Stearns County, MN Short-Term Rentals: Noise Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Ordinance 439, Sec. 6.62(G), (N)
- Quiet hours
- 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Noise standard incorporated
- Minn. Rules ch. 7030
- Emergency contact response
- Within 30 minutes, 24/7
- First violation
- One written warning per cycle
Summary
Stearns County requires the owner or emergency contact of a Vacation/Short Term Rental to keep noise within Minnesota Rules chapter 7030 standards and to enforce quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., under Ordinance 439, Section 6.62(G) and (N).
G. The owners or designated emergency contact of Vacation/Short Term Rentals shall ensure that the noise standards of Minnesota Rules, chapter 7030, are met. ... N. The owner or emergency contact of Vacation/Short Term Rentals must enforce quiet hours from ten (10) pm-seven (7) am.
Full Breakdown
62(G) of the Land Use and Zoning Ordinance makes the owner or designated emergency contact responsible for ensuring that a Vacation/Short Term Rental meets the noise standards of Minnesota Rules, chapter 7030, the state's numeric noise-level regulation for residential and other land use categories. 62(B). 62(O) backs this up operationally: the rental must have an emergency contact available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, able to respond within 30 minutes, with contact information posted on the Stearns County website so neighbors and law enforcement can reach someone directly if a noise complaint comes in overnight. 18 nuisance standards, which instead just incorporate state MPCA standards by reference.
Violations & Fines
A documented noise or quiet-hours violation is treated the same as any other Section 6.62 permit violation: the Department issues one written warning per permit cycle, after which the revocation process under Sections 4.18/4.22 can proceed, and repeated or advertised non-compliance can carry the ordinance's standard misdemeanor penalty of up to $1,000 or 90 days in jail under Section 12.8.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Stearns County set quiet hours for short-term rentals?
What noise standard applies to a Stearns County vacation rental?
Who do neighbors call if a rental is too loud at night?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stearns County
Compare Stearns County to another location·View the Minnesota short-term rentals overview
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