Stearns County, MN Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

2(H), which declares a nuisance affecting public peace and safety where broken or unused plastic, glass, metal, wood, lumber, cement, fixtures, discarded machinery, appliances, inoperable vehicles, trash, debris or rubbish accumulate in the open, if the Department judges the pile conducive to harboring rats, mice, insects or vermin, or if rank growth of vegetation among the accumulated items creates a fire, health or safety hazard. Building materials awaiting use on an active improvement project are specifically excepted. 1(C), separately declares a health nuisance where excessive amounts of manure, refuse, garbage, offal, waste oil, hazardous materials, ashes, rubbish, unused lumber, tires, appliances, vehicle parts, debris or litter accumulate on a property.

0: the Director first gives the relevant Township Board 30 days to resolve the complaint, then serves the owner with written notice specifying the corrective steps and a deadline of no more than 10 days. If the owner does not comply, the County Board can, after a hearing noticed at least 7 days in advance, order the County itself to clear the property. 03, subdivision 1. Like the rest of Ordinance 392, this reaches only townships and unincorporated Stearns County land; a vacant lot inside St. Cloud, Sartell, or another incorporated city falls under that city's own property maintenance code instead.