New options for homeowners and tourists

The Duluth council is debating vacation rental homes and how best to regulate them.

Realtors and local officials hope more vacation rentals will provide a new alternative for tourists who might not want to stay in a hotel.

In duluth, there are 36,000 home units and 15,000 of them are traditional rentals and only 22 are special use permits for vacation rentals.

Some realtors from the Duluth area say they want more.

Sarah Wisdorf, Chair of Duluth Association of Realtors, said “It’s a good option for homeowners depending on what their situation is. To utilize their house which many times is the biggest investment most of us will make.”

The goal to attempt to preserve the character of existing neighborhoods is admirable but realtors believe private property rights of all owners are very important.

Along with vacation rentals, the council will be talking about a new three strike rule in neighborhoods.

It means that if neighbors complain about you three times you can no longer have a vacation rental.

Wisdorf said, “It just gives the neighbors the ability to have a voice about what’s going on in their neighborhood, which is important for our community and for everyone in general.”

If council approves vacation rental regulations tonight, they’ll have a final vote in two weeks.