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  1. Home
  2. ·
  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. Minnesota
  6. ·
  7. Rochester

Rochester

Permissive
MinnesotaUpdated Apr 17, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

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

Verified Feb 12, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Rochester requires all short-term rentals to be registered and licensed, distinguishing between owner-occupied and non-owner occupied units.

Restriction level

Severity 0
Classification
Permissive
0
Severity

Why this classification

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

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an STR in Rochester, you must obtain a Rental Property Certificate and pass a safety inspection. If you live in the home during the stay, you register as 'Owner-Occupied'; if you are not present, you must obtain a full 'Non-Owner Occupied' rental license and ensure a local contact can respond within 30 minutes.

At a glance

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

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Non-owner occupied STRs require a local contact person available within 30 minutes of the property.
  2. 2If more than 25% of units in a multi-family building are used as STRs, it triggers a 'Change of Use' review and extra county lodging licenses.
  3. 3Only two condominium units per building can operate as STRs without triggering a building code reclassification.
  4. 4Owner-occupied status specifically requires the owner to stay at the site while guests are present.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility5 rules
  • Rochester allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family Home, Condo, Townhouse, Apartment, Duplex.
  • Rochester does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
  • Rochester allows tenants to host STRs. Requirements: Requires written owner consent and compliance with all rental housing codes.
Requirements15 rules
  • Rochester: If more than 25% of units in a multi-family building are used as STRs, it triggers a 'Change of Use' review and extra county lodging licenses.
Application process8 rules
  • Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Rochester: Step 1: Determine Permit Classification - Decide if your property will be 'Owner-Occupied' (you are present during stays) or 'Non-Owner Occupied' (entire home/unhosted). Estimated time: 1 day. More info: https://www.rochestermn.gov/departments/community-development/housing-and-inspections/short-term-rentals Step 2: Submit Application via Citizen Access - Complete the Rental Property Certificate application through the City of Rochester's online portal. Documents needed: Owner ID, Proof of Insurance, Floor Plan. Estimated time: 1 week. Cost: 150. More info: https://aca-prod.accela.com/ROCHESTER/Default.aspx Step 3: Schedule Safety Inspection - Once the application is processed, Building Safety will contact you to schedule a physical inspection of the property to ensure compliance with the housing code. Estimated time: 1-2 weeks. Step 4: Register for Lodging Taxes - Register with the Minnesota Department of Revenue to collect and remit state sales and local lodging taxes. Documents needed: State Tax ID. Estimated time: 1 week. More info: https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/registering-local-taxes
Fees & costs1 rule
  • Rochester charges a registration fee of $150 (one_time). Extended/additional fee: $135 (Annual renewal/registration fee for single-family rentals).
Taxes2 rules
  • Minnesota has a state sales tax of 0.06875% that applies to STR rentals.
  • Rochester charges a Lodging Tax of 0.07%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Major platforms collect state taxes; Rochester local lodging tax is state-administered.
Limits & restrictions3 rules
  • Rochester occupancy calculation: 2 per bedroom plus 2. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
  • Rochester enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
  • Rochester limits stays to a maximum of 30 nights.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Rochester requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress windows in all sleeping rooms, Functional guest registry, Local contact available within 30 minutes.
Penalties3 rules
  • Rochester: Serious or repeated STR violations can result in criminal charges, not just fines.
  • Rochester enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Up to $1,000 fine. Second offense: Enhanced fines and potential jail time. Third offense: Permit revocation. Maximum fine: 1000. Permit may be revoked for violations. Criminal penalties may apply.
Exemptions2 rules
  • Rochester: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
  • Rochester exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, Hotels, Motels, Licensed Bed and Breakfasts.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Rochester

0/4
steps completed
Step 1

Determine Permit Classification

Decide if your property will be 'Owner-Occupied' (you are present during stays) or 'Non-Owner Occupied' (entire home/unhosted).

1 dayFree
Official resource
Step 2

Submit Application via Citizen Access

Complete the Rental Property Certificate application through the City of Rochester's online portal.

1 week$150
Documents needed
  • Owner ID
  • Proof of Insurance
  • Floor Plan
Official resource
Step 3

Schedule Safety Inspection

Once the application is processed, Building Safety will contact you to schedule a physical inspection of the property to ensure compliance with the housing code.

1-2 weeksFree
Step 4

Register for Lodging Taxes

Register with the Minnesota Department of Revenue to collect and remit state sales and local lodging taxes.

1 weekFree
Documents needed
  • State Tax ID
Official resource

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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