Construction Services & Inspections

Short Term Rentals

Short-term rentals fall into 3 categories (Accessory Home Share, Accessory Vacation Dwelling Unit, Limited & Vacation Dwelling Unit/Accessory Vacation Dwelling Unit), primarily differentiated by whether or not the property owner resides on the premises while the guests are present.

Accessory Home Share (AHS): Property owner permanently resides at the unit, and is present during the rental period. A maximum of 4 guests can stay 1 to 29 nights. The maximum number of bedrooms that can be rented is 2. Only one rental listing per night is allowed. There is no cap on the number of Accessory Home Shares permitted in the city.

Accessory Vacation Dwelling Unit, Limited (AVDUL): Property owner permanently resides at the unit, but does not need to be present during rental period. A maximum of 9 guests can stay 2 to 7 consecutive nights. The maximum total number of nights rented may not exceed 21 nights per calendar year. The maximum number of bedrooms that can be rented is 4. There is no cap on the number of permits that can issued in the City of Duluth.

Vacation Dwelling Unit/Accessory Vacation Dwelling Unit (VDU): For rental of entire unit without property owner being present. A maximum of 9 guests can stay 2 to 29 consecutive nights. The maximum number of bedrooms that can be rented is 4. Guest totals and parking requirements are determined by number of bedrooms. There is a maximum cap on vacation dwelling units permitted in the city (except in Form districts, where the cap does not apply). When new permits become available, information will be posted Planning’s Short Term Rental web page.

Accessory Home Share (owner lives in same unit, and is present during the rental period)

City of Duluth Divisions:

  •  Planning Division, for Accessory Home Share Permit.

Website: Short-term Rentals (duluthmn.gov)

Email: planning@duluthmn.gov

Phone: 218-730-5580

  •  Construction Services & Inspections Division, for review & monitor of Accessory Home Share Permit & possible MN Building Codes requirements.

Website: Construction Services & Inspections (duluthmn.gov)

Email: permittingservices@duluthmn.gov

Phone: 218-730-5240

  • Life Safety Division, for Operational Permit & Inspections.

Website: Fire Department (duluthmn.gov)

Phone: 218-730-4380

Other Agencies:

Please contact the State Department of Health, MN Department of Revenue and City of Duluth Tourism Tax directly regarding their requirements for Vacation Dwelling Units.

  •  State Department of Health, for a Lodging License

Website: https://www.health.state.mn.us

Phone: 651-201-5000

  •  MN Department of Revenue, for State Tax Identification Number

Website: https://www.revenue.state.mn.us

Phone: 651-282-5225

  • City of Duluth Tourism Tax

Website: www.duluthmn.gov/finance/tourism-taxes/

Phone: 218-730-5350

New Accessory Home Share 

  1. Go to the Planning & Development Division's Short Term Rentals web page here. Be sure to review the Frequently Asked Questions, and video on Short Term Rentals. 
  2. Once you have determined that your project is indeed an Accessory Home Share, please fill out the Application Cover Sheet here, and submit documents based on the Accessory Home Share Application Packet here. 
  3. Submit your complete application and payment to this office, Construction Services & Inspections. Directions on how to submit your application and payment can be found on the website's main page here. 
  4. Life Safety Staff will contact you directly to schedule Life Safety inspections.
  5. Once all reviews are approved on your application, an Accessory Home Share Permit and Operational Permit will be issued to you.

Accessory Home Share Renewal

  1. The Accessory Home Share Permit will terminate upon change in ownership of the property or in 3 years after the date of issuance, whichever occurs first. Upon permit termination, the property owner may apply to renew the existing Accessory Home Share Permit. The permit is non-transferable.
  2. Operational Permits with the Life Safety Division will need to be renewed every three years.

Accessory Vacation Dwelling Unit, Limit (owner lives in same unit, but does not need to be present during rental)

City of Duluth Divisions:

  •  Planning Division, for Accessory Vacation Dwelling Unit, Limited Permit.

Website: Short-term Rentals (duluthmn.gov)

Email: planning@duluthmn.gov

Phone: 218-730-5580

  •  Construction Services & Inspections Division, for review & monitor of Accessory Vacation Dwelling Unit, Limited Permit & possible MN Building Codes requirements.

Website: Construction Services & Inspections (duluthmn.gov)

Email: permittingservices@duluthmn.gov

Phone: 218-730-5240

  • Life Safety Division, for Operational Permit & Inspections

Website: Fire Department (duluthmn.gov)

Phone: 218-730-4380

Other Agencies:

Please contact the State Department of Health, MN Department of Revenue and City of Duluth Tourism Tax directly regarding their requirements for Vacation Dwelling Units.

  • State Department of Health, for a Lodging License

Website: https://www.health.state.mn.us

Phone: 651-201-5000

  • MN Department of Revenue, for State Tax Identification Number

Website: https://www.revenue.state.mn.us

Phone: 651-282-5225

  • City of Duluth Tourism Tax

Website: www.duluthmn.gov/finance/tourism-taxes/

Phone: 218-730-5350

New Accessory Vacation Dwelling Unit, Limited

  1. Go to the Planning & Development Division's Short Term Rentals web page here. Be sure to review the Frequently Asked Questions, and video on Short Term Rentals. 
  2. Once you have determined that your project is indeed an Accessory Vacation Dwelling Unit, Limited, please fill out the Application Cover Sheet here, and submit documents based on the Accessory Vacation Dwelling Unit, Limited Application Packet here. 
  3. Submit your complete application and payment to this office, Construction Services & Inspections. Directions on how to submit your application and payment can be found on the website's main page here. 
  4. Life Safety Staff will contact you directly to schedule Life Safety inspections.
  5. Once all reviews are approved on your application, an Accessory Home Share Permit and Operational Permit will be issued to you.

Accessory Vacation Dwelling Unit, Limited Renewal

  1. The Accessory Vacation Dwelling Unit, Limited will terminate upon change in ownership of the property or on December 31st, whichever occurs first. Upon permit termination, the property owner may apply to renew the existing Accessory Vacation Dwelling Unit, Limited. The permit is non-transferable.
  2. Operational Permits with the Life Safety Division will need to be renewed every three years.

Vacation Dwelling Unit/Accessory Vacation Dwelling Unit (owner does not live in same unit)

City of Duluth Divisions:

  •  Planning Division, for Interim Use Permit

Website: Short-term Rentals (duluthmn.gov)

Email: planning@duluthmn.gov

Phone: 218-730-5580

  •  Construction Services & Inspections Division, for Building Permit & Inspections

Website: Construction Services & Inspections (duluthmn.gov)

Email: permittingservices@duluthmn.gov

Phone: 218-730-5240

  • Life Safety Division, for Operational Permit & Inspections

Website: Fire Department (duluthmn.gov)

Phone: 218-730-4380

Other Agencies:

Please contact the State Department of Health, MN Department of Revenue and City of Duluth Tourism Tax directly regarding their requirements for Vacation Dwelling Units.

  • State Department of Health, for a Lodging License

Website: https://www.health.state.mn.us

Phone: 651-201-5000

  • MN Department of Revenue, for State Tax Identification Number

Website: https://www.revenue.state.mn.us

Phone: 651-282-5225

  • City of Duluth Tourism Tax

Website: www.duluthmn.gov/finance/tourism-taxes/

Phone: 218-730-5350

Please see the Vacation Dwelling Unit Guide for the step by step guide for the Vacation Dwelling Unit/Accessory Vacation Dwelling Unit process.

Contact

City Hall, Room 100
411 West First Street
Duluth, MN 55802
218-730-5240

Hours

Monday-Friday
8:30am - 4pm