Blue Earth County, MN Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)

Blue Earth County's short-term rental ordinance, Sec. 24-337, sets occupancy as a function of wastewater capacity rather than a flat headcount. Under subsection (b)(1), the maximum occupancy at any given time must comply with the capacity of the subsurface sewage treatment system (SSTS) serving the rental unit; if the property instead ties into a municipal or sewer district system, occupancy is capped at whichever is lower of the number stated in the applicant's business plan or the occupancy figure on a lodging license issued by the Minnesota Department of Health.

Because SSTS sizing drives the cap, the application file required under Sec. 24-337(a)(3)(d) must include a subsurface sewage treatment system commercial operating permit where appropriate, and Sec. 24-337(d)(2)(a) separately requires the system to be sized to accommodate the unit's maximum occupancy under Sec. 6-377. Holding tanks are not allowed as a substitute for a properly sized SSTS. There is also a one-rental-per-lot cap under Sec. 24-337(b)(2), and the rental property manager must keep a current list of occupants available to county staff or law enforcement on request under Sec.

24-337(b)(3). Applicants seeking an interim use permit for a short-term rental unit must also check with the Minnesota Department of Health under Minnesota Rules Chapter 4625 to determine whether a lodging license is required, and if so, keep it current annually with proof supplied to the planning agency.