Stearns County, MN Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Stearns County, MN, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Governing ordinance
- Ordinance 439, Sec. 6.62
- Permit type (>8 guests)
- Interim Use Permit, Sec. 4.18
- Permit type (≤8 guests)
- Provisional Use Permit, Sec. 4.22
- Neighbor notice radius
- 500 feet
- Max rentals per parcel
- Two (more = resort)
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine / 90 days jail
Summary
Renting a home in unincorporated Stearns County as a Vacation/Short Term Rental requires an Interim Use Permit for rentals with more than eight occupants or more than one rental per parcel, or a Provisional Use Permit for eight or fewer occupants, under Ordinance 439, Section 6.62.
A Vacation/Short Term Rental shall be subject to the administrative requirements of Section 4.18 (Interim Use) of this Ordinance for rentals with more than eight (8) occupants or more than one rental on a parcel, Section 4.22 (Provisional Use) for rentals with eight (8) or less occupants and the following performance standards: A. Submittal of an application signed by the property owner and including the following: (1) a current water test from an accredited laboratory with test results for nitrate-nitrogen and coliform bacteria; (2) a compliance inspection of the existing sub-surface sewage treatment system; ... (6) documentation that the owner sent out notice to the township and neighbors within 500 feet indicating their intent to apply for a Short Term Rental. Said notice shall include property owners contact information; (7) completed Short Term Rental Consultation Form
Full Breakdown
62 of the county's Land Use and Zoning Ordinance No. 22 (Provisional Use) for eight-and-under rentals. The application, filed with the Environmental Services Department, must be signed by the property owner and include a current water test from an accredited lab for nitrate-nitrogen and coliform bacteria, a compliance inspection of the existing sub-surface sewage treatment system, a to-scale site drawing showing the rental structure, accessory buildings, parking, shore recreation facilities, sewage treatment system and surveillance cameras, written confirmation from the local fire department that the property is reachable in an emergency, a current property-line survey by a Minnesota-licensed surveyor, proof that notice was mailed to the township and every neighbor within 500 feet, and a completed Short Term Rental Consultation Form.
The property must connect to an approved sub-surface sewage system certified at each permit cycle, cannot use holding tanks, and cannot rent out recreational vehicles. 23 instead. Permits run on renewal cycles set out later in the same section, and the county's Lodging Ordinance No. 661 layers on additional licensing.
Violations & Fines
Advertising or operating a Vacation/Short Term Rental without the required permit or registration is a documented violation under Section 6.62(K), enforceable through Ordinance 439's Section 12 process: a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $1,000 or up to 90 days imprisonment, with each day of continued violation a separate offense. Owners get an administrative order and 10 business days to appeal to the Board of Adjustment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run a short-term rental in Stearns County?
What documents does the application require?
Can I have more than one rental unit on my property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stearns County
How Stearns County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Stearns County to another location·View the Minnesota short-term rentals overview
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