Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Stillwater, MN

Airbnb listings are allowed in Stillwater, MN, but with restrictions. Short-term rentals (30 days or less) require a city license and are capped at 50 licenses outside the Central Business District. Non-owner-occupied units must meet R-1 accessibility and MN building code standards with certified architectural plans; all units must have on-site parking, no events/parties, and a host or operator available within 60 minutes. 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 (30 days or less) require a city license and are capped at 50 licenses outside the Central Business District. Non-owner-occupied units must meet R-1 accessibility and MN building code standards with certified architectural plans; all units must have on-site parking, no events/parties, and a host or operator available within 60 minutes.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Stillwater. 1) Submit the Short-Term Home Rental application and required documents to the Planning Division with a $600 fee (plus background check fees). 2) Pass building and fire inspections and provide certified architectural plans if the property is non-owner-occupied. 3) Obtain City Council approval; licenses are valid for three years and are nontransferable.

1) Submit the Short-Term Home Rental application and required documents to the Planning Division with a $600 fee (plus background check fees). 2) Pass building and fire inspections and provide certified architectural plans if the property is non-owner-occupied. 3) Obtain City Council approval; licenses are valid for three years and are nontransferable.

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