St. Louis County, MN Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- No-permit cap
- 5 unlicensed/inoperable vehicles per parcel
- Over the cap
- Must be screened from ordinary public view
- Shoreland minimum lot
- 2.5 acres or larger
- Shoreland setback
- 300 feet from the shoreline
- Environmental standard
- Must meet MPCA compliance rules
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor under Art. VIII § 8.2.B
Summary
Unincorporated St. Louis County allows up to five unlicensed or inoperable vehicles on a property without any permit, as long as they meet setback and environmental standards. Store more than five, or fail to screen them from public view, and Zoning Ordinance 62 requires a permit or treats the storage as a violation.
A. No Permit Required: Minimum Standards: No permit shall be required for the storage of unlicensed or inoperable vehicles on property if the following standards are met: 1. All stored vehicles shall meet the principal structure setback requirements of the zone district in which they are located. 2. All stored vehicles shall meet the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency standards for motor vehicle environmental compliance. 3. If the vehicles are stored on shoreland property, the parcel shall be 2.5 acres or larger in size and vehicles shall be stored 300 feet or greater from the shoreline. 4. There shall be no more than five unlicensed or inoperable vehicles on a parcel, unless the vehicles are screened from ordinary public view and all standards above are met.
Full Breakdown
25 sets minimum standards for storing unlicensed or inoperable vehicles without a permit. Every stored vehicle must meet the principal-structure setback for the zone district it sits in, and must meet Minnesota Pollution Control Agency standards for motor vehicle environmental compliance, addressing fluid leaks and contamination risk. 5 acres or larger, and vehicles must sit at least 300 feet from the shoreline. The county caps no-permit storage at five unlicensed or inoperable vehicles per parcel, unless the vehicles are screened from ordinary public view and every other standard above is met, in which case a larger stored count can avoid triggering a permit.
This section sits in Article VI alongside the county's farming and logging equipment storage rules, and it applies to any parcel in unincorporated St. Louis County or a township without its own zoning controls, regardless of whether the vehicles are junk cars, trucks, or other unlicensed equipment left on the property.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding five unlicensed or inoperable vehicles without adequate screening from public view, or failing the setback, acreage, or Minnesota Pollution Control Agency standards, puts the storage outside the no-permit allowance and exposes the owner to enforcement under Article VIII. The Director investigates, orders correction, and can refer uncorrected violations to the County Attorney; violating the ordinance is a misdemeanor under Section 8.2.B, with fines paid into the county's general revenue fund.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many junk cars can I keep on my property in unincorporated St. Louis County?
Are there extra rules if my property is on a lake or river?
What happens if I store more vehicles than the ordinance allows?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Louis County
Compare St. Louis County to another location·View the Minnesota parking rules overview
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