Popular tourist hotspot goes to war with Airbnb guests over booming music, fireworks at 1am and wild hot tub parties

 READ MORE: Residents of idyllic seaside towns take a stand against Airbnb's

A popular vacation spot in Minnesota is clamping down on rowdy Airbnb guests after receiving a slew of complaints from local homeowners.

Otter Tail County, a picturesque area around two hours from Minneapolis, is known for its breathtaking waterfront views in a county that boasts of being home to 'more-than-1,000 lakes'.

But in recent years, it has slowly become a hotbed for rowdy lake parties and riotous bachelor parties that go on long into the night.

Following backlash from homeowners who miss their lost sense of peace and quiet, the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners voted this week to crackdown on rental occupancies and noise levels.

Minnesota's most lake-filled county is cracking down on large, loud vacation rental homes

Minnesota's most lake-filled county is cracking down on large, loud vacation rental homes

The patio from one of the huge eight bedroom, eight bathroom home set on Clitherall Lake - for $1,000-a-night

The patio from one of the huge eight bedroom, eight bathroom home set on Clitherall Lake - for $1,000-a-night

On the popular rental site Airbnb, stunning lakeside homes are available to rent for up to $1,000 a night, with many featuring hot tubs and piers for jet skis and boating. Overall, Otter Tail County boasts more than 300 vacation homes through the app.

However, the upscale accommodations are in stark contrast to the social media footage showing revelers drinking on many of Otter Tail County's lakes, reports the Star Tribune.

Local homeowner Steve Eriksson told the paper that his next door neighbor put their home up for rental, which brought a fleet of unruly guests that partied into the early hours of the morning.

'It's sort of in the back of my mind, anytime any place goes up for sale, I am concerned that it becomes an Airbnb,' he said.

Eriksson's neighbor garnered the most complaints of any of the hundreds of vacation homes dotted around the lakes, and he said guests would routinely party on the water and set off fireworks as late as 1 am.

Christopher LeClair of Otter Tail County Land & Resource Management pushed for stricter Airbnb reforms to come into effect

Christopher LeClair of Otter Tail County Land & Resource Management pushed for stricter Airbnb reforms to come into effect

This cabin in Battle Lake, Minnesota, is available on Airbnb for $649 a night and features five bedrooms and three bathrooms

This cabin in Battle Lake, Minnesota, is available on Airbnb for $649 a night and features five bedrooms and three bathrooms

Stunning lakeside views offering beauty and tranquility abound on this two-acre wooded lake-front property on First Silver Lake in Minnesota

Stunning lakeside views offering beauty and tranquility abound on this two-acre wooded lake-front property on First Silver Lake in Minnesota

Following a barrage of complaints, this week the Board of Commissioners pushed through a host of new regulations.

This included mandating quiet hours from 10 pm to 7 am, prohibiting the use of RVs, tents or fish houses for extra guests, and restricting the number of occupants by the number of beds or size of the home's septic systems.

The maximum number of guests is also stipulated throughout the day, instead of just at night, to bring the number of people out on the lakes down.

Chris LeClair, the board's land and resource manager, said of the changes: 'Those vacation rental owners need to be cognizant of disturbing the peace of the neighbors, so we're trying to make sure that these can coexist.'

However, some locals feel the move is overkill.

When the new measures were voted on this week, only one member of the board, Commissioner Dan Bucholz, voted against the moves, fearing it could scupper the town's summer tourism boom with the new laws set to come into effect July 1.

Bucholz said if the ordinance was to be instated, he would want to wait until at least January 2025, as he felt the measures could impact Airbnb users who already had bookings for the summer and who may have to uninvite guests to fit the policies.

'It's like moving the 40-yard line,' he told the Star Tribune. 'And I don't think that was fair.'

Another local resident who owned a rental home on the lakes, Chris Buttke, added that the vote 'seems to me like it's more ammunition for the angry neighbor that doesn't want it.'

'Not all guests are good guests, but you don't know that until you're there,' Buttke said. 'It's just no different than somebody's kids throwing a party when they're gone. I mean, you don't have a lot of control over that.'

Only a fraction of the hundreds of on vacation homes that go online end up being problematic - but it's those few that have resulted in the need for regulations.

Neighbors living next to vacation home rentals are hoping a new law to be instituted on July 1 will bring some reprieve after years of large, loud parties

Neighbors living next to vacation home rentals are hoping a new law to be instituted on July 1 will bring some reprieve after years of large, loud parties

'Those vacation rental owners need to be cognizant of disturbing the peace of the neighbors, so we're trying to make sure that these can coexist,' LeClair said.

Noncompliance with any of the restrictions could result in license suspension or revocation.

One couple rent out their lake cabin with only seven guests allowed at their two-bedroom property.

'There's a lot of things that we don't allow on our own vacation home rental anyway, so most of it won't impact us,' Franci and Dan Gleason said.

However, their main concern is that they could beheld liable for any civil or criminal penalties that are incurred on behalf of renters.

'Somehow or another I'm going to be responsible and someone can come sue me and take my property because of some stupid frisbee or that the dog got loose,' she said.

OTHER NEWS

30 minutes ago

Sacre bleu! Former Commonwealth Games swimmer left with a French accent after suffering a stroke whilst training

30 minutes ago

How depressing? Junk food is bad for your mental health, study warns

30 minutes ago

Labour pledge to give people suffering from brittle bone disease access to vital scans in victory for the Mail on Sunday's War On Osteoporosis campaign

30 minutes ago

ERIC KAUFMANN: Be warned...Labour will turbo charge the woke revolution

30 minutes ago

SUSIE DENT: Rhyming slang isn't brown bread - and it's all down to Kylie and Miley

30 minutes ago

Cameron Young hits 59 as Tom Kim leads Travellers Championship

30 minutes ago

Trump drops $500 tip at Philly cheesesteak restaurant as possible VP name is floated in crowd interaction

30 minutes ago

Surely CBA shares can't just keep rising?

30 minutes ago

Sick at home and bored out of your mind? Here are five films and shows that will get you through

30 minutes ago

SuperAnimal: A deep learning model for automated animal behavior analysis

30 minutes ago

Nationwide tells members you can't turn up to our AGM in person

30 minutes ago

Star Wars fans hone their lightsaber dueling skills at a Mexico City Jedi academy

35 minutes ago

‘Star Wars’ Actress Daisy Ridley Comes Face-To-Face With Rey Character Performer At Disneyland: “Surrealist!”

36 minutes ago

Inflation gauge to offer cold comfort for borrowers

36 minutes ago

5 Reasons to Seriously Consider Using a Living Trust to Pass an Inheritance to Your Family

36 minutes ago

Aussie skateboarders move one step closer to Paris

36 minutes ago

Steelers Plan on Using Payton Wilson’s ‘Superpower’ to Their Advantage

36 minutes ago

Euro 2024 predictions, fixtures, group standings, results: Sunday 23 June

40 minutes ago

L.A. Olympics official: Leaving Caitlin Clark off 2024 U.S. team 'missed opportunity'

40 minutes ago

Caeleb Dressel qualifies for another event at Paris Olympics, 'happy to be done' with trials

43 minutes ago

Australians will get ‘strong leadership’ from a Coalition government

43 minutes ago

Army chiefs plan biggest reservists mobilisation exercise in 20 years

43 minutes ago

Vitamin supplement that costs just £1 a day could help millions of Britons suffering with poor blood circulation

43 minutes ago

PETER HITCHENS: Could Sir Keir Starmer have failed to spot that he was in a Police State?

43 minutes ago

Meghan's the one I want to hear from on my birthday, but here's why I know she won't call: Just weeks from his 80th, a forlorn THOMAS MARKLE sees no hope of a reconciliation with his daughter

43 minutes ago

Addicts being charged huge sums for private rehabilitation services they do not need, expert warns

43 minutes ago

SARAH VINE: Not only does Starmer have a fundamental disregard for women's rights, he has an even more fundamental disregard for their opinions. That's why I'll never vote for him

43 minutes ago

Eight bargain investment trusts that could bring YOU returns of up to 90% over five years

43 minutes ago

Eight bargain investment trusts that could bring YOU returns of up to 90% over five years

48 minutes ago

Philadelphia officer clinging to life after being shot in the head: report

48 minutes ago

How college graduate aged 23 was able to buy $200,000 home that will make him $23,000 profit a year with just a $540 down payment

49 minutes ago

12-year-old set to become the youngest to graduate from NY high school: 'Absolutely insane'

49 minutes ago

Five Teams Emerge With Interest In Golden Knights' Goaltenders

49 minutes ago

Dominant second-half display sees Glasgow crowned URC champions

49 minutes ago

Want less smartphone distraction - how about a dumbphone?

49 minutes ago

England WAGS give players much-needed morale boost after deflating Denmark performance

49 minutes ago

Swinney: Govt should remove barrier to passing Gender Reform bill

51 minutes ago

Sha'Carri Richardson will race for spot in Olympics after winning semifinals at US trials in 10.86

51 minutes ago

Remain alert as severe storms target southern Ontario on Sunday

51 minutes ago

Son seeks advice after parents install controversial landscaping method: 'I wasn't in favor of the idea'