Chapter 97

97.623(1) (1) Every hotel with sleeping accommodations with more than 12 bedrooms above the first story shall, between the hours of 12 midnight and 6 a.m. provide a system of security personnel patrol, or of mechanical and electrical devices, or both, adequate, according to standards established by the department of safety and professional services, to warn all guests and employees in time to permit their evacuation in case of fire.

97.623(2) (2) Every hotel shall offer to every guest, at the time of registration for accommodation and of making a reservation for accommodation, an opportunity to identify himself or herself as a person needing assistance in an emergency because of a physical condition and shall keep a record at the registration desk of where each person so identified is lodged. No hotel may lodge any person so identified in areas other than those designated by the local fire department as safe for persons so identified, based on the capabilities of apparatus normally available to the fire company or companies assigned the first alarm. A person who does not identify himself or herself as permitted in this subsection may be lodged in the same manner as any other guest. Violation of this subsection shall be punished by a forfeiture of not more than $50 for the first violation and not more than $100 for each subsequent violation.

97.623 History History: 1975 c. 112, 199; 1975 c. 413 s. 13; Stats. 1975 s. 50.56; 1985 a. 135; 1993 a. 27 s. 76; Stats. 1993 s. 254.73; 1995 a. 27 ss. 6343, 9116 (5); 2011 a. 32; 2015 a. 55 s. 4090; 2015 Stats. s. 97.623.

97.625 97.625 Powers of the department and local health departments.

97.625(1) (1) The department shall do all of the following:

97.625(1)(a) (a) Administer and enforce this subchapter, the rules promulgated under this subchapter and any other rules or laws relating to the public health and safety in hotels, tourist rooming houses, bed and breakfast establishments, vending machine commissaries, vending machines and vending machine locations.

97.625(1)(b) (b) Require hotels, tourist rooming houses, vending machine operators and vending machine commissaries to file reports and information the department deems necessary.

97.625(1)(c) (c) Ascertain and prescribe what alterations, improvements or other means or methods are necessary to protect the public health and safety on those premises.

97.625(1)(d) (d) Prescribe rules and fix standards, including rules covering the general sanitation and cleanliness of premises regulated under this subchapter, the proper handling and storing of food on such premises, the construction and sanitary condition of the premises and equipment to be used and the location and servicing of equipment. The rules relating to the public health and safety in bed and breakfast establishments may not be stricter than is reasonable for the operation of a bed and breakfast establishment, shall be less stringent than rules relating to hotels, tourist rooming houses, and vending machine commissaries regulated by this subchapter and may not require 2nd exits for a bed and breakfast establishment on a floor above the first level.

97.625(1)(e) (e) Hold a hearing under ch. 227 if, in lieu of proceeding under ch. 68, any interested person in the jurisdictional area of a local health department not granted agent status under s. 97.615 appeals to the department alleging that a license fee for a hotel, tourist rooming house, campground, camping resort, recreational or educational camp or public swimming pool exceeds the license issuer’s reasonable costs of issuing licenses to, making investigations and inspections of, and providing education, training and technical assistance to the establishment.

97.625(1g) (1g) The department may inspect hotels, tourist rooming houses, and bed and breakfast establishments to ensure compliance with s. 101.149 (2) and (3).

97.625(1p) (1p) 

97.625(1p)(a) (a) The department may grant the holder of a license for a bed and breakfast establishment a waiver from the requirement specified under s. 97.01 (1g) (b) to allow the holder of a license for a bed and breakfast establishment to serve breakfast to other tourists or transients if all of the following conditions are met:

97.625(1p)(a)1. 1. The department determines that the public health, safety or welfare would not be jeopardized.

97.625(1p)(a)2. 2. The other tourists or transients are provided sleeping accommodations in a tourist rooming house for which the license holder for the bed and breakfast establishment is the license holder.

97.625(1p)(a)3. 3. The tourist rooming house is located on the same property as the bed and breakfast establishment or on property contiguous to the property on which the bed and breakfast establishment is located.

97.625(1p)(a)4. 4. The number of rooms offered for rent in the bed and breakfast establishment combined with the number of rooms offered for rent in the tourist rooming house does not exceed 8.

97.625(1p)(a)5. 5. The number of tourists or transients who are provided sleeping accommodations in the bed and breakfast establishment combined with the number of tourists or transients who are provided sleeping accommodations in the tourist rooming house does not exceed 20.

97.625(1p)(b) (b) A waiver granted under par. (a) is valid for the period of validity of a license that is issued for the bed and breakfast establishment under s. 97.605 (1) (b).

97.625(2) (2) A local health department designated as an agent under s. 97.615 (2) may exercise the powers specified in sub. (1) (a) to (d), consistent with s. 97.615 (2) (g).

97.625 History History: 1975 c. 413 s. 13; Stats. 1975 s. 50.57; 1983 a. 163, 203, 538; 1985 a. 29; 1985 a. 332 s. 251 (1); 1987 a. 27; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 27 s. 77; Stats. 1993 s. 254.74; 1995 a. 27 ss. 6343m, 9126 (19); 1995 a. 417; 1997 a. 43; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2007 a. 205; 2011 a. 32, 78; 2015 a. 55 s. 4091; 2015 Stats. s. 97.625; 2017 a. 330.

97.625 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. ATCP 72, 73, 74, and 75, Wis. adm. code.

97.627 97.627 Causing fires by tobacco smoking.

97.627(1) (1) Any person who, by smoking, or attempting to light or to smoke cigarettes, cigars, pipes or tobacco, in any manner in which lighters or matches are employed, shall, in a careless, reckless or negligent manner, set fire to any bedding, furniture, curtains, drapes, house or any household fittings, or any part of any building specified in sub. (2), so as to endanger life or property in any way or to any extent, shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $250, together with costs, or imprisoned not less than 10 days nor more than 6 months or both.

97.627(2) (2) In each sleeping room of all hotels, rooming houses, lodging houses and other places of public abode, a plainly printed notice shall be kept posted in a conspicuous place advising tenants of the provisions of this section.

97.627 History History: 1975 c. 413 s. 13; Stats. 1975 s. 50.58; 1993 a. 27 s. 79; Stats. 1993 s. 254.76; 2015 a. 55 s. 4092; 2015 Stats. s. 97.627.

97.633 97.633 Hotelkeeper’s liability.

97.633(1) (1) A hotelkeeper who complies with sub. (2) is not liable to a guest for loss of money, jewelry, precious metals or stones, personal ornaments or valuable papers which are not offered for safekeeping.

97.633(2) (2) To secure exemption from liability the hotelkeeper shall do all of the following:

97.633(2)(a) (a) Have doors on sleeping rooms equipped with locks or bolts.

97.633(2)(b) (b) Offer, by notice printed in large plain English type and kept conspicuously posted in each sleeping room, to receive valuable articles for safekeeping, and explain in the notice that the hotel is not liable for loss unless articles are tendered for safekeeping.

97.633(2)(c) (c) Keep a safe or vault suitable for keeping the articles and receive them for safekeeping when tendered by a guest, except as provided in sub. (3).

97.633(3) (3) A hotelkeeper is liable for loss of articles accepted for safekeeping up to $300. The hotelkeeper need not receive for safekeeping property over $300 in value. This subsection may be varied by written agreement between the parties.

97.633 History History: 1975 c. 413 s. 15; Stats. 1975 s. 50.80; 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 27 s. 85; Stats. 1993 s. 254.80; 2015 a. 55 s. 4095; 2015 Stats. s. 97.633.

97.634 97.634 Hotelkeeper’s liability for baggage; limitation. Every guest and intended guest of any hotel upon delivering to the hotelkeeper any baggage or other property for safekeeping, elsewhere than in the room assigned to the guest, shall demand and the hotelkeeper shall give a check or receipt, to evidence the delivery. No hotelkeeper shall be liable for the loss of or injury to the baggage or other property of a hotel guest, unless it was delivered to the hotelkeeper for safekeeping or unless the loss or injury occurred through the negligence of the hotelkeeper.

97.634 History History: 1975 c. 413 s. 15; Stats. 1975 s. 50.81; 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 27 s. 86; Stats. 1993 s. 254.81; 2015 a. 55 s. 4096; 2015 Stats. s. 97.634.

97.635 97.635 Liability of hotelkeeper for loss of property by fire or theft; owner’s risk. A hotelkeeper is not liable for the loss of baggage or other property of a hotel guest by a fire unintentionally produced by the hotelkeeper. Every hotelkeeper is liable for loss of baggage or other property of a guest caused by theft or gross negligence of the hotelkeeper. The liability may not exceed $200 for each trunk and its contents, $75 for each valise and its contents and $10 for each box, bundle or package and contents, so placed under the care of the hotelkeeper; and $50 for all other effects including wearing apparel and personal belongings, unless the hotelkeeper has agreed in writing with the guest to assume a greater liability. When any person permits his or her baggage or property to remain in any hotel after the person’s status as a guest has ceased, or forwards the baggage or property to a hotel before becoming a guest and the baggage or property is received into the hotel, the hotelkeeper holds the baggage or property at the risk of the owner.

97.635 History History: 1975 c. 413 s. 15; Stats. 1975 s. 50.82; 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 27 s. 87; Stats. 1993 s. 254.82; 2015 a. 55 s. 4097; 2015 Stats. s. 97.635.

97.638 97.638 Hotel rates posted; rate charges; special rates.

97.638(1) (1) Every hotelkeeper shall keep posted in a conspicuous place in each sleeping room in his or her hotel, in type not smaller than 12-point, the rates per day for each occupant. Such rates shall not be changed until notice to that effect has been posted, in a similar manner, for 10 days previous to each change. Any hotelkeeper who fails to have the rates so posted or who charges, collects or receives for the use of any room a sum different from the authorized charge shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $100. A hotelkeeper may permit a room to be occupied at the rate of a lower priced room when all of the lower priced rooms are taken and until one of them becomes unoccupied. Special rates may be made for the use of sleeping rooms, either by the week, month or for longer periods or for use by families or other collective groups. The department or its representatives may enforce the posting of rates as provided in this subsection.

97.638(2) (2) 

97.638(2)(a) (a) A hotelkeeper shall post, in each sleeping room in the hotel with a telephone, a notice of any fee imposed by the hotelkeeper for using the telephone.

97.638(2)(b) (b) The notice required under par. (a) shall be all of the following:

97.638(2)(b)1. 1. In type not smaller than 12-point.

97.638(2)(b)2. 2. Conspicuously posted on the telephone or within 3 feet of the telephone’s normal location.

97.638(2)(c) (c) The department or its agents may inspect hotels to ensure compliance with pars. (a) and (b).

97.638(2)(d) (d) A hotelkeeper who fails to post the notice required under par. (a) or who posts an inaccurate notice shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $100.

97.638 History History: 1975 c. 413 s. 15; Stats. 1975 s. 50.84; 1989 a. 31; 1993 a. 27 s. 89; Stats. 1993 s. 254.83; 2015 a. 55 s. 4098; 2015 Stats. s. 97.638.

97.639 97.639 Motel rates.

97.639(1) (1) Definitions.

97.639(1)(a) (a) “Operator” includes a manager or any person in charge of the operation of motels and like establishments. “Operator” or “owner” includes natural persons, firms and corporations.

97.639(1)(b) (b) “Outdoor sign” or “outside sign” means any sign visible to passersby, regardless of whether the sign is located in or outside of buildings.

97.639(1)(c) (c) “Room rates” means the rates at which rooms or other accommodations are rented to occupants.

97.639(2) (2) Rental posted. No owner or operator of any establishment that is held out as a motel, motor court, tourist cabin or like accommodation may post or maintain posted on any outdoor or outside advertising sign for the establishment rates for accommodations in the establishment unless the sign has posted on it both the minimum and maximum room or other rental unit rates for accommodations offered for rental. All posted rates and descriptive data required by this section shall be in type and material of the same size and prominence as the minimum and maximum room or other rental unit rates. Signs that only state the rate per person or bear the legend “and up” do not comply with the requirements of this subsection.

97.639(3) (3) Accommodations must exist. No owner or operator of any motel, motor court, tourist cabin or like accommodation may post or maintain posted on outdoor or outside advertising signs rates for accommodations in the establishment unless there is available, when vacant, accommodations in the establishment for immediate occupancy to meet the posted rates on the advertising signs.

97.639(4) (4) Misrepresentation. No owner or operator of any motel, motor court, tourist cabin or like accommodation may post or maintain outdoor or outside advertising signs in connection with the establishment relating to rates which have any untrue, misleading, false, or fraudulent representations.

97.639(5) (5) Construction. Nothing in this section may be construed to require motels, motor courts, tourist cabins, or like accommodations to have outdoor or outside signs. This section shall be liberally construed so as to prevent untrue, misleading, false, or fraudulent representations relating to rates placed on outdoor or outside signs of the establishments.

97.639 History History: 1975 c. 413 s. 15; Stats. 1975 s. 50.85; 1983 a. 189; 1993 a. 27 s. 90; Stats. 1993 s. 254.84; 2015 a. 55 ss. 4099, 4100; 2015 Stats. s. 97.639.

97.65 97.65 Enforcement.

97.65(1) (1) The department may enter, at reasonable hours, any premises for which a license is required under this subchapter or s. 97.67 or any restaurant or temporary restaurant for which a license is required under s. 97.30 to inspect the premises, secure samples or specimens, examine and copy relevant documents and records, or obtain photographic or other evidence needed to enforce this subchapter or s. 97.30 or 97.67. If samples of food are taken, the department shall pay or offer to pay the market value of the samples taken. The department shall examine the samples and specimens secured and shall conduct other inspections and examinations needed to determine whether there is a violation of this subchapter, s. 97.30 or 97.67, or rules promulgated by the department under this subchapter or s. 97.30 or 97.67.

97.65(2) (2) 

97.65(2)(a) (a) Whenever, as a result of an examination, the department has reasonable cause to believe that any examined food constitutes, or that any construction, sanitary condition, operation, or method of operation of the premises or equipment used on the premises creates, an immediate danger to health, the department may issue a temporary order and cause it to be delivered to the licensee, or to the owner or custodian of the food, or to both. The order may prohibit the sale or movement of the food for any purpose, prohibit the continued operation or method of operation of specific equipment, require the premises to cease other operations or methods of operation which create the immediate danger to health, or set forth any combination of these requirements. The department may order the cessation of all operations authorized by the license only if a more limited order does not remove the immediate danger to health. Except as provided in par. (c), no temporary order is effective for longer than 14 days from the time of its delivery, but a temporary order may be reissued for one additional 14-day period, if necessary to complete the analysis or examination of samples, specimens, or other evidence.

97.65(2)(b) (b) No food described in a temporary order issued and delivered under par. (a) may be sold or moved and no operation or method of operation prohibited by the temporary order may be resumed without the approval of the department, until the order has terminated or the time period specified in par. (a) has run out, whichever occurs first. If the department, upon completed analysis and examination, determines that the food, construction, sanitary condition, operation or method of operation of the premises or equipment does not constitute an immediate danger to health, the licensee, owner, or custodian of the food or premises shall be promptly notified in writing and the temporary order shall terminate upon his or her receipt of the written notice.

97.65(2)(c) (c) If the analysis or examination shows that the food, construction, sanitary condition, operation or method of operation of the premises or equipment constitutes an immediate danger to health, the licensee, owner, or custodian shall be notified within the effective period of the temporary order issued under par. (a). Upon receipt of the notice, the temporary order remains in effect until a final decision is issued under sub. (3), and no food described in the temporary order may be sold or moved and no operation or method of operation prohibited by the order may be resumed without the approval of the department.

97.65(3) (3) A notice issued under sub. (2) (c) shall be accompanied by a statement which informs the licensee, owner, or custodian that he or she has a right to request a hearing in writing within 15 days after issuance of the notice. The department shall hold a hearing no later than 15 days after the department receives the written request for a hearing, unless both parties agree to a later date. A final decision shall be issued under s. 227.47 within 10 days of the conclusion of the hearing. The decision may order the destruction of food, the diversion of food to uses which do not pose a danger to health, the modification of food so that it does not create a danger to health, changes to or replacement of equipment or construction, other changes in or cessations of any operation or method of operation of the equipment or premises, or any combination of these actions necessary to remove the danger to health. The decision may order the cessation of all operations authorized by the license only if a more limited order will not remove the immediate danger to health.

97.65(4) (4) A proceeding under this section, or the issuance of a license for the premises after notification of procedures under this section, does not constitute a waiver by the department of its authority to rely on a violation of this subchapter, s. 97.30 or 97.67, or any rule promulgated under this subchapter or s. 97.30 or 97.67 as the basis for any subsequent suspension or revocation of the license or any other enforcement action arising out of the violation.

97.65(5) (5) 

97.65(5)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), any person who violates this section or an order issued under this section may be fined not more than $10,000 plus the retail value of any food moved, sold or disposed of in violation of this section or the order, or imprisoned not more than one year in the county jail, or both.

97.65(5)(b) (b) Any person who does either of the following may be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than one year in a county jail, or both:

97.65(5)(b)1. 1. Assaults, restrains, threatens, intimidates, impedes, interferes with or otherwise obstructs a department inspector, employee or agent in the performance of his or her duties under this section.

97.65(5)(b)2. 2. Gives false information to a department inspector, employee or agent engaged in the performance of his or her duties under this section, with the intent to mislead the inspector, employee or agent.

97.65 History History: 1983 a. 203; 1985 a. 182 s. 57; 1985 a. 332 s. 251 (1); 1987 a. 307; 1993 a. 27 s. 78; Stats. 1993 s. 254.85; 2015 a. 55 s. 4102; 2015 Stats. s. 97.65.

subch. IV of ch. 97 SUBCHAPTER IV

RECREATIONAL SANITATION

97.67 97.67 Recreational licenses and fees.

97.67(1) (1) Except as provided in sub. (1g) and s. 93.135, the department or a local health department granted agent status under s. 97.615 (2) shall issue licenses to and regulate campgrounds and camping resorts, recreational and educational camps and public swimming pools. No person or state or local government who has not been issued a license under this section may conduct, maintain, manage or operate a campground and camping resort, recreational camp and educational camp or public swimming pool, as defined by departmental rule.

97.67(1g) (1g) A campground permit is not required for camping at county or district fairs at which 4-H Club members exhibit, for the 4 days preceding the county or district fair, the duration of the county or district fair, and the 4 days following the county or district fair.

97.67(1m) (1m) The department or a local health department granted agent status under s. 97.615 (2) may not, without a pre-licensing inspection, grant a license to a person intending to operate a new public swimming pool, campground, or recreational or educational camp or to a person intending to be the new operator of an existing public swimming pool, campground, or recreational or educational camp.

97.67(2) (2) 

97.67(2)(a) (a) A separate license is required for each campground, camping resort, recreational or educational camp, and public swimming pool. Except as provided in par. (b) or (c), no license issued under this section is transferable from one premises to another or from one person, state or local government to another.

97.67(2)(b) (b) A license issued under this section may be transferred from an individual to an immediate family member, as defined in s. 97.605 (4) (a) 2., if the individual is transferring operation of the campground, camping resort, recreational or educational camp, or public swimming pool to the immediate family member.

97.67(2)(c) (c) A sole proprietorship that reorganizes as a business entity, as defined in s. 180.1100 (1g), or a business entity that reorganizes as a sole proprietorship or a different type of business entity may transfer a license issued under this section for a campground, camping resort, recreational or educational camp, or public swimming pool to the newly formed business entity or sole proprietorship if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

97.67(2)(c)1. 1. The campground, camping resort, recreational or educational camp, or public swimming pool remains at the location for which the license was issued.

97.67(2)(c)2. 2. At least one individual who had an ownership interest in the sole proprietorship or business entity to which the license was issued has an ownership interest in the newly formed sole proprietorship or business entity.

97.67(2m) (2m) Except as provided in s. 93.135, the initial issuance, renewal or continued validity of a license issued under this section may be conditioned upon the requirement that the licensee correct a violation of this section, rules promulgated by the department under this section or ordinances adopted under s. 97.615 (2) (g), within a period of time that is specified. If the condition is not met within the specified period of time, the license is void.

97.67(3) (3) For a recreational or educational camp that is applying for a renewed license under this subchapter, the department or a local health department granted agent status under s. 97.615 (2) may waive, for not more than 2 out of every 3 license years, any routine inspection for those license years if the camp has exhibited effective managerial control of public health hazards, as defined by the department by rule. Annual license fees and all other applicable requirements shall apply to the camp.

97.67(4) (4) Licenses issued under this section expire on June 30, except that licenses initially issued during the period beginning on April 1 and ending on June 30 expire on June 30 of the following year. Except as provided in s. 97.615 (2) (d) and (e), the department shall promulgate rules that establish, for licenses issued under this section, amounts of license fees, pre-licensing inspection fees, reinspection fees, fees for operating without a license, and late fees for untimely license renewal.

97.67(5) (5) No license may be issued under this section until all applicable fees have been paid. If the payment is by check or other draft drawn upon an account containing insufficient funds, the license applicant shall, within 15 days after receipt of notice from the department of the insufficiency, pay by cashier’s check or other certified draft, money order or cash the fees from the department, late fees and processing charges that are specified by rules promulgated by the department. If the license applicant fails to pay all applicable fees, late fees and the processing charges within 15 days after the applicant receives notice of the insufficiency, the license is void. In an appeal concerning voiding of a license under this subsection, the burden is on the license applicant to show that the entire applicable fees, late fees and processing charges have been paid. During any appeal process concerning payment dispute, operation of the establishment in question is considered to be operation without a license.

97.67(5m) (5m)