Blue Earth County, MN Public Conduct: Loud Party Ordinance (2026)

Blue Earth County adopted its underage-alcohol host liability ordinance on August 9, 2011, under the authority of Minn. Stat. § 145A.05, subd. 1, and codified it at Sec. 3-31 through 3-37 of the county code. The ordinance holds the person who hosts, allows, organizes, supervises or permits a gathering criminally responsible whenever they know or reasonably should know that a person under 21 will possess or consume alcohol there, whether at a private residence, farm, apartment, hotel room, park or any other place of assembly, and whether the host supplied the alcohol or not.

Under Sec. 3-34(b) and (c), a host is criminally liable even if only aiding, advising or procuring the gathering, and does not have to be physically present when the violation occurs. The board of commissioners found in Sec. 3-31 that such gatherings threaten public health and that a deterrent penalty is needed because proving that an adult directly furnished alcohol to a minor is difficult. Sec. 3-35 exempts conduct solely between an underage person and their own parent in the parent's household, legally protected religious observances, licensed liquor establishments regulated under Minn.

Stat. § 340A.503, and underage employees lawfully handling alcohol on the job. Sec. 3-37 makes a violation of Sec. 3-34 a misdemeanor, and Sec. 3-36 lets any sheriff's deputy or police officer in the county enforce the ordinance directly, including against a host who never appeared at the party.