City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Alexandria, MN
How Alexandria regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Short-term rentals here operate under a registration or permit system with ongoing operating rules.
- STR-specific annual license required (unlawful to operate without)
- Mandatory inspection by Horizon Public Health per MN Chapters 157/327/4625
- Occupancy caps (3 guests/bedroom, 12 max), on-site parking, septic-pumping and compliance-inspection standards
- 24/7 local-contact requirement + Good Neighbor Brochure
- No supply device: no cap/quota, no primary-residence/owner-occupancy requirement, whole-home permitted
Based on: Alexandria City Code Sec. 5.09; Ordinance No. 789 (2nd Series), adopted Dec 10, 2018, effective no sooner than Jan 1
Summary of the rule
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation or partnership to operate a lodging establishment within the City who does not possess a valid license issued by the Agency as required by this ordinance. (Private/vacation home rental is included in 'lodging establishment.')
Last reviewed Sep 15, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Alexandria · system last checked Oct 25, 2026
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City Watch tracks changes from public sources — council agendas, state bills, local news — not a complete legal compendium.
A city permit is not the whole picture — HOA, condominium, deed, or lease rules may be stricter.
City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.