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

Chapter 2400, the Social Host Ordinance, targets gatherings held in the county's townships where underage drinking occurs, even if the host never furnishes the alcohol. An "event or gathering" is defined as any group of three or more persons assembled for a social occasion (Sec. 02, Subd. 4), and "underage person" means anyone under 21 (Subd. 10). 03, a host is liable if they knew or reasonably should have known an underage person possessed or consumed alcohol on the property and failed to take "reasonable steps" to prevent it, such as controlling access to the alcohol, directly supervising underage attendees, or checking IDs (Subd.

8). Critically, Subd. 3 makes clear the host does not have to be physically present at the event to be criminally responsible. A violation is a misdemeanor (Subd. 4), and a repeat offense is counted using prior convictions under this ordinance, Minn. 503 Subd. 2, or any substantially similar city or county ordinance in Minnesota (Subd. 6). 04 carves out exceptions: alcohol use a parent specifically authorizes for their own child inside the parent's household, legally protected religious observances, licensed liquor retailers and bottle-club permit holders regulated under Minn.

503, supervised law-enforcement activity, alcohol possession during the course of lawful employment, and landlords, mortgagees, colleges, universities, hotels or motels that did not actively participate in hosting the gathering. Enforcement is open to any person holding a Minnesota Peace Officer's License (Sec. 05). The ordinance took effect May 1, 2015, enacted under the county's public-health authority in Minn. 05.