Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Lake of the Woods County, MN

Airbnb listings are allowed in Lake of the Woods County, MN, but with restrictions. Short-term rentals are classified as a conditional use under Section 606 of the County Zoning Ordinance. Applicants must own the property and provide a current certificate of septic system compliance if applicable. The County Board holds final authority to approve applications with specific conditions. 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.

Short-term rentals are classified as a conditional use under Section 606 of the County Zoning Ordinance. Applicants must own the property and provide a current certificate of septic system compliance if applicable. The County Board holds final authority to approve applications with specific conditions.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Lake of the Woods County. 1. Attend a mandatory pre-application meeting with Land and Water Planning staff. 2. Submit a complete application with a $200 filing fee, $46 recording fee, site plan, and septic compliance certificate. 3. Undergo a property site visit by the Planning Commission, followed by a public hearing and final decision by the County Board.

1. Attend a mandatory pre-application meeting with Land and Water Planning staff. 2. Submit a complete application with a $200 filing fee, $46 recording fee, site plan, and septic compliance certificate. 3. Undergo a property site visit by the Planning Commission, followed by a public hearing and final decision by the County Board.

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