Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Duluth, MN

Airbnb listings are allowed in Duluth, MN, but with restrictions. STRs are categorized into Accessory Home Share (owner present, max 4 guests), Accessory Vacation Dwelling Unit Limited (homestead, max 21 nights/year), and Vacation Dwelling Units (non-owner occupied). VDUs are subject to a city-wide cap (except in Form Districts) and occupancy is generally limited to 9 guests across a maximum of 4 bedrooms. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

STRs are categorized into Accessory Home Share (owner present, max 4 guests), Accessory Vacation Dwelling Unit Limited (homestead, max 21 nights/year), and Vacation Dwelling Units (non-owner occupied). VDUs are subject to a city-wide cap (except in Form Districts) and occupancy is generally limited to 9 guests across a maximum of 4 bedrooms.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Duluth. 1) Determine permit category and request a pre-application meeting via the Planning Division (required for VDUs). 2) Submit the application and required documents (site plans, surveys) through the ePlace portal and pay the application fee. 3) Complete Life Safety fire inspections and obtain an Operational Permit; VDUs additionally require a Planning Commission public hearing and City Council approval.

1) Determine permit category and request a pre-application meeting via the Planning Division (required for VDUs). 2) Submit the application and required documents (site plans, surveys) through the ePlace portal and pay the application fee. 3) Complete Life Safety fire inspections and obtain an Operational Permit; VDUs additionally require a Planning Commission public hearing and City Council approval.

Vrbo is permitted in Duluth, MN under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Duluth are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Duluth. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.