If you just recently heard about the new Minneapolis City Ordinance that is shutting down a drastic number of short term rentals, you are not alone.
The city of Minneapolis quietly passed this ordinance on December 4th 2020 with only 3 people on record and clearly no consideration for hundreds of hosts. Hosts who have been providing travelers alternative accommodations to hotels for almost 2 decades. The first time most hosts in our city heard of the news is from a newsletter sent out by Airbnb earlier this week, 4 months after the ordinance was passed.
Many of the elements have a very large negative impact on hosts. Most notable: the new ordinance limits each individual to operate 1 homestead and 1 short term rental property. It DOES NOT grandfather existing businesses that operate multiple short term rentals and was originally scheduled to go into effect on May 1, 2021.
The city council's goal of solving their shortage of 3,500 affordable rental units seems to be the driving factor in this passed ordinance and other proposed ordinances. The other proposed ordinances for rental property are on the line include rent control and requirements on how and who landlords must sell their property to first. Neither which have historically been proven to increase affordability in housing. Affordable housing is definitely lacking in our city, however any part of legislation passed should be the result of a lot of listening and quality research.
To get involved and help our city come up with common sense rental laws that actually INCREASE access to affordable housing and don't destroy small businesses, join the call on Tuesday, April 13th at 5pm.
The email below was sent out April 9th and is here as a reference to various groups for your convenience. We will continue to update the info provided on this page.
Hey everybody,
- December 4th, 2020: Minneapolis City Council passed the STR ordinance very quietly. No reporters were present. Only 3 people are on the record at this meeting: Sonders Company, United properties and one other
- The city of Minneapolis is short 3500 units of affordable housing. This appears to be one of the city councils attempts to create more affordable housing.
- The ordinance does NOT grandfather in existing STR
- The ordinance originally was going into effect May 1, 2021 - but due to some conversations with the groups listed below, existing STR's won't be required to shut down until spring 2022.
- Many of us in attendance at the Wednesday meeting with city administrators were just made aware of this ordinance for the first time due to an email received from Airbnb regarding Wednesday's meeting.
Kari coordinates zoom calls with various City Council members regarding rental ordinances the city has passed/is trying to pass. She is also the moderator for the above mentioned Facebook page so you will see the past zoom calls posted on that page. You can sign up for her newsletter with info on these calls by emailing her Kari@duplexchick.com
This group was mentioned in one of the emails I received however I have not yet been accepted. If this page is similar to Airbnb host groups I have been in the past, they regularly provide updates that STR owners should be aware of.
I will post STR updates here as well
