Wisconsin law
Premises Liability Laws in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin premises-liability law abolished the traditional invitee/licensee/trespasser distinctions in Antoniewicz v. Reszczynski (1975), replacing them with a unified reasonable-care standard toward all lawful entrants. The statute of limitations is 3 years (Wis. Stat. § 893.54). Wisconsin applies modified comparative fault (51% bar) under Wis. Stat. § 895.045. Wisconsin's "Safe-Place Statute" (Wis. Stat. § 101.11) imposes a heightened duty on owners of public buildings and places of employment — creating effectively strict liability for structural defects.
Last verified: 2026-04-20
Guided help
Ask about a premises liability deadline, right, or next step.
Keep the question grounded in Wisconsin. FlowLawyers can route you to the statute section, legal aid, attorney search, or a guided workflow when one fits.
Fast paths
The law sections below preserve the citations and source links. Use guided help when you need to move from reading the rule to choosing what to do next.
State law
Statute of Limitations
3-year limitation for personal-injury claims, including premises liability — running from discovery of the injury.
State law
Fault & Liability Rules
Wisconsin applies modified comparative fault. A plaintiff whose fault is greater than the combined fault of all defendants (i.e., more than 50%) is barred from recovery. Otherwise, damages are reduced in proportion to the plaintiff's fault.
State law
Key Wisconsin Statutes
Wisconsin's distinctive Safe-Place Statute — imposes a heightened duty of safety on owners of public buildings and places of employment. Often produces liability for structural conditions that common-law negligence would not reach.
Wisconsin's recreational-use statute — limits landowner liability to persons using the land for recreational purposes without fee, absent a malicious act or failure to warn of an unsafe condition on the property.
State law
Official Sources
Not Legal Advice
This page summarizes publicly available statutes and rules for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by viewing this content. Laws change — always verify with the primary source or consult a licensed attorney in Wisconsin.
More in Wisconsin
Other state law topics.
Personal Injury Laws·Criminal Defense Laws·Family Laws·Immigration Laws·Employment Laws·Bankruptcy Laws·Medical Malpractice Laws·Workers' Compensation Laws·Social Security Disability Laws·Wrongful Death Laws·Product Liability Laws·Long-Term Disability & ERISA Laws·Estate Planning Laws·Probate Laws·Real Estate Laws·Landlord & Tenant Laws·Business Laws·Intellectual Property Laws·Tax Laws·Elder Laws·Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Laws·Civil Rights Laws·Domestic Violence Laws·Veterans Legal Services Laws·Healthcare & Benefits Laws·Construction Defect Laws·Insurance Disputes Laws·Commercial Litigation Laws·Environmental Laws·Securities & Finance Laws·Municipal Laws·Administrative Laws