Stearns County, MN Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Stearns County Ordinance 272
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county and townships only
- Enforcing official
- Environmental Services Director
- Max fine
- $1,000 plus up to 90 days jail
- Appeal deadline
- 30 days to Board of Adjustment
Summary
Stearns County Ordinance 272 sets minimum habitability standards for every rental dwelling unit in the unincorporated county and townships: working kitchen facilities, heated and unheated running water, a functioning toilet and bathtub or shower, and heating capable of safely warming all habitable rooms.
No person shall rent to another for occupancy any dwelling unit, for the purpose of living, sleeping, cooking or eating which does not comply with the following requirements. 5.1 Kitchen Facilities. Every rental dwelling unit shall have a room or portion of a room in which food may be prepared and/or cooked... 5.9 Heating. No person shall rent to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit, for the purposes of living therein, which does not have heating facilities which are properly installed, which are not maintained in safe working condition and which are not capable of safely and adequately heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms in every dwelling unit located therein. Gas or electric appliances designed primarily for cooking or water heating purposes shall not be considered as heating facilities within the meaning of this Ordinance.
Full Breakdown
0 bars renting out any dwelling unit that fails its minimum standards. 1 requires a kitchen sink connected to an approved water supply and sanitary sewer system with adequate heated and unheated running water, plus cabinets, counter space and a working stove and refrigerator. 3 requires a lavatory sink near that toilet room. 4 requires a working bathtub or shower. 9 requires heating facilities, properly installed and maintained, capable of safely and adequately heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms; portable liquid-fuel space heaters are flatly prohibited.
11 requires drinking water meeting local, state and federal standards. 1), and it does not apply to hotels or motels. 2 authorizes declaring a unit unfit for human habitation and ordering it vacated when defects create a health or safety hazard.
Violations & Fines
Renting a unit that fails Section 5.0 standards triggers a written Compliance Order under Section 8.1 giving the owner a deadline to fix the violation, appealable to the Board of Adjustment within 30 days under Section 8.2. Failure to comply is a misdemeanor under Section 10.1: a fine up to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day of violation a separate offense. Unresolved cleanup costs can be assessed against the property's taxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Stearns County's rental housing ordinance cover St. Cloud rentals?
What heating standard must a Stearns County rental unit meet?
What happens if a landlord ignores a habitability violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stearns County
Compare Stearns County to another location·View the Minnesota rental property rules overview
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