Darien Airbnb Continues Despite Ban

DARIEN, IL – An Airbnb continues operating in a Darien neighborhood, despite a ban on short-term rentals that are less than 30 days, officials said Monday.

The city has taken the matter to DuPage County's field court, which is expected to hear the matter in the next month.

The Airbnb in question is a five-bed house in the 7800 block of Sawyer Road. It is still available for rental.

On the Airbnb website, the home is called the "Sunny Side House." A tenant and his wife stay in the basement, but they have a separate entrance and have no access to the first floor, the site says.

The house accepts up to 10 guests at a time, according to the site. A five-day rental costs nearly $1,000.

In June, the City Council unanimously voted for a ban on short-term rentals that are less than 30 days. This was after residents complained that some rentals were becoming party houses.

The city's case against the Sawyer Road rental is the first under its new prohibition, officials said.

At Monday's City Council meeting, Ward 4 Alderman Gerry Leganski told city staff the Sawyer Road Airbnb was continuing to operate. But he said there are no issues with the house now.

Dan Gombac, the city's municipal services director, said the city couldn't do anything while the matter was pending in the field court. The owner is guaranteed due process, he said.

"We're very limited from an administrative standpoint now," Gombac said.

If the judge decides against Darien, the city could take the matter to DuPage County Court, Gombac said.