Rural Inns Want to See More Homeshare Regulations

19,000 guests stayed in Airbnb rental homes outside larger metro areas over the past year

New information is out regarding house sharing numbers in rural Minnesota.

According to the Airbnb, 19,000 guests stayed in homes outside larger metro areas over the past year, accounting for more than $2 million in earnings.

These figures have many small bed and breakfast owners throughout the state asking for more equal regulations against homesharing services.

An ordinance was recently passed in Duluth to address this issue, which requires anyone listing their home to file with the city and pay a lodging tax.

“This is not a Duluth or Minnesota specific problem, it’s happening everywhere,” says Tim Allen, co-owner of the A.G. Thomson House Bed & Breakfast. “I know some cities have outright banned them. It’s not unique to anyone place, any one state, this is happening everywhere and they are all handling it differently. We think the way the city of Duluth handled it was a good middle ground.”

Allen says his bed and breakfast has not been impacted much by the regulations and believes they are keeping homestay rentals safer in the community.