St. Louis County, MN Short-Term Rentals: Insurance Requirements (2026)

A governs Residential Use-Class II short-term rentals, covering hunting shacks, residential dwellings under five units, and seasonal residences rented short term in the FAM, MU, SMU, RES, SENS, LSO, and LCO zone districts under a performance standard permit. j makes insurance a permit condition: general liability insurance covering the property, including its use as a short term rental, must be maintained continuously. The permittee has to demonstrate that coverage with a certificate of insurance naming St. Louis County as a certificate holder, and that certificate must specify a 30-day notice period before the county is told of any cancellation or non-renewal.

Both the full insurance policy and the certificate of insurance must be provided to the county, not just referenced. This sits alongside other permit conditions in the same subsection: posting emergency contact information in the unit, giving the Planning and Zoning Director current property-manager contact information, and posting Aquatic Invasive Species prevention guidelines where watercraft are involved. The performance standard permit is not transferable if ownership changes, so a new owner must reapply and requalify, including resubmitting proof of insurance, before continuing to rent the property short term.