Ozaukee County is Wisconsin’s premier North Shore suburban county — a Lake Michigan shoreline county of approximately 95,000 residents that functions primarily as the affluent northern tier of the Milwaukee metropolitan area while maintaining its own distinct community identities, economy, and character. The county is consistently ranked among the wealthiest counties in Wisconsin and one of the most affluent in the upper Midwest, with median household incomes well above state and national averages driven by its role as a professional commuter county for Milwaukee-area corporate, financial, healthcare, and legal employment. The county seat of Port Washington, approximately 23 miles north of Milwaukee on Lake Michigan, is a genuine small city of approximately 11,000 with its own manufacturing and commercial economy, a historic harbor, and a growing professional residential base that values its lakefront character. Cedarburg, the county’s second-largest community at approximately 12,000, is one of Wisconsin’s most picturesque small cities — a remarkably intact 19th-century limestone commercial district that has made it a destination for antique shopping, wine trails, and heritage tourism. Grafton and Mequon round out the county’s significant communities, with Mequon in particular functioning as an upscale residential community with one of the highest median household incomes of any Wisconsin municipality.
All residential landlord-tenant matters in Ozaukee County are governed by Wis. Stat. Ch. 704 and ATCP 134. Eviction actions are filed at the Ozaukee County Circuit Court in Port Washington. Wisconsin has no statewide rent control, and Wis. Stat. §66.1015 prohibits municipalities from enacting rent stabilization. No Ozaukee County municipality has a just-cause eviction ordinance. The county’s rental market reflects its affluent suburban character: higher-end rentals, professionally credentialed tenants, and some of Wisconsin’s highest rental price points outside the Milwaukee and Madison cores.
Cedarburg (~12,000), Port Washington (~11,000), Grafton (~11,000), Mequon (~25,000)
Median Rent
~$1,100–$1,600 (among WI’s highest)
Major Economy
Milwaukee North Shore commuter, Concordia University, lake district, professional households
Rent Control
None (banned statewide §66.1015)
Landlord Rating
8/10 — WI’s wealthiest county, premium rents, stable professional tenants
⚖️ 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
Ozaukee County Circuit Court
Process Name
Eviction (formerly Forcible Entry & Detainer)
Post-Judgment Move-Out
As ordered by court; writ issued after judgment
Avg Timeline
3–5 weeks (relatively light docket)
Ozaukee County Local Ordinances
County and municipal rules that apply alongside Wisconsin state law
Category
Details
Rental Registration
No statewide rental registration in Wisconsin. Ozaukee County and its municipalities including Port Washington, Cedarburg, Grafton, and Mequon have not enacted mandatory landlord licensing programs. Code enforcement is complaint-driven. Given the county’s affluent character and high proportion of owner-occupied housing, the rental inventory is smaller than in Milwaukee County, but the rental units that exist command premium prices and serve a financially capable tenant population. Pre-1978 properties in Cedarburg’s historic district and Port Washington’s older neighborhoods require lead paint disclosure under ATCP 134.04.
Rent Control
Banned statewide under Wis. Stat. §66.1015. No Ozaukee County municipality may enact rent stabilization. Ozaukee County rents are among Wisconsin’s highest, reflecting the premium value of North Shore suburban living with Milwaukee commuter access. 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. Ozaukee County’s sophisticated, financially literate tenant population is likely to pursue deposit violations. Thorough documentation is especially important at premium price points where deduction disputes involve larger dollar amounts.
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.
North Shore Suburban Character & Milwaukee Commuter Economy
Ozaukee County’s economic identity is inseparable from its position as Milwaukee’s premier northern suburb. The county’s high median household income reflects a population of Milwaukee metropolitan area professionals — attorneys, physicians, financial executives, corporate managers, engineers — who choose Ozaukee County for its Lake Michigan shoreline communities, excellent schools, lower density, and historic character while maintaining access to Milwaukee employment. Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon adds an academic community dimension. The Cedarburg wine trail, Port Washington fishing fleet, and the county’s historic downtown streetscapes in Cedarburg and Port Washington create a quality of life character that commands rental premium above comparable Milwaukee County suburbs. Milwaukee County’s just-cause eviction ordinance does NOT apply in Ozaukee County; landlords here operate under standard Wisconsin state law without that additional constraint.
Just-Cause Eviction
No just-cause requirement in Ozaukee County. Month-to-month tenancies may be terminated with 28-day written notice. Milwaukee’s just-cause ordinance (MCO §200-51.5) does NOT apply in Ozaukee County — the ordinance is limited to Milwaukee city limits.
Wis. Stat. Ch. 704 and ATCP 134 statutes, notice requirements, and landlord rights that apply in Ozaukee 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.
Wisconsin’s wealthiest county, Milwaukee North Shore, Lake Michigan shoreline communities, Cedarburg historic limestone district, Port Washington harbor, Concordia University Wisconsin Mequon. No just-cause eviction, no rent control. Wisconsin’s highest non-Milwaukee rental prices.
Ozaukee County
Screen Before You Sign
Milwaukee corporate and financial sector commuters, physicians and healthcare professionals, attorneys, Concordia University faculty and staff, and executives seeking premium North Shore suburban living are your target profiles. Verify income at 3x rent, run full background and credit checks, run Wisconsin circuit court records. Premium rental market rewards premium screening diligence.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin
Ozaukee County represents Wisconsin’s premium suburban rental market — a county where rental prices are among the highest in the state, tenants are predominantly professionally credentialed and financially stable, and the combination of Milwaukee commuter access, Lake Michigan shoreline, and distinctive historic communities creates a quality of life that commands genuine price premiums over comparable Milwaukee County suburban locations. For landlords who can acquire and maintain properties at the standard this market demands, Ozaukee County offers some of Wisconsin’s most reliable and financially rewarding residential rentals.
The Milwaukee North Shore Premium
The fundamental driver of Ozaukee County’s rental premium is its position as Milwaukee’s most desirable northern suburb. The I-43 corridor connecting Ozaukee County communities to downtown Milwaukee provides commute access for professionals employed in Milwaukee’s financial district, medical complex, legal community, and corporate sector. Workers who earn Milwaukee wages and choose to live in Ozaukee County are capturing the quality of life benefits of Lake Michigan shoreline communities, lower crime rates, excellent public schools, and the historic character of communities like Cedarburg while maintaining acceptable commute times to Milwaukee employment.
This commuter dynamic creates a tenant base that is financially stable — earning Milwaukee professional wages while paying Wisconsin suburban rents — and typically highly motivated to maintain good standing with their landlords. Professional accountability, employment stability, and the financial capacity to meet rent obligations reliably make Ozaukee County’s professional commuter tenants among the most desirable in Wisconsin.
Cedarburg: Wisconsin’s Most Picturesque Small City
Cedarburg’s remarkably intact 19th-century limestone commercial district — a National Register Historic District — gives it a visual character that no other Wisconsin community quite matches. The distinctive cream-colored limestone buildings of Washington Avenue and the surrounding historic residential neighborhoods, the Cedar Creek winery trail, the annual Winter Festival and Strawberry Festival that draw tens of thousands of visitors, and the community’s strong preservation ethic combine to create a small city that residents genuinely love. For landlords, Cedarburg’s strong community identity and desirability mean rental properties here — particularly units in or near the historic district — attract tenants who value the community and tend toward longer tenancies.
Port Washington and the Lake Michigan Harbor
Port Washington, the county seat, combines a Lake Michigan harbor character with a small city economy that includes manufacturing (Rockwell Automation has a significant Port Washington presence), county government, and a growing professional residential base. The city’s historic downtown, fishing fleet, and Lake Michigan recreational access — boating, fishing, the Port Washington marina — give it a lakefront character that Cedarburg’s inland position lacks. Port Washington’s rental market is somewhat more diverse than Cedarburg’s, mixing professional commuters with manufacturing workers and county employees.
Wisconsin Legal Framework in Ozaukee County
All residential tenancies in Ozaukee 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 Ozaukee County Circuit Court in Port Washington, which sees a relatively light eviction docket given the county’s affluent character and low vacancy rates. ATCP 134 security deposit compliance is mandatory and will be enforced by the county’s financially literate, legally aware professional tenant population. Milwaukee’s just-cause eviction ordinance does NOT apply in Ozaukee County. Wisconsin’s rent control prohibition under §66.1015 applies.
Ozaukee 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. Milwaukee just-cause ordinance (MCO §200-51.5) does NOT apply in Ozaukee County. Eviction actions filed at Ozaukee County Circuit Court, Port Washington. Consult a licensed Wisconsin attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: April 2026.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Ozaukee 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.
