Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Dakota County, MN

Airbnb listings are allowed in Dakota County, MN, but with restrictions. Regulation is set by individual cities within Dakota County: some cities prohibit STRs (e.g., Apple Valley), while others allow STRs with licensing and performance standards (e.g., Lakeville, Mendota Heights, Burnsville). Common constraints across municipal ordinances include occupancy limits (typically based on bedrooms, e.g., two adults per bedroom or a maximum of 12 guests), primary-residence or owner-occupancy requirements in some cities, minimum-stay requirements (e.g., two-night minimum in Mendota Heights), required posting of owner/manager 24/7 contact information, compliance with local parking and nuisance standards, and collection of applicable local and state lodging/sales taxes. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Regulation is set by individual cities within Dakota County: some cities prohibit STRs (e.g., Apple Valley), while others allow STRs with licensing and performance standards (e.g., Lakeville, Mendota Heights, Burnsville). Common constraints across municipal ordinances include occupancy limits (typically based on bedrooms, e.g., two adults per bedroom or a maximum of 12 guests), primary-residence or owner-occupancy requirements in some cities, minimum-stay requirements (e.g., two-night minimum in Mendota Heights), required posting of owner/manager 24/7 contact information, compliance with local parking and nuisance standards, and collection of applicable local and state lodging/sales taxes.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Dakota County. 1) File the municipal short-term rental application with the city (community development/zoning or licensing portal) and pay the application fee (example: Lakeville lists $100 initial fee; $50 annual renewal). 2) Provide required documentation on the application form (examples in municipal forms: proof of ownership or management, listing will display issued permit number, declaration of compliance with city code, occupancy/parking information). 3) Permit issuance often requires compliance with code standards and may include inspection(s); permits are typically annual and non-transferable; renew per municipal schedule.

1) File the municipal short-term rental application with the city (community development/zoning or licensing portal) and pay the application fee (example: Lakeville lists $100 initial fee; $50 annual renewal). 2) Provide required documentation on the application form (examples in municipal forms: proof of ownership or management, listing will display issued permit number, declaration of compliance with city code, occupancy/parking information). 3) Permit issuance often requires compliance with code standards and may include inspection(s); permits are typically annual and non-transferable; renew per municipal schedule.

Vrbo is permitted in Dakota County, MN under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Dakota County are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Dakota County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.