GRAND RAPIDS — The Itasca County Board will host a public hearing for its short-term rental ordinance at its meeting Wednesday, Aug. 14.
The Board hosted a hearing on the first draft of the ordinance in April and received pushback on a provision that would have exempted units rented for six days or less from county licensing.
The amended ordinance does not have the controversial exemption, which the board previously argued was in place to prevent overlap with Department of Health licensure. The current ordinance draft reduces licensing fees for applicants already licensed by the state from $450 to $100.
The new version also removes temporary licensure for units without compliant septic systems and no longer prohibits the use of RVs, tents, fish houses or similar structures. The amendments address additional complaints from the previous hearing.
If the Board adopts the new version of the ordinance, all existing short-term rental units will have to be licensed by Jan. 1, 2026. New units will need a license before beginning operation.
The full ordinance and application drafts can be found on the county's website.
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Contributed/Edge Center for the ArtsThere's plenty to do throughout Northern Minnesota this week, including a harvest fair in Bemidji and a mental health conference in Grand Rapids. -
Contributed/SpoonDaniel spoke with KAXE's Kari Hedlund ahead of the band's headlining gig at Grand Rapids Riverfest on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. Tickets are still available! -
Megan Buffington/KAXEThe open house before the first day of school kicked off a year with "an exceptional amount of change" in Grand Rapids between budget cuts and new grade-level buildings. -
Contributed/Grand Rapids Economic Development AuthorityThe Grand Rapids City Council approved the sale of city land and tax increment financing, or TIF, for the project, led by an Alexandria-based business. -
Contributed/Itasca County Sheriff's Office via FacebookThe Itasca County Sheriff's Office detailed the search efforts on social media. Crews searched thick swamp and forest near where Caleb Bolin's vehicle was discovered. -
Lorie Shaull/Special to KAXEThe Superior National Forest is hosting an open house, the Environmental Congress will start in Brainerd and upcoming town halls will cover Itasca County's energy transition.
