Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Pope County, MN

Airbnb listings are allowed in Pope County, MN, but with restrictions. Vacation Home Rentals (VHRs) are defined as transient rentals under 30 days and are allowed only in permitted zoning districts with performance standards including a one-unit-per-parcel limit. Maximum overnight guests are limited to the lesser of septic system capacity (45 gallons per person) or 12 guests; rentals must have a 24/7 local contact capable of responding within 60 minutes by phone and 120 minutes in person. 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.

Vacation Home Rentals (VHRs) are defined as transient rentals under 30 days and are allowed only in permitted zoning districts with performance standards including a one-unit-per-parcel limit. Maximum overnight guests are limited to the lesser of septic system capacity (45 gallons per person) or 12 guests; rentals must have a 24/7 local contact capable of responding within 60 minutes by phone and 120 minutes in person.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Pope County. 1. Submit the Vacation Home Rental Application (L&RM Form 30) to Land & Resource Management with fees ($125 for a 3-year permit) and required documents including a site plan and septic system records. 2. Obtain a health license from Horizon Public Health and include the license number on all advertisements. 3. If requesting more than one unit per parcel or occupancy over 12, apply for an Interim Use Permit (IUP) which requires a public hearing.

1. Submit the Vacation Home Rental Application (L&RM Form 30) to Land & Resource Management with fees ($125 for a 3-year permit) and required documents including a site plan and septic system records. 2. Obtain a health license from Horizon Public Health and include the license number on all advertisements. 3. If requesting more than one unit per parcel or occupancy over 12, apply for an Interim Use Permit (IUP) which requires a public hearing.

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