Blaine, MN Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)

Blaine's code does not restrict short-term rentals to a host's primary residence. The city's Rental Maintenance Code (Chapter 18, Article VIII) licenses rental dwellings broadly, covering single-family detached homes, attached townhomes and condos, and multi-family rentals of two or more units, without conditioning a license on the owner living on-site. Because Blaine folds short-term use into this general rental license rather than a dedicated STR ordinance, there is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence mandate that would bar non-resident investors from operating. This is a notable contrast with some Minnesota cities that cap or condition STRs on owner occupancy; Minnesota law leaves that choice to each city, and Blaine has not adopted a primary-residence limit. Practically, an investor who owns a Blaine home they do not live in may still obtain a rental dwelling license and rent it, subject to the same inspection cycle, fees, and maintenance standards as any landlord. Operators should still verify that the property's zoning district permits the rental use and should keep the license current. If Blaine later adopts STR-specific rules, a primary-residence condition could be added, so hosts should periodically check with Housing Services for ordinance updates. As of this research, no Blaine ordinance requires a short-term rental to be the operator's primary residence.