Short-Term Rentals in St. Louis County, MN (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated St. Louis County, Minnesota.
Verified from official government sources
Short-Term Rental Permits
Unincorporated St. Louis County requires anyone operating a hotel, lodging house, boarding house or resort, including cabin or cottage rentals to recreational guests, to hold a written license from the county Health Officer. Ordinance No. 16 makes it unlawful to take overnight guests without one, and licenses must be posted on site and renewed each calendar year.
St. Louis County Lodging License Requirement
Some RestrictionsSt. Louis County Ordinance No. 16, § 3(a), (c)
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a hotel, lodging house, boarding house, or resort within the jurisdiction of the St. Louis County Board of Health who does not possess a valid license issued to him by the Health Officer as required by this ordinance... A valid license or permit shall be posted in every lodging establishment. The license year shall be January 1 to December 31 next ...
Noise Rules
St. Louis County does not set fixed quiet hours by ordinance, but the Planning and Zoning Director can impose quiet hours as a condition on any short-term rental permit. Zoning Ordinance 62 lets the Director add fencing, vegetative screening, or quiet hours to reduce a rental's impact on neighboring properties, and violating any imposed condition voids the permit.
St. Louis County STR Quiet Hours Condition
Significant RestrictionsSt. Louis County Zoning Ordinance 62, Art. VI § 6.32.A.2.d
d. The St. Louis County Planning and Zoning Director may impose additional standards or conditions that will reduce impacts of the proposed use on neighboring properties. Said Standards or conditions include but are not limited to fences, vegetative screening along property lines or shoreline and quiet hours.
Taxes & Fees
St. Louis County no longer fixes a dollar license fee in Ordinance No. 16 itself. A 1974 amendment, effective January 1, 1975, rewrote Section 3(f) to hand fee-setting to the St. Louis County Board of Health, replacing the ordinance's original graduated schedule that had run from $7.50 up to $25.00 depending on room count.
St. Louis County Lodging License Fee
Some RestrictionsSt. Louis County Ordinance No. 16, § 3(f) (as amended by amending § 8, eff. Jan. 1, 1975)
Section 8. Ordinance No. 16, Section 3(f), is amended to read as follows: (f) The license fees to be paid for lodging establishment licenses shall be established by the St. Louis County Board of Health. Section 11. These amendments shall take effect and be in force from and after January 1, 1975.
Short-Term Rental Parking Rules
Short-term rental hosts in unincorporated St. Louis County must provide enough on-site parking for their guests. Zoning Ordinance 62 flatly bans parking on any road or road right-of-way for camping, lodging, or residing, so overflow guest vehicles cannot spill onto the shoulder or ditch.
St. Louis County Short-Term Rental Parking Rule
Some RestrictionsSt. Louis County Zoning Ordinance 62, Art. VI § 6.32.A.6
6. Parking a. The site shall provide on-site parking sufficient to accommodate the occupants of the rental dwelling unit. b. No person shall, for the purpose of camping, lodging, or residing therein, leave or park a vehicle or motor vehicle on or within the limits of any road or on any road right-of-way.
Insurance Requirements
Every short-term rental permit holder in unincorporated St. Louis County must carry general liability insurance covering the property's use as a rental. Zoning Ordinance 62 requires the county to be listed as a certificate holder with a 30-day cancellation notice, and both the policy and certificate must be filed with the county.
St. Louis County Short-Term Rental Insurance Rule
Some RestrictionsSt. Louis County Zoning Ordinance 62, Art. VI § 6.32.A.1.j
j. General liability insurance covering the property, including its use as a short term rental, shall be maintained. Evidence of such insurance must be demonstrated by a certificate of insurance, listing St. Louis County as a certificate holder, with a 30-day notice of cancellation or non-renewal; a copy of the insurance policy and certificate of insurance shall be provided to the County.
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