If you’ve followed housing or short-term rental legislation, you’ve probably heard the term “preemption.”
It’s one of those policy words that gets used often but isn’t always explained clearly. Yet it has the potential to shape the future of short-term rentals across Minnesota.
Here’s what hosts need to know:
What Is Preemption?
Preemption occurs when a higher level of government (in this case state) limits or overrides the authority of a lower level of government (in this case local).
In simple terms, it means the state decides that cities and counties can no longer make certain rules on their own.
Sometimes, preemption is used to create consistency across the state. Other times, it can remove local decision-making and replace it with a one-size-fits-all approach.
How Does This Relate to Short-Term Rentals?
Minnesota currently operates under a system where most short-term rental regulations are determined at the local level. Cities and counties make decisions about licensing, zoning, permits, occupancy limits, and other operational requirements. As a result, regulations can vary significantly from one community to another.
When policymakers discuss preemption in the short-term rental space, they are typically debating who should have the authority to make those decisions.
Should local communities decide what works best for their neighborhoods?
Or should the state establish a single set of rules that applies everywhere?
That question has important implications for hosts, property owners, local governments, and communities throughout Minnesota.
Why Should Hosts Care?
At MNSTRA, we believe the people closest to an issue are often best positioned to help solve it.
Minnesota’s communities are incredibly diverse. What makes sense for a resort community in northern Minnesota may not make sense in Minneapolis. What works in a small lakeside township may not fit a growing suburban community.
Local officials understand their housing markets, tourism economies, infrastructure needs, and community priorities.
A broad preemption policy could limit local governments’ ability to respond to local conditions. It could also make it harder for communities and stakeholders to work together on practical solutions that reflect the realities of their area.
Whether you host one property or several, decisions about who makes the rules can have long-term consequences for your business and your community.
What Can You Do?
The most effective thing you can do is connect with your state legislators.
Let them know that short-term rentals matter in your community. Share your experience as a host, property owner, manager, cleaner, local business owner, or tourism advocate. Personal stories carry far more weight than form emails.
When you reach out, keep it simple:
- Introduce yourself as a constituent.
- Explain your connection to short-term rentals.
- Share why local decision making is important in your community.
- Ask them to support policies that preserve local input and local control.
To find your legislators:
- Minnesota Legislature District Finder: https://www.gis.lcc.mn.gov/iMaps/districts/
- Minnesota Legislature Member Directory:
https://www.leg.mn.gov/legislators/
A quick email or phone call can make a real difference.
Stay Engaged
Legislation can move quickly, and policy discussions often begin long before a bill reaches a committee hearing.
MNSTRA is committed to monitoring proposals that affect Minnesota’s short-term rental community, educating policymakers, and ensuring hosts have a voice in the legislative process.
If you value this work, consider becoming a member. Your support helps us stay engaged at the Capitol, build relationships with lawmakers, track emerging legislation, and advocate for policies that support responsible short-term rentals across Minnesota.
The stronger our membership, the stronger our collective voice.