SYDNEY HEDMARK, A summer intern at the Florence County Health Department, performs a Tourist Rooming House inspection at Montgomery Lakehouse in Spread Eagle, Wis., owned by Renee Grunewalde. Hedmark is from Aurora, Wis., and is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, studying microbiology.

Florence, Wis. — Many people love to get away from the hustle and bustle of the cities and enjoy the beauty of Florence County, especially in the summer.

The rise in summer tourism also leads to a rise in the need for lodging facilities, such as hotels, cabins, cottages and more. With vacation rental sites such as Airbnb making it easy to rent out summer homes or family cabins, many property owners are taking advantage of this seasonal opportunity.

However, it is important to know the Wisconsin Department of Trade, Agriculture, and Consumer Protection requires all lodging facilities in the state have a permit. Homes rented for a short period of time are called Tourist Rooming Houses. A Tourist Rooming House is defined by DATCP as all lodging places and tourist cabins and cottages, other than hotels and motels, in which sleeping accommodations are offered for pay to tourists or transients.

It does not include private boarding or rooming houses not accommodating tourists or transients, or bed and breakfast establishments. A bed and breakfast has specific requirements that can be explained by the health department.

DATCP defines a tourist or transient as a person who travels to a location away from his or her permanent address for a short period of time for vacation, pleasure, recreation, culture, business or employment.

Property owners can begin the process by contacting the Florence County Health Department at 715-528-4837 and the Zoning Office. The department will provide guidance and help determine the best license for their lodging operation, and then the registered sanitarian will perform an inspection to assure the lodging operation meets health and safety requirements.

Applications are available at the Florence County Health Department’s website at www.florencewipublichealth.com or by calling 715-528-4837. The Florence County Health Department is in the courthouse, 501 Lake Ave., or can be contacted on the website at http://www.florencecountywi.com/.