Decorah Planning & Zoning Commission continues to discuss how to regulate AirbNb and other short-term rentals

The City of Decorah's zoning code was written 26 years ago.  So a lot has happened since then--including the rise of Airbnb, VRBO and other types of real estate rentals that are short-term instead of long-term.

Members of the Decorah Planning & Zoning Commission are trying to figure out how to regulate such rentals, which sometimes have led to neighborhood complaints about parking and noise and garbage.

The city's code mentions "boarding houses" and "rooming houses," which city officials have interpreted as requiring Airbnb and similar rentals to be limited to property zoned C-3.

The Planning & Zoning Commission held a long discussion Monday night, getting input from the public about what kind of regulations or licensing or inspections are needed.  No conclusions were reached--except to ask City Administrator Chad Bird for examples of how other Iowa communities handle the same issues.