Park Rapids, Minn., Mun. Code Ch. 152 (2026) § 152.061

(A) Application.


(1) Applications for the issuance of an annual permit for a short-term rental shall be made in writing to the city on a form prescribed by the city.


(2) Annual permits for a short-term rental may be issued for any property where a residence is permitted according to the linear street density control requirements of this subchapter.


(3) Short-term rental host permit applications must include proof of existing rental registration and fulfillment of inspection requirements under this chapter.


(4) Short-term rental host permit applications shall provide evidence of agreement with a national-based hosting company for hosts to accommodate guests with short-term lodging and tourism-related activities, including provisions for guest hosting requirements and specific maximum guest restrictions, short-term rental individual property provided insurance terms, limitations on guest party restrictions, and methods for the filing of neighborhood complaints for the premises; or shall prescribe such similar requirements and an alternate hosting policy with all the same terms, including a property policy with a short-term rental endorsement and shall specifically become a part of the annual short-term rental permit upon issuance.


(5) Fees for the issuance of an annual permit for a short-term rental shall be established by ordinance as provided in § 36.11 , Planning/zoning fees of this code, and such fee must be paid in full at the time of application prior to permit issuance.


(6) Applications must include a completed lodging tax form in accordance with § 34.06 , Lodging tax payment and returns, and shall provide a template of the report to be submitted monthly to the city following standardized reporting requirements.


(7) All existing short-term rentals shall immediately apply for an annual permit according to all requirements of this subchapter. Failure to apply and receive an annual short-term rental permit shall not constitute required permit performance in order to secure continuing rights for such annual permit.


(8) Applications for annual short-term rental permit shall be made by the owner(s) of the short-term rental property for such use. The full legal names and addresses of all owners must be included on the application. If the owner is a corporation, the full legal names and addresses of all corporate officers and persons holding a 25% or greater beneficial interest in the business shall be provided on the application. Any and all designated short-term rental managers for the property, including complete contact information, shall be named on the application.


(B) Location and site requirements. Annual short-term rentals shall only be permitted on properties upon the effective date of this subchapter and which shall be in conformance with the following locational requirements as determined by the City Planner:


(1) East River Drive Neighborhood Study Area. There shall be a maximum of 1 annual permit per 1,500 feet lineal street density control frontage as measured from parcel boundary to the other end of the street or city limits boundary, whichever occurs sooner, for streets within the 1 way in, 1 way out East River Drive Neighborhood Study Area boundary. The following table establishes the total number of short-term rental parcels for this area based upon a 1,500 L.F. density divisor number for all streets in the study area:


Street Name

Linear Street Footage

Short-Term Rental Parcels


Street Name

Linear Street Footage

Short-Term Rental Parcels

Baywood Dr.
445 L.F.
0.30 **
Bear Path Dr.
835 L.F.
0.56 *
Birch Briar Ln.
1,415 L.F.
0.94 **
East River Dr.
5,585 L.F.
3.72 *
Norwood Dr.
405 L.F.
0.27 **
Timberglad e Dr.
330 L.F.
0.22 **
Trail Dr.
975 L.F.
0.65 **
Total
9,990 L.F.
6.67
* These two streets will be combined to permit a total of 4 STRs.
** These five streets will be combined to permit a total of 3 STRs.





(2) Balance of all other streets in the Park Rapids city limits. There shall be a maximum of 1 annual permit per 600 feet lineal street density control frontage as measured from parcel boundary at the beginning of the street to the other end of the street or city limits boundary, whichever occurs sooner.


(C) Management agent. No annual permit for a short-term rental shall be issued without the designation of a management agent. The agent may, but is not required to be the owner. The agent or a representative of the property owner shall be available to be contacted 24 hours a day during all times that the dwelling unit is being rented as a short-term rental with a primary or secondary phone number to respond immediately to complaints and contacts relating to the dwelling unit. One person or company may be the agent for multiple dwelling units within the city.


(1) At all times, the local agent shall have on file with the city a primary and secondary phone number as well as their current mailing address.


(2) The city shall be notified in writing within 5 business days of any change of property owner or rental agent.


(3) The owner and agent shall be responsible for the activities of tenants, the maintenance and upkeep of the dwelling unit, and shall be authorized and empowered to receive notice of a violation of the provisions of city ordinances and state law, to receive orders, and to institute remedial action to affect such orders, and to accept service of process pursuant to law.


(D) Annual short-term rental permit term.


(1) Annual short-term rental permits shall be valid for 1 calendar year beginning on January 1 and running through December 31. Evidence of discontinuance shall be the lack of a monthly lodging tax report and payment for any 3 consecutive months during the term of the annual permit. Written notice by the city shall constitute the termination of the annual short-term rental permit for such failure to complete the monthly lodging tax report without a bonafide written explanation as to why such report could not be filed due to emergency or other approved serious excuse.


(2) Annual permits for short-term rentals are non-transferrable. Every short-term rental permit holder shall give notice in writing to the city within 5 business days after having legally transferred or otherwise disposed of the legal control of any dwelling unit subject to a short-term rental permit. Such notice shall include the name and address of the person succeeding to the ownership or control of such dwelling unit.


(3) Such new owner shall be required to apply for and obtain a new short-term rental permit for the balance of the calendar year. If there are no violations on record for the short-term rental premises, the new owner may apply for a new permit following the prescribed permitting requirements of this section. Payments for such newly issued permits for less than a full calendar year may be pro-rated.


(Ord. 611, passed 12-8-2020)