Stearns County, MN Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing agency
- Environmental Services Director
- Correction deadline
- 10 days after written notice
- Emergency abatement
- Allowed for imminent danger (Sec. 5.2)
- Max criminal penalty
- $1,000 fine or 90 days jail
- Jurisdiction
- Unincorporated area and townships only
- Cost recovery
- Assessed to property taxes by Oct. 15
- Ordinance passed
- November 20, 2007
Summary
In unincorporated Stearns County, a structure damaged by fire, water, wind, decay or age that endangers public safety is a declared public nuisance under Ordinance No. 392. The Environmental Services Director orders the owner to abate it within 10 days; ignoring the order brings a County Board hearing, County-performed abatement billed to the owner, and misdemeanor charges.
S. Structures which have been damaged by fire, water, wind, decay, age or other peril which are so situated as to endanger the safety of the public, property owners or visitors to the property; and ... Whenever the Director determines that a public nuisance is being maintained or exists on premises in the County, the Director shall provide notice of the public nuisance to the Chair of the Town Board of the township ... If the Town Board does not abate the nuisance ... the Director shall then notify the owner or occupant of the premises in writing of such fact and order that such nuisance shall be terminated or abated. ... The notice shall specify the steps to be taken to abate the nuisance and the time, not exceeding ten (10) days, within which the nuisance is to be abated.
Full Breakdown
Stearns County Ordinance No. 4: it reaches townships and the unincorporated area, not St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Centre, Melrose or Cold Spring, which enforce their own codes. 2(S) specifically lists 'structures which have been damaged by fire, water, wind, decay, age or other peril which are so situated as to endanger the safety of the public, property owners or visitors to the property' as a nuisance affecting peace and safety. 5. 1, once a nuisance is confirmed the Director first notifies the Town Board chair, giving the township 30 days to abate it locally; if the township does not act, the Director serves the owner written notice ordering correction within no more than 10 days.
If the owner misses that deadline, the Director must serve notice of a hearing at least 7 days ahead, and the County Board may then adopt a formal Notice of Abatement authorizing County crews to enter and remedy the condition. 2 lets the Director summarily abate a structure posing 'a serious and eminent danger' without waiting for that process, notifying the owner and Board chair immediately afterward. 4.
Violations & Fines
Violating Ordinance No. 392, including ignoring a directive to abate a dangerous structure, is a misdemeanor under Section 6.1: a fine up to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day of continued violation a separate offense. Section 6.2 lets the County Attorney bring civil action to force correction, and unpaid abatement costs become a tax assessment against the property under Section 5.4.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Stearns County's nuisance ordinance apply inside St. Cloud?
How long do I have to fix a dangerous structure after notice?
What happens if I don't pay the County's abatement bill?
Can the County act before giving me a hearing?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stearns County
Compare Stearns County to another location·View the Minnesota property maintenance overview
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