In Wisconsin, a landlord’s right to access is governed by Wis. Stat. § 704.05(2). Unlike many states that require 24 hours, Wisconsin has a shorter mandatory notice period.
Notice Requirements
For non-emergencies (inspections, repairs, or showing the unit), the landlord must:
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Provide at least 12 hours’ advance notice.
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Enter only at reasonable times.
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Announce Presence: Before entering, the landlord must announce their presence (e.g., knocking) and identify themselves upon request.
When Permission is NOT Required
A landlord may enter without the tenant’s immediate consent or advance notice only in these cases:
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Health or Safety Emergencies: Immediate entry is allowed if a genuine emergency exists (e.g., fire or a burst pipe).
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Protection of Premises: If the tenant is absent and the landlord reasonably believes entry is necessary to protect the property from damage.
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Nonstandard Rental Provisions: A landlord and tenant may agree to different entry rules, but only if they are documented in a separate, specifically signed “Nonstandard Rental Provision” document.
The information for this answer was found on our Wisconsin Landlord Tenant Rights answers.