Local short‑term rental hosts urge council to drop or reduce seven‑night minimum

Barbara Nelson, who said she lives at 415 South Main Street in District 3 and operates an in‑home Airbnb, asked the Verona Common Council to reconsider the seven‑night minimum that took effect July 1. "Why force people and limit their freedom of choice in Verona?" Nelson said, adding that a neighborhood petition of 12 neighbors declared they had not been harmed by her operation.

Nelson said most of her stays are two‑ to three‑night visits and that the seven‑night requirement has already stopped bookings: "Since I changed the settings on the Airbnb site that says they have to stay 7 nights, I have had no bookings," she said, telling the council the change could cost her thousands of dollars annually. Robin Johnson, another local short‑term rental owner, supported Nelson and told the council her guests—often Epic employees or visitors—typically stay two to four nights and spend money at local businesses.

Why it matters: council members said the issue raises competing priorities—protecting neighborhoods from potential party houses while supporting local homeowners and tourism that benefit Verona businesses. The short‑term rental rule recently adopted in December but effective July 1 prompted the discussion, and the council later directed staff to draft a tiered approach that could distinguish local, responsive owners from nonlocal operators.

Next steps: Council asked staff and the city attorney to draft ordinance language for a split licensing system that would keep the statutory seven‑night baseline but create a pathway for shorter stays for qualifying operators.