Stearns County Poised to Make Changes to Short Term Rental Ordinance

(KNSI) – Stearns County is a step closer to adopting a new ordinance governing short-term rental properties.

Land use supervisor Angie Berg says the county put an ordinance on the books 12 years ago and talked about why the county is looking at it now.

“Really, what happened is the increase in the number of rentals and the increase in the number of rentals that are operating without licenses and permits. There is a lot more people that want to do it, there’s a lot more people just doing it.”

She says the county has around 25 permitted short-term rentals. In comparison, Crow Wing County has more than 1,000.

They discussed the policy for more than ninety minutes on Tuesday morning. She says the board is looking at changing its administrative enforcement and fees. Staff will come up with recommendations by the October 11th meeting. Final adoption is expected by January 1st.

Berg says if you’re considering buying a property to rent out, talk with officials first.

“If you’re considering doing this, call us first. There is going to be some incentives built into calling us first rather than, unknowingly starting or knowingly starting without a permit. So, we’re here to help and want to help people understand what the rules are, and help them go through the process.”

The ordinance would apply to properties outside a city or townships that haven’t put moratoriums in place. Eden Lake, Maine Prairie, Munson, Paynesville and Wakefield Township have temporarily banned short-term vacation rental properties. Sauk Centre Township bars them from being used in any residential area.

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