Building Safety in Stearns County, MN (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Stearns County, Minnesota.
Verified from official government sources
Lead Paint
Stearns County Ordinance 272 requires every interior wall and ceiling in a rental dwelling unit to be free of flaking lead paint as part of its building maintenance standards, alongside a broader ban on toxic paints and materials with a lasting toxic effect.
Stearns County Rental Flaking Lead Paint Ban
Some RestrictionsStearns County Ordinance No. 272, Section 6.3
6.3 Floors, Interior Walls and Ceilings. Every floor, interior wall and ceiling shall be adequately protected against the passage and harborage of vermin and rodents, free of visible mold growth, and shall be kept in sound condition and good repair. Every floor shall be free of loose, warped, protruding or rotted flooring materials. Every interior wall and ceiling shall be free of holes, large ...
Door Locking Hardware
Stearns County Ordinance 272 requires every exterior door of a rental dwelling unit to have a safe, functioning lock, and requires multiple family buildings to use locking devices on unit entry doors that still open freely from inside without a key.
Stearns County Rental Door Lock Requirements
Some RestrictionsStearns County Ordinance No. 272, Section 5.7
5.7 Door Locks. No owner shall occupy nor let to another for occupancy any dwelling unit unless all exterior doors of the rental dwelling unit are equipped with safe, functioning locking devices. Multiple family dwellings shall also be furnished with door locks as follows: 5.7.1 Every door that is designed to provide ingress or egress for a dwelling unit within a multiple family rental dwelling...
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Stearns County Ordinance 272 requires every rental dwelling unit to be supplied with a functioning carbon monoxide detector, on top of the fire and smoke alarm requirements of the Minnesota Uniform Fire Code.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors Required in Stearns Rentals
Some RestrictionsStearns County Ordinance No. 272, Section 6.8
6.8 Fire and Carbon Monoxide Protection. All rental dwelling units shall be subject to the Minnesota Uniform Fire Code including the requirement for fire/smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. Additionally, all rental dwelling units shall be supplied with a functioning carbon monoxide detector.
Building Permits
Stearns County requires a construction site permit before anyone erects, alters or moves a structure, or excavates footings, foundations or basements, anywhere in the unincorporated county. Applications go to the Environmental Services Department and permits expire after one year if construction has not started.
Stearns County Construction Site Permit
Some RestrictionsStearns County Ordinance 439 (Land Use and Zoning), Section 4.11.1
Except as provided in Section 6.0, 6.2.1 D, 6.54.2 and 7.22.1C of this Ordinance, no person shall erect, alter or move any structure or part thereof without first securing a construction site permit. Additionally, no excavation for footings, foundations, slabs, posts, basements, walls or other parts of a structure shall be conducted without first securing a construction site permit.
All Stearns County ordinances
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