In-depth analysis

Should you buy an STR in Door County in 2026?

Yes, in the right town. Door County is geographically a 70-mile peninsula with 19 separate municipalities, and each has its own STR ordinance — some permissive, some restrictive. ADR is $181, occupancy 59%, RevPAR $107, market score 73/100. The peninsula’s cherry orchards, Lake Michigan / Green Bay shoreline, and 5 state parks generate durable summer demand from Chicago, Milwaukee, and the Twin Cities.

Regulation: where the city stands

Door County STR landscape:

Door County (countywide) — Tourist Rooming House license required for STR.
Town-by-town overlay — Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, Ephraim, Sister Bay, Baileys Harbor, Sturgeon Bay each have their own STR ordinance with varying density rules, registration, and zoning constraints.
Wisconsin state law (2017 Act 59 and subsequent) — limits how strictly local governments can ban STR but allows licensing and basic regulation.
Room Tax stack (county + town) typically 5-8%.

Sturgeon Bay (the largest city) has different rules than the smaller waterfront villages. The cleanest legal posture varies by town — verify before offer.

The market by the numbers

Metric	Door County	Comparison
Avg ADR	$181	Modest peninsula
Occupancy	59%	Heavily seasonal
RevPAR	$107	Solid for basis
Market score	73/100	Strong

Demand: late May through mid-October produces roughly 75% of annual revenue. July-August is peak; September-October fall foliage is a strong second window. November-April is genuinely soft.

Submarkets that matter

Fish Creek / Ephraim / Sister Bay — walkable waterfront villages, premium ADR.
Egg Harbor — family-friendly, mid-tier basis.
Baileys Harbor / Cana Island — east side (Lake Michigan), quieter, cheaper basis.
Sturgeon Bay — largest town, year-round amenities, lower ADR but better off-season.
Washington Island — ferry-only access, niche market.

The 3 mistakes buyers make here

Underwriting on county averages without checking the specific town. STR rules and density caps vary materially.
Ignoring the 5-month season. July-August is roughly 40% of revenue; November-March can be sub-25% occupancy.
Buying on Washington Island assuming mainland operating costs. Ferry-dependent logistics meaningfully raise cleaning and supply costs.

What to do next

Pull the Door County Tourist Rooming House rules and the town-level STR ordinance for the parcel.
Run Market Score and Comp Analyzer at the town level.
Use Year 1 Cash Needs with deep winter reserves.

Not investment advice. Verify all regulatory and tax information with local authorities and licensed professionals before committing capital.

Last reviewed 2026-05-07 · Estimated — community-sourced · Population 30,066