca city’s well-maintained downtown commercial district, its Thomas Hotel (a landmark property on the chain), and the arts and cultural amenities that support the tourist economy give the city an above-average small-city character for its size.
New London’s Manufacturing Economy
New London’s position on the Wolf River, with manufacturing facilities anchored by Menasha Corporation’s paperboard packaging operations, provides industrial employment that anchors a more conventional working-class residential rental market with year-round demand and income profiles typical of manufacturing-sector workers. The Wolf River at New London — downstream from its famous whitewater sections in Menominee County — supports fishing and some recreation that supplements the industrial economy.
Wisconsin Legal Framework in Waupaca County
All residential tenancies in Waupaca 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 are the operative notice timelines. Eviction actions are filed at the Waupaca County Circuit Court in Waupaca. No rent control (Wis. Stat. §66.1015). No just-cause eviction requirement.
Waupaca 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 Waupaca County Circuit Court, Waupaca. 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 Waupaca 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.
