Attempting to better regulate vacation rental homes in the city, the Pequot Lakes City Council adopted a short-term rental ordinance on a 4-1 vote Tuesday, Dec. 4. Council member Jerry Akerson was opposed.
"I buy a house and pay taxes. If I want to rent it out every lunch hour, I should be able to do that," Akerson said. "I don't know how Pequot thinks it can come in and limit the rental of something I own."
City code limited the rental of property to no more than four leases per year, which the city attorney determined was not enforceable. After the city received numerous complaints of people renting their property more frequently, the planning commission developed a short-term rental ordinance.
Rather than prohibiting the short-term rentals by VRBO, Airbnb, etc., under the new ordinance property owners can receive a $75 permit to rent their property up to four times between May 20 and Sept. 10. Rentals are unlimited between Sept. 11 and May 19.
The goal is to allow property owners to offer their property for rent while mitigating associated negative impacts on surrounding properties and neighborhoods, as well as water and environmental quality and general public safety.
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Mayor Nancy Adams said the planning and zoning commission had a lot of input from residents and worked hard on the ordinance. Zoning Specialist Dawn Bittner said the ordinance establishes ground rules.
The ordinance defines a short-term rental period as less than 30 days a year, and properties may not be rented to more than one party in any seven-day period.
"I see both sides of the argument. I think it's overblown in both directions," said council member Scott Pederson. "I think we took it a little too far. We have rules here we won't enforce. ... It's unenforceable. We don't have time to inspect the rental. One or two bad renters ruins it for others who want to rent."
Last month, Lake Shore approved an ordinance amendment that has more detailed rules regarding residential short-term rentals because that city has dealt with associated nuisance issues. That council (Lake Shore) also questioned how the rules would be enforced.
