Short-Term Rental Laws in Saint Paul, Minnesota

Saint Paul requires a Short-Term Rental License (Class A — owner-occupied; Class B — non-owner-occupied). Both classes are permitted in most residential zones, but Class B (investor) properties must also hold a current Saint Paul Certificate of Occupancy as a rental dwelling and pass the associated inspection. The license is non-transferable and re-verified annually. Group homes, boarding houses, and properties with active code violations are categorically ineligible.

Saint Paul Legislative Code Ch 423 governs STR licensing. Class A (Owner-Occupied) is allowed in all residential zones (R1, R2, R3, RT1, RT2, RM1, RM2) provided the primary-residence test is met. Class B (Non-Owner-Occupied) requires both the STR license AND a Rental Dwelling Certificate of Occupancy — Saint Paul's rental registration covers all non-owner-occupied dwellings and is required regardless of STR use. Multi-family zones (RM1, RM2, T1, T2, T3, T4) and mixed-use/commercial zones are the practical home for Class B activity. The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area overlay can add additional restrictions for parcels in that corridor.

Operators must hold a short-term rental permit before listing. See the official permit portal.

Saint Paul Department of Safety & Inspections (DSI) administers. Annual renewal with re-verification of primary residence (Class A) or rental-dwelling Certificate of Occupancy (Class B). Operating without a license: administrative fines starting at $300, stop-rental orders, and potential revocation of any underlying rental dwelling license. DSI cross-references platform listings against the STR registry. Persistent noise / nuisance / parking complaints accumulating against a licensed property can trigger license review under the city's "problem-property" framework.

Combined short-term lodging tax in Saint Paul is approximately 13.525% of gross nightly revenue (state sales + state TRT + local TRT + applicable resort/city options).

Minnesota State sales 6.875% + Saint Paul city sales 0.5% + Ramsey County 0.15% + Saint Paul Lodging Tax 6% (combined city + state-administered local lodging) — combined ~13.5% on transient lodging

Verify the current combined rate via the Utah State Tax Commission before remitting — rates drift quarterly.