Short-Term Rentals in Blue Earth County, MN (2026)
7 rules for unincorporated Blue Earth County, Minnesota.
Verified from official government sources
Short-Term Rental Permits
Anyone operating a short-term rental in unincorporated Blue Earth County needs an interim use permit from the planning agency, backed by a detailed site plan, floor plans, a business plan, and proof of insurance under Sec. 24-337(a).
STR Permit Requirements in Blue Earth County
Significant RestrictionsBlue Earth County Code § 24-337(a)
(a)Application requirements. ... Any person proposing to operate a short-term rental unit shall make application to the planning agency for an interim use permit. The application for said permit shall contain the following:(1)A site plan which shows the location of the following:a.Property lines.b.The dwelling unit proposed for use as a short-term rental unit.c.Accessory structures.d.Square foo...
Noise Rules
Short-term rentals in unincorporated Blue Earth County must build quiet hours into their required business plan under Sec. 24-337(a)(3)(c), and the county can add its own noise standards as an interim use permit condition under Sec. 24-337(b)(12).
STR Quiet Hours & Noise in Blue Earth County
Some RestrictionsBlue Earth County Code § 24-337(a)(3)(c), (b)(12)
c.A business plan that includes, but not limited to, quiet hours, maximum occupancy, parking, pet policy, refuse disposal, other property rules, the duration of available rental dates, the length of time the unit is available for rent for tenants of the unit, and any licenses required by other jurisdictions or agencies, including the Minnesota Department of Health. ... (12)The county may impose...
Short-Term Rental Parking Rules
Every short-term rental in unincorporated Blue Earth County must provide at least two off-street parking spaces under Sec. 24-337(c), and guests cannot park in public streets or rights-of-way.
STR Parking Rules in Blue Earth County
Some RestrictionsBlue Earth County Code § 24-337(c)
(c)Parking requirements.(1)A minimum of two off-street parking spaces shall be provided for the rental unit.(2)Off-street parking spaces must meet parking space size regulations in section 24-310 of the county Code and parking for vehicles and trailers may only be allowed in designated parking spaces.(3)Public streets and rights-of-way shall not be used for parking of trailers or vehicles.(4)An...
Occupancy Limits
Short-term rental occupancy in unincorporated Blue Earth County is tied directly to septic capacity: Sec. 24-337(b)(1) caps the number of guests at whatever the property's subsurface sewage treatment system can handle.
STR Occupancy Limits in Blue Earth County
Some RestrictionsBlue Earth County Code § 24-337(b)(1)
(1)The maximum occupancy at any given time shall be in compliance with the capacity of the subsurface sewage treatment system (SSTS) serving the unit. If the unit is served by a municipal or a sewer district system, the occupancy will be limited to the maximum occupancy identified in the applicant's business plan or the occupancy identified by a lodging license from the Minnesota Department of ...
Insurance Requirements
Blue Earth County will not approve a short-term rental interim use permit without proof of liability insurance, listed as a required application item under Sec. 24-337(a)(3)(e).
STR Insurance Requirement in Blue Earth County
Some RestrictionsBlue Earth County Code § 24-337(a)(3)(e)
(3)All other information required for an interim use permit, including, but not limited to:a.Required fee.b.A building inspection and certificate of occupancy issued by a Minnesota Certified Building Official.c.A business plan that includes, but not limited to, quiet hours, maximum occupancy, parking, pet policy, refuse disposal, other property rules, the duration of available rental dates, the...
Host Presence Rule
Blue Earth County does not require the host to live onsite, but Sec. 24-337(e) forces every short-term rental to have a designated manager available around the clock and able to respond in person within 120 minutes.
STR Manager Availability in Blue Earth County
Some RestrictionsBlue Earth County Code § 24-337(e)(1)
(e)Rental property manager and notifications.(1)All short-term rental units shall have a designated rental property manager, or "manager" who meets the following requirements:a.The manager must be available 24 hours/day, seven days per week.b.The manager must be able to respond in person within 120 minutes of notification when patrons are present at the dwelling unit.c.The manager must have adm...
Repeat Violator Strikes
In unincorporated Blue Earth County, short-term rental complaints go first to the property's designated rental manager, then to the planning agency if the manager does not acknowledge the issue within 24 hours. Emergency safety issues go straight to law enforcement. A substantiated complaint the owner cannot resolve can lead the planning commission and board of commissioners to invalidate the rental's interim use permit under Sec. 24-337(f).
Blue Earth County STR Violation Enforcement
Significant RestrictionsBlue Earth County Code § 24-337(f)
(f)General enforcement of property conditions.(1)Complaints and violations of the short-term rental ordinance shall be processed with the following procedure:a.Issues pertaining to a short-term rental unit should be directed to the designated rental property manager for remedy.b.If an issue is not acknowledged by the rental property manager within 24 hours, and remedy of the issue is not identi...
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