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Saint Cloud, MN

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STR Regulations for Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Overview: Are short-term rentals allowed in St. Cloud, MN?

Short-term rentals (stays under 30 days) are not explicitly defined or licensed as a stand‑alone category in the City of St. Cloud’s publicly available materials. However, properties offering overnight lodging to transient guests for less than 30 days are treated as lodging businesses. A standard residential Rental Dwelling License is required for any non‑owner‑occupied unit offered for rent (which can include short‑term stays), and lodging operations are subject to city housing and safety standards.

In addition, Bed & Breakfast (B&B) facilities are expressly permitted as a lodging use subject to zoning‑use standards, including a maximum 14‑day stay per guest and room‑count limits. An owner’s residence is not permitted to be used as a short‑term rental, and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) cannot be used as short‑term rentals (less than 30 days).

Bottom line for investors:

  • Renting entire non‑owner‑occupied homes for short stays: you can operate, but you must obtain a Rental Dwelling License (non‑owner‑occupied) and meet all housing/safety standards. There is no separate city‑issued “short‑term rental” permit identified in the public sources.
  • Bed & Breakfast: explicitly allowed with specific zoning use standards (14‑day max stay per guest, guest register, room limits, separation requirements, landscaping, and no in‑room cooking).
  • Owner’s residence: cannot be used as a short‑term rental; B&Bs are allowed only if they meet the zoning standards and are separate from the operator’s living quarters (no primary dwelling unit within the B&B building).
  • Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): prohibited from use as short‑term rentals (less than 30 days).

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How to start a short-term rental business in St. Cloud

  • Confirm zoning eligibility:
    • If you will operate a Bed & Breakfast, verify the property’s zoning district allows B&B use. Distinguish B&Bs from short‑term rentals of a principal dwelling; B&Bs are the primary, explicitly regulated lodging form in St. Cloud’s Land Development Code.
    • If you will offer non‑owner‑occupied short‑term stays of an entire home, obtain a Rental Dwelling License and prepare to meet safety and housing standards.
  • Obtain the required license(s):
    • Rental Dwelling License (for any non‑owner‑occupied rental unit). The City’s applications webpage includes license requirements, fees, and forms.
    • If operating a B&B, ensure compliance with zoning use standards for B&Bs (room counts, 14‑day guest limits, registration, etc.).
  • Complete mandatory rental property training:
    • All rental license applicants or their designees must complete one of the following:
      • St. Cloud Rental Property Training (free half‑day program offered by the Police Department), or
      • Phase 1 of the Crime Free Multi‑Housing program (full‑day; schedules available statewide).
  • Property preparation:
    • Ensure all safety systems and habitability standards are in place (smoke detectors, electrical safety, heating and plumbing integrity, bedroom emergency egress windows).
    • For B&Bs: implement the guest register, landscaping (minimum 25% lot area), and ensure no cooking facilities in sleeping rooms.
  • Collect and remit lodging taxes:
    • B&Bs are subject to hotel/motel tax. Consult the applicable jurisdiction for current rates and filing procedures.
  • Ongoing compliance and record‑keeping:
    • Maintain a guest register for B&B operations.
    • Be prepared to respond to housing and safety inspections.
    • Maintain compliance with local noise and nuisance rules; violations can result in license action.

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

  • License:
    • Rental Dwelling License (non‑owner‑occupied). Application, fees, and process are via the City’s applications webpage. Property owners must also comply with the Rental Dwelling Licensing Ordinance.
  • Training:
    • Completion certificate from either:
      • St. Cloud Rental Property Training (Police Department), or
      • Phase 1 of the Crime Free Multi‑Housing program.
  • Safety and habitability:
    • Properly installed and maintained smoke detectors.
    • Bedrooms with an emergency egress window (roughly 5 square feet of opening, varying with building age).
    • Safe and adequate electrical system.
    • Properly vented and functional heating system.
    • Properly installed, leak‑free plumbing system.
  • B&B compliance (if applicable):
    • Guest register (name, permanent address, vehicle license number, dates of lodging).
    • Minimum 25% of lot area must be landscaped.
    • No in‑room cooking in sleeping rooms.
    • Room and separation limits: 1,500 sq ft of land per B&B sleeping room; minimum 1,000 ft separation between B&Bs (except RR, R‑3, R‑3A districts which have no separation requirement).
    • Room caps by zoning district: five or fewer sleeping rooms (R‑1 and R‑1A: three or fewer; R‑2: four or fewer).
    • Maximum lodging duration: no guest may stay more than 14 days in any consecutive 30‑day period.
  • Taxes:
    • Hotel/motel tax applies to B&Bs; rates and filing procedures vary by jurisdiction and are not detailed in the provided materials.

Specific regulations for short-term rentals (city/county/state)

City of St. Cloud — Licensing and Safety

  • Rental Dwelling License: Required for any non‑owner‑occupied rental unit; non‑owner‑occupied units must be licensed (short‑term or longer‑term). The city’s FAQs and applications webpage outline application procedures and fees.
  • Licensing process: Owner completes required training, submits application and fee, and keeps the license current. Non‑owner‑occupied units require the standard rental license.
  • Inspections and compliance: Housing & Code Enforcement investigates complaints and enforces habitability; receiving four violations within 12 months can trigger license suspension or revocation.
  • Training requirement: All rental license applicants/designees must complete either St. Cloud Rental Property Training or Phase 1 of the Crime Free Multi‑Housing program.
  • B&B definition and standards: St. Cloud’s Land Development Code treats B&Bs as a permitted lodging use with specific use standards (guest register, no in‑room cooking, landscaping, room/sleeping room limits, 1,000 ft separation except in certain residential districts, and a 14‑day maximum stay per guest).
  • Owner’s residence and ADUs: The operator’s own residence cannot be used as a short‑term rental; an owner’s principal dwelling cannot be located within the principal building of a lodging house. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are explicitly prohibited from use as short‑term rentals (less than 30 days).

County — Stearns County (short-term rental information)

  • Stearns County hosts a Short-Term Rental Information page and an Ordinance Review Process detailing public hearings and commissioner reviews (August–October 2022). While the county provides a portal for short-term rental information, local licensing is administered by the City of St. Cloud for properties within city limits.

State — Minnesota

  • Statewide safety codes apply (smoke detectors, electrical, heating, plumbing). Municipal safety inspections and enforcement are common.
  • Short‑term rentals must comply with Minnesota’s lodging and tax obligations. B&Bs are subject to hotel/motel tax.
  • Municipal autonomy: Minnesota cities retain authority to adopt their own licensing, zoning, and safety requirements. Confirm that any property you plan to operate meets St. Cloud’s Land Development Code and rental licensing standards.

Contact information (local authority in charge of STRs and housing enforcement)

  • Housing & Code Enforcement (City of St. Cloud)
    • Phone: (320) 255‑7214
    • Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    • Address: St. Cloud City Hall, 1201 7th Street South, St. Cloud, MN 56301
    • Website: City of St. Cloud (FAQs and Applications pages)
  • Stearns County Environmental Services (short-term rental information)
    • Website: Stearns County Short-Term Rental Information
    • Ordinance Review Process page (public hearing materials and commissioner reviews)

Links to source pages (important)

Key takeaways for investors

  • The clearest path to a compliant lodging operation in St. Cloud is a B&B, which is specifically regulated in the Land Development Code (room limits, guest registration, 14‑day maximum stay, and separation requirements).
  • Non‑owner‑occupied homes can be rented short‑term if a Rental Dwelling License is obtained and habitability standards are met; there is no city‑specific “short‑term rental” permit identified in public documents.
  • Owner’s residences cannot be used as short‑term rentals; ADUs are prohibited from short‑term use.
  • Secure the license, complete training, meet safety codes, maintain a guest register (B&B), and plan for lodging taxes.

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Saint Cloud

Market Saturation Score

036912
Mild Saturation
3/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
2–4 declining months: early saturation pressure - watch for trend persistence.
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Overview of Saint Cloud

St. Cloud or Saint Cloud (; French: [sɛ̃ klu]) is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the largest population center in the state's central region. The population was 68,881 at the 2020 census, making it Minnesota's 12th-largest city. St. Cloud is the county seat of Stearns County and was named after the city of Saint-Cloud, France (in Île-de-France, near Paris), which was named after the 6th-century French monk Clodoald. Though mostly in Stearns County, St. Cloud also extends into Benton and Sherburne counties, and straddles the Mississippi River. It is the center of a contiguous urban area, with Waite Park, Sauk Rapids, Sartell, St. Joseph, Rockville, and St. Augusta directly bordering the city, and Foley, Rice, Kimball, Clearwater, Clear Lake, and Cold Spring nearby. The St. Cloud metropolitan area had a population of 199,671 at the 2020 census. It has been listed as the fifth-largest metro with a presence in Minnesota, behind Minneapolis–St. Paul, Duluth–Superior, Fargo-Moorhead, and Rochester. But the entire St. Cloud area is within Minnesota, while most of Fargo-Moorhead's population is in North Dakota and Superior, Wisconsin, contributes significant population to the Duluth area. St. Cloud is 65 miles (105 km) northwest of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis–St. Paul along Interstate 94, U.S. Highway 52 (conjoined with I-94), U.S. Highway 10, Minnesota State Highway 15, and Minnesota State Highway 23. The St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is made up of Stearns and Benton Counties. The city was included in a newly defined Minneapolis–St. Paul–St. Cloud Combined Statistical Area (CSA) in 2000. St. Cloud as a whole has never been part of the 13-county MSA comprising Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington and parts of western Wisconsin, though the Sherburne County portion is part of the 13-county MSA.St. Cloud State University, Minnesota's third-largest public university, is located between the downtown area and the Beaver Islands, which form a maze for a two-mile stretch of the Mississippi. The approximately 30 undeveloped islands are a popular destination for kayak and canoe enthusiasts during safe river levels and flow. and are part of a state-designated 12-mile stretch of wild and scenic river.St. Cloud owns and operates a hydroelectric dam on the Mississippi, the state's largest city-owned hydro facility, that can produce almost nine megawatts of electricity, about 10% of the total electricity generated by 11 Mississippi hydro dams in Minnesota.

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