Blaine, MN Short-Term Rentals: Host Presence Rule (2026)

Blaine's code does not require a host to be present, or to live on-site, while a short-term rental is occupied. Because the city licenses non-owner-occupied rental dwellings under Chapter 18, Article VIII, an entire-home rental with no host on the premises is permissible so long as the property carries the required rental license. There is no hosted-only restriction and no rule limiting short-term rentals to a rented room within an occupied home. The one presence obligation in the rental program is administrative rather than operational: the city states that the owner must attend the interior inspection, which is conducted every three years (exterior inspections occur annually and do not require attendance). That requirement is about access for code inspection, not about supervising guests. As a best practice, and to satisfy the city's general nuisance and Community Standards expectations, hosts of unhosted rentals should designate a responsible local contact who can respond promptly to complaints or emergencies, even though the code does not mandate a 24-hour responder. Operators should keep the license current, ensure the unit meets maintenance standards before the interior inspection, and confirm the property's zoning permits the rental. As of this research, no Blaine ordinance conditions a short-term rental on the host's physical presence during guest stays.