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  1. Home
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  3. Regulations
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  5. Minnesota
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  7. Moorhead

Moorhead

Permissive
MinnesotaUpdated Apr 16, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 11, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Moorhead requires all short-term rental properties to be registered annually with the city and undergo mandatory safety inspections and owner training.

Restriction level

Severity 0
Classification
Permissive
0
Severity

Why this classification

  • Standard permit fee: $150
  • Permit required
  • Safety standards required
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement
  • Tenants can host

In plain English

What this means for you

To host a short-term rental in Moorhead, you must register your property with the city's Neighborhood Services department and pay an annual fee. You are required to pass an annual safety inspection and complete the 'R-HOME' (Rental Home Owners and Managers Education) training program. If you don't live in Clay County (MN) or Cass County (ND), you must designate a local property manager who does.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$150
Processing time2-4 weeks
Max fine$2,000

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Non-resident owners MUST have a local manager living in Clay County, MN or Cass County, ND.
  2. 2R-HOME (formerly Crime Free Multi-Housing) training is mandatory for all rental owners/managers.
  3. 3Property taxes and all other city obligations must be current to receive a rental certificate.
  4. 4Maximum of 4 unrelated adults allowed per dwelling, regardless of the number of bedrooms.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility5 rules
  • Moorhead allows tenants to host STRs. Requirements: Tenants must have written owner consent and the property must be registered.
  • Moorhead does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
  • Moorhead: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Requirements11 rules
  • Moorhead STR warning: Non-resident owners MUST have a local manager living in Clay County, MN or Cass County, ND.
  • Moorhead requires STR registration. The permit is called "Rental Registration Certificate". Apply through Neighborhood Services. Processing time: 2-4 weeks. Renewal is required.
  • Moorhead: You must display your permit/registration number on your Airbnb listing.
Application process9 rules
  • Moorhead STR permit - Step 5: Display Registration Certificate. Once approved, the city will mail a certificate which must be posted in a conspicuous location near the front entrance of the rental. Time: 1 week.
Fees & costs1 rule
  • Moorhead charges a registration fee of $150 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $85 (Fee for owner-occupied dwellings with only one additional unit/room for rent.).
Taxes2 rules
  • Moorhead: Property taxes and all other city obligations must be current to receive a rental certificate.
  • Minnesota has a state sales tax of 0.06875% that applies to STR rentals.
Limits & restrictions5 rules
  • Moorhead occupancy calculation: Maximum of 4 unrelated adults regardless of dwelling size; space must meet square footage requirements (70 sq ft for first occupant, 50 sq ft for each additional).. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
  • Moorhead enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Moorhead requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, GFCI protection near sinks, Functional egress windows, Annual rental housing inspection, Working plumbing and heating.
Penalties3 rules
  • Moorhead: Serious or repeated STR violations can result in criminal charges, not just fines.
  • Moorhead enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Administrative citation. Second offense: Civil or criminal charges. Third offense: Revocation of registration. Maximum fine: 2000. Permit may be revoked for violations. Criminal penalties may apply.
Exemptions2 rules
  • Moorhead exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), Units where occupants are related to the owner.
  • Moorhead: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Moorhead

0/5
steps completed
Step 1

Complete Rental Registration Application

Submit a new rental registration application to Neighborhood Services, checking the box indicating the unit will be used as a short-term rental (STR).

1 week$150
Documents needed
  • Property address
  • Owner contact info
  • Designated local manager info
Official resource
Step 2

Pay Registration Fees

Pay the annual registration fee of $150 (or $85 if owner-occupied + 1 unit). Fees must be paid by December 31 to avoid late charges.

1 day$150
Official resource
Step 3

Pass Initial Inspection

Schedule and pass a physical inspection by the Neighborhood Services department to ensure the home meets safety and housing codes.

1-2 weeksFree
Documents needed
  • Access to the property
Official resource
Step 4

Complete R-HOME Training

Attend the mandatory 'Rental-Home Owners and Managers Education' (formerly Crime Free Multi-Housing) training program hosted by the Police Department.

8 hoursFree
Official resource
Step 5

Display Registration Certificate

Once approved, the city will mail a certificate which must be posted in a conspicuous location near the front entrance of the rental.

1 weekFree

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

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