Mendota Heights, Minn., Mun. Code Ch. 1301 (2026) § 3-5A-3

A. Authorization. Rental of all or a portion of a primary residence as a short term home rental by an operator to a short term home rental guest is allowed as provided by this Section 3-5A, following the issuance of a license as set forth herein.


B. General Licensing Provisions.


1. License Required:


a. No property shall be used as a short term home rental without a license issued by the City. The license once issued shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of issuance and must be renewed annually. This requirement applies to short term home rentals unless exempted pursuant to Section 3-5A-6
.


2. License Application:


a. Application for a license shall be made to the City upon a form furnished by the City. An operator who has been issued a rental license shall give notice, in writing, to the city administrator, within five (5) business days of any change in the information contained on the license application.


3. License Fees:


a. Licensing fees shall be prescribed as set forth in the City’s fee schedule, and maintained on file in the office of the city administrator. The required fees shall be submitted along with the application for a new or renewal license. Applications for a renewal license submitted after the license term expiration are subject to a penalty fee.


4. License Terms:


a. All short term home rental licenses shall be valid for a period of one calendar year, except as otherwise provided herein or in cases of suspension or revocation.


b. In order to be issued a license the applicant must submit the following application materials:


(A) Name and address of the short term home rental property, the operator, and the property owner.


(B) Either a signed statement that the operator is the owner of the property or a signed statement from the owner attesting that the operator has authorization to operate the property as a short term home rental.


(C) Name, address, and phone number of a local agent authorized to be the emergency contact for the property and accessible at all times, and to make or order repairs or services for the property if in violation of City or State Codes, if the person is different than the operator.


(D) Number of bedrooms.


(E) Maximum number of occupants.


(F) Signed agreement that the City has permission to access exterior areas of the property when responding to a reported violation of the standards in this section in order to ascertain if a violation has occurred.


(G) Verification that there are not any unresolved Code Enforcement or Property Maintenance cases.


(H) Evidence of Residency to verify primary residence: Applicants for short term home rental licenses are required to submit evidence and sign an affidavit of residency attesting that the home is used as a primary residence and acknowledging that subsequent discovery of non-residency shall be ground for immediate revocation of the license. Evidence of a residency must be in writing and may include homestead tax status, a lease agreement, a mortgage statement, or similar.


(I) Listing services where the short term home rental is advertised.


(J) Such other and further information as the City Council may require if applicable.


5. License Issuance: The City shall issue a short term home rental license if real estate taxes and municipal utility bills for the dwelling unit have been paid, and the City has no record of unresolved complaints regarding the property subject to the short term home rental license. The short term home rental license must be in compliance with all standards of this Chapter.


6. Renewal Of License: An operator may continue to rent a dwelling unit after the expiration date of the rental license provided that the operator has filed with the city administrator, on or before the expiration date, the appropriate renewal license application and license fee, and provided that the City has no record of unresolved complaints regarding the property subject to the rental license.


7. Transfer Of License: A short term home rental license shall not be transferable to another person or to another dwelling unit. Each license shall automatically terminate upon the sale or other conveyance of the property to an unlicensed person or entity. (Ord. 591, 12-3-2024; amd. Ord. 602, 9-16-2025)