Blaine, MN Short-Term Rentals: Registration Rules (2026)

Blaine does not operate a distinct short-term rental registration system. Registration of any rental dwelling happens through the city's annual rental license, administered by Housing Services under Chapter 18, Article VIII of the City Code. According to the city, the licensing period runs from January 1 to December 31 each year, and all rental housing must be licensed before tenants move in. New applicants complete a New Rental License Application online; existing licensees receive renewal information by mail in December, sent to the property owner of record rather than a tenant or manager. The application links the property to the program's inspection cycle: interior inspections occur every three years (the owner must attend), while exterior inspections occur annually. Because the rental code does not separate short-term from long-term tenancies, a host renting an entire home short-term would register through this same license rather than a vacation-rental form. Operators should keep the license current, update ownership when a property transfers (the city charges a transfer fee), and respond to inspection scheduling requests. Anyone unsure whether a short-term arrangement triggers the license should contact Housing Services at 763-785-6146 to confirm before listing the property.