Racine County is a southeastern Wisconsin county of approximately 197,000 residents anchored by the city of Racine — Wisconsin’s fifth-largest city at approximately 77,000 residents on the Lake Michigan shore between Milwaukee to the north and Kenosha to the south. Racine occupies a distinctive position in Wisconsin’s urban landscape: a genuine industrial city with deep manufacturing roots, a spectacular Lake Michigan waterfront, and a global architectural and corporate identity anchored by SC Johnson — the family-owned consumer products company whose Wax headquarters complex designed by Frank Lloyd Wright is one of the most celebrated pieces of American corporate architecture. Racine’s economy has diversified from its historical manufacturing base into a mix of manufacturing (still significant, with Snap-on Tools, Case/CNH Industrial, and others), healthcare (Ascension All Saints Hospital, Aurora Health), SC Johnson corporate employment, and the commercial activity of a mid-sized city serving its own regional market. The county’s non-city communities — Burlington, Mount Pleasant, Sturtevant, Union Grove, and others — provide suburban and small-city environments that serve both Racine commuters and the growing Foxconn/southeastern Wisconsin industrial corridor.
All residential landlord-tenant matters in Racine County are governed by Wis. Stat. Ch. 704 and ATCP 134. Eviction actions are filed at the Racine County Circuit Court in Racine. Wisconsin has no statewide rent control, and Wis. Stat. §66.1015 prohibits municipalities from enacting rent stabilization. No Racine County municipality has a just-cause eviction ordinance. Illinois tenant law does not apply to Wisconsin tenancies even for tenants who work in Illinois.
SC Johnson, Snap-on Tools, CNH Industrial, Ascension All Saints
Rent Control
None (banned statewide §66.1015)
Landlord Rating
6.5/10 — Lake Michigan city, Frank Lloyd Wright, industrial diversification
⚖️ 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
Racine County Circuit Court
Process Name
Eviction (formerly Forcible Entry & Detainer)
Post-Judgment Move-Out
As ordered by court; writ issued after judgment
Avg Timeline
4–7 weeks (active city docket)
Racine County Local Ordinances
County and municipal rules that apply alongside Wisconsin state law
Category
Details
Rental Registration
No statewide rental registration in Wisconsin. The city of Racine has historically had a rental property registration and inspection program. Landlords with rental properties within Racine city limits should verify current registration requirements with the City of Racine Neighborhood Services Division. Pre-1978 properties in Racine city’s significant older housing stock require lead paint disclosure under ATCP 134.04 — Racine has substantial pre-war residential inventory particularly in the downtown and near-lakefront neighborhoods.
Rent Control
Banned statewide under Wis. Stat. §66.1015. No Racine County municipality may enact rent stabilization. No local rent ordinance exists. Racine city rents reflect the city’s industrial economy and mixed income profile — significantly below Milwaukee’s price points in many neighborhoods while commanding premiums in the lakefront and near-downtown areas.
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. Racine’s active tenant legal aid and community organization landscape means security deposit violations are enforced. Thorough move-in and move-out documentation is essential.
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.
SC Johnson, Frank Lloyd Wright & Racine’s Industrial Identity
SC Johnson — the privately held family company that makes Windex, Pledge, Raid, Off!, Ziploc, and dozens of other consumer brands — has been headquartered in Racine for over a century and employs thousands of professionals, scientists, engineers, and corporate staff who anchor the city’s professional rental market. The SC Johnson campus designed by Frank Lloyd Wright — including the Administration Building (1939) and Research Tower (1950) — is one of the most architecturally significant corporate campuses in the world and a national landmark. Snap-on Tools, headquartered in Kenosha but with significant Racine operations, Case/CNH Industrial (agricultural and construction equipment), and Ascension All Saints Hospital add major employer depth to the county’s economy. The Milwaukee-Chicago corridor that passes through Racine County via I-94 creates commuter access to both metro areas that expands the rental demand pool beyond purely local employment.
Just-Cause Eviction
No just-cause requirement in Racine 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 Racine. Illinois tenant law does not apply to Wisconsin tenancies.
Wis. Stat. Ch. 704 and ATCP 134 statutes, notice requirements, and landlord rights that apply in Racine 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.
SC Johnson HQ (Frank Lloyd Wright campus), Snap-on Tools, CNH Industrial, Ascension All Saints Hospital, Lake Michigan shoreline, Milwaukee-Chicago I-94 corridor. No just-cause eviction, no rent control. City of Racine has rental registration program — verify requirements.
Racine County
Screen Before You Sign
SC Johnson corporate and R&D staff, Snap-on/CNH Industrial manufacturing and engineering employees, Ascension All Saints healthcare workers, I-94 corridor commuters to Milwaukee or Chicago, and Burlington area agricultural and manufacturing workers are your strongest profiles. Verify income at 3x rent, run Wisconsin circuit court records.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Racine County, Wisconsin
Racine County occupies a distinctive position in Wisconsin’s rental market landscape — a county whose city is simultaneously an industrial manufacturing community with genuine economic depth, a Lake Michigan waterfront city with remarkable architectural heritage, and a corridor community between two major Midwest metros. For landlords, Racine County offers a rental market that is less expensive than Milwaukee or Chicago while serving a multi-sector economy with significant major employer anchors.
SC Johnson: The World-Class Anchor
SC Johnson is the dominant economic anchor of Racine County — a privately held, family-controlled consumer products company that has been headquartered in Racine since its founding in 1886. The company’s portfolio of global brands — Windex, Pledge, Raid, Off!, Ziploc, Glade, Mr. Muscle, and dozens of others — makes it one of the world’s major consumer goods companies despite its private ownership. SC Johnson employs thousands of people in Racine in roles ranging from R&D scientists and chemical engineers to marketing professionals, supply chain managers, and corporate staff. The company’s Frank Lloyd Wright-designed campus — the Administration Building and Research Tower on 14th Street — is one of the most celebrated pieces of American corporate architecture and draws architectural tourists from around the world.
SC Johnson employees represent Racine County’s most professionally credentialed and financially stable renter segment. The company’s private ownership and multi-generational family stewardship gives it an employment stability profile that is unusual for a company of its scale, and SC Johnson employees tend to be long-term Racine residents who value community ties and stable housing arrangements.
Industrial Diversification: Snap-on, CNH Industrial, and Manufacturing
Racine County’s industrial economy extends well beyond SC Johnson. Snap-on Incorporated, the premium tool and equipment manufacturer headquartered in Kenosha with significant Racine operations, employs engineers, manufacturing professionals, and corporate staff who contribute to the county’s professional rental demand. Case New Holland Industrial (CNH Industrial) — a global manufacturer of Case and New Holland agricultural equipment and CNH construction equipment — has had significant historical Racine operations. The broader manufacturing sector provides industrial employment across production, skilled trades, and management roles that anchor the working-class tier of Racine’s rental market.
The Milwaukee-Chicago Corridor
Racine County’s position on I-94 between Milwaukee (30 miles north) and Chicago (75 miles south) creates a corridor commuter dynamic that gives some Racine County residents access to employment in both metro areas. Milwaukee commuters — particularly those working in Milwaukee’s south side or in Waukesha County — can reach Racine County in acceptable commute times, while some Chicago metro commuters working in northern Illinois or taking the Metra UP-North line from Kenosha find Racine County an affordable residential alternative. This corridor positioning adds rental demand from workers who earn Milwaukee or Chicago wages while paying Racine County rents, a financially favorable combination for stable tenancy.
Wisconsin Legal Framework in Racine County
All residential tenancies in Racine 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 Racine County Circuit Court. City of Racine landlords should verify current rental registration requirements. ATCP 134 security deposit compliance is mandatory. No rent control (Wis. Stat. §66.1015). No just-cause eviction requirement. Illinois tenant law does not apply to Wisconsin tenancies.
Racine County landlord-tenant matters are governed by Wis. Stat. Ch. 704 and ATCP 134. Illinois tenant law does not apply to Wisconsin tenancies. 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. Eviction actions filed at Racine County Circuit Court, Racine. City of Racine landlords should verify rental registration requirements. Consult a licensed Wisconsin attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: April 2026.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Racine County, Wisconsin and is not legal advice. Illinois tenant protection laws do not apply to Wisconsin tenancies. City of Racine landlords should verify rental registration requirements with the City of Racine. Laws change frequently. Always verify current requirements with a licensed Wisconsin attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: April 2026.
