Home Business in Stearns County, MN (2026)

3 rules for unincorporated Stearns County, Minnesota.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Stearns County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Zoning & Home Occupation Permits

Stearns County allows home occupations only when clearly incidental to the home, run solely by residents, confined to the dwelling and attached garage, and free of outdoor storage or display of business materials.

Stearns County Home Occupation Zoning Standards

Some Restrictions

Stearns County Ordinance 439 (Land Use and Zoning), Sec. 6.29.A-D

6.29 Home Occupations. A home occupation use shall comply with the following standards: A. The home occupation shall be clearly incidental and subordinate to the residential use of the property. B. The home occupation shall be conducted only by persons residing on the premises. No person other than the residents of the premises shall be employed or engaged in such home occupation. C. Operation ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Customer Traffic Restrictions

A Stearns County home occupation may not generate excessive customer or client traffic that is detrimental to the character of the surrounding properties, under the same zoning section that governs the use itself.

Stearns County Home Business Customer Traffic Limit

Some Restrictions

Stearns County Ordinance 439 (Land Use and Zoning), Sec. 6.29.F

F. The home occupation shall not generate excessive customer or client traffic that is detrimental to the character of the surrounding properties.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Home Daycare

Family day cares in Stearns County must meet single-family setback and appearance standards, keep at least 50 square feet of outside play area per child, and hold a state or county day care license.

Stearns County Home & Family Day Care Zoning Rules

Some Restrictions

Stearns County Ordinance 439 (Land Use and Zoning), Sec. 6.19.2

6.19.2 Performance Standards for Family Day Care. A family day care shall comply with the following standards: A. The building and any exterior fenced areas shall meet the setback standards for a single family residence in the district in which it is located. B. The exterior appearance of the structure shall not be altered from its single-family character. C. For child day care facilities, at l...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Stearns County ordinances

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