Ramsey County, MN Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)
Key Facts
- County primary-residence rule
- None
- St. Paul
- Non-owner-occupied allowed
- Non-owner-occupied
- Fire C of O required
- Owner-occupied
- No C of O required
- Unit count
- Varies by type + zoning
Summary
Ramsey County imposes no primary-residence requirement. St. Paul does not limit STRs to a host's primary residence: it licenses both owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied units, with the number of allowed units varying by property type and zoning.
A current Fire C of O or a Provisional Fire C of O application must be completed and included with this application to be considered complete. (for non-owner occupied applications)
Full Breakdown
Minnesota leaves this choice to cities, so Ramsey County sets no primary-residence-only rule. St. Paul distinguishes owner-occupied from non-owner-occupied properties: non-owner-occupied units must supply a Fire Certificate of Occupancy (or a Provisional Fire C of O application), while owner-occupied applications do not. The number of STR units permitted depends on whether the building is owner-occupied and on the zoning district under Sec. 65.645. Because non-owner-occupied STRs are allowed, St. Paul is not a primary-residence-only city. Other Ramsey County cities may impose stricter primary-residence limits, so verify locally.
Violations & Fines
Operating a non-owner-occupied STR without the required Fire Certificate of Occupancy, or exceeding the units allowed for the property type, is a Chapter 379 violation enforced by St. Paul DSI.
Frequently Asked Questions
Must a St. Paul STR be the host's primary residence?
Does Ramsey County require hosts to live on-site?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ramsey County
Compare Ramsey County to another location·View the Minnesota short-term rentals overview
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