Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Grand Marais, MN

Airbnb listings are allowed in Grand Marais, MN, but with restrictions. Cook County defines "vacation rental" as any dwelling (home, cabin, condominium, etc.) advertised or held out for rental for less than 30 days; County licensing is required before rental operations begin. Up to two rental units per parcel are allowed in residential zones (a house plus a guest cabin as an example); recreational vehicles and most accessory structures are prohibited from use as vacation rentals. Licensees must pay Cook County lodging tax and may also need a Minnesota Dept. of Health lodging license where applicable. 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.

Cook County defines "vacation rental" as any dwelling (home, cabin, condominium, etc.) advertised or held out for rental for less than 30 days; County licensing is required before rental operations begin. Up to two rental units per parcel are allowed in residential zones (a house plus a guest cabin as an example); recreational vehicles and most accessory structures are prohibited from use as vacation rentals. Licensees must pay Cook County lodging tax and may also need a Minnesota Dept. of Health lodging license where applicable.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Grand Marais. 1) Apply online through Cook County’s e-permitting portal (https://mn-co-cook.onegov.rtvision.com/) using the Vacation Rental License application (or Renew Existing if previously licensed). 2) Provide required property/owner/manager information including liability insurance, source of water, and MDH lodging license number if applicable; pay the stated fee ($600/year). 3) Licenses are issued annually and must be renewed during the renewal window (renewal period begins Dec.1 and ends Jan.31; licenses expire Dec.31).

1) Apply online through Cook County’s e-permitting portal (https://mn-co-cook.onegov.rtvision.com/) using the Vacation Rental License application (or Renew Existing if previously licensed). 2) Provide required property/owner/manager information including liability insurance, source of water, and MDH lodging license number if applicable; pay the stated fee ($600/year). 3) Licenses are issued annually and must be renewed during the renewal window (renewal period begins Dec.1 and ends Jan.31; licenses expire Dec.31).

Vrbo is permitted in Grand Marais, 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 Grand Marais 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 Grand Marais. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.