Business Licensing & Operations in Stearns County, MN (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Stearns County, Minnesota.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Stearns County confines principal adult-use businesses to the Industrial district and requires them to sit at least 1,500 feet from homes, schools, day cares, libraries, parks, liquor establishments and other adult uses, under Ordinance 439's Section 6.4.
Stearns County Adult Use Zoning: 1,500-Foot Buffer
Significant RestrictionsStearns County Land Use and Zoning Ordinance No. 439, Section 6.4.3.A
Any Adult Uses-Principal shall be located at least one thousand five hundred (1,500) radial feet, as measured in a straight line from the closest point of the property line of the building upon which the Adult Use-Principal is located, to the property line of: (1) Residentially zoned property and/or residential dwelling unit(s); (2) A licensed day care center; ... (7) An on-sale liquor establis...
Tobacco Retail License
Stearns County requires a county license before anyone can retail sell tobacco outside of cities and towns that already license tobacco sales themselves, under Ordinance No. 206, with annual renewal, posted display, and misdemeanor penalties for selling without one.
Stearns County Tobacco Retail License Rule
Significant RestrictionsStearns County Ordinance No. 206 (Tobacco Control), Section 4.1
Section 4. LICENSES. 4.1 License Requirements. A. No person shall retail sell or offer to retail sell any tobacco without first having obtained a license to do so from the County. B. All licenses issued under this Ordinance shall be valid for one calendar year from the date of issue; provided further that all licenses expire on June 30 next following the date of issuance. C. All licenses are ef...
Auto Repair on Residential Property
Stearns County lets a resident run motor vehicle repair out of their home in agricultural districts, but only under Section 6.43 of the Land Use and Zoning Ordinance: a filed site plan, a seven-vehicle cap outside a building, and no employees who don't live on site.
Stearns County Home Auto Repair Rules
Some RestrictionsStearns County Ordinance 439, Section 6.43
6.43 Motor Vehicle Repair, Accessory to Residential Use A Motor Vehicle Repair use that is accessory to a Residential principle use shall comply to all the performance standards in Section 6.43.1 of this Ordinance and the following additional standards: A. The use shall be accessory to a principle residential use in agricultural districts. B. A site plan shall be filed indicat...
All Stearns County ordinances
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