A report by Tralee Chamber Alliance has found that almost one in five properties in the town centre lies idle.
The chamber is presenting these findings as part of its roadmap to rebuild Tralee.
One recommendation is that properties, that are deliberately unused, should be liable for full rates.
Chief executive of the chamber, Ken Tobin, says vacancy in the town is now at a tipping point.
The report titled '1 in 5: Addressing Commercial Vacancy in Tralee' mapped out vacant properties in the county town, including those on uppers levels, last October.
It found that 19% of business properties in the town are idle but says ten actions can be taken locally to address the problem.
Tralee Chamber Alliance is issuing the report as part of a series of discussion points over the next five weeks, which, it says, will outline the actions needed to tackle commercial vacancies and to rebuild business.
The report recommends that commercial properties that are purposely left vacant and idle for a continued period of time will pay full rates, until such a time as they're brought back into use.
Sinn Féin TD Pa Daly, who's backing the report, says the town must prioritise attracting public sector jobs to the former Denny site, that was gifted to the people of Tralee by Kerry Group.
President of Tralee Chamber, Kevin McCarthy says it's time to finally solve the problem of vacant properties in the town.
