Duluth, MN, Council Votes to Tighten STR Permitting

9/22/2026

The Duluth, Minnesota, City Council unanimously approved changes to the city’s short-term vacation rental rules, targeting an estimated 400–800 rentals that officials say are operating illegally. The ordinance is intended to strengthen enforcement, clarify lodging uses, and address concerns that vacation rentals are affecting residential neighborhoods. It will prohibit converting existing single-family homes into STRs and establish a licensing process overseen by the city’s Life Safety Division. Council members said compliant operators will not lose their licenses under the new rules, emphasizing that the changes are aimed at illegal rentals rather than landlords following existing requirements. The ordinance takes effect in 30 days and is described by council members as the first step toward broader changes to STR permitting and enforcement in Duluth.

Northern News Now (MN) (09/14/26) Ella Schoeberl

Why It Matters: The ordinance strengthens enforcement while limiting future STR inventory through restrictions on single-family home conversions.