Homesteading in Minnesota
Explore 87 counties and state-level regulations for homesteaders in Minnesota.
Minnesota uses a Riparian water rights system , enforces statewide IRC building codes , and requires a carry permit. The effective property tax rate is 1.02%.
State Regulations
Water Rights
System: Riparian
Follows regulated riparian doctrine. Water appropriation permits required from DNR for all users (except domestic use under 10,000 gallons per day and certain agriculture uses).
Statute: Minn. Stat. § 103G.255 et seq.
Building Codes
Statewide IRC: Yes (statewide)
Minnesota State Building Code applies statewide and is mandatory. Residential code based on IRC with state amendments.
Statute: Minn. Stat. § 326B.101 et seq.
Gun Laws
Open Carry: Yes
Constitutional Carry: No
Permit to purchase or carry permit required for handgun and semiautomatic rifle transfers. Permit to carry required for concealed carry. Open carry with valid permit.
Statute: Minn. Stat. § 624.7131; Minn. Stat. § 624.714
Right to Farm
Protected: Yes
Protects agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits if the operation has been in existence for at least two years and is not in violation of federal or state law.
Statute: Minn. Stat. § 561.19
Counties in Minnesota
87 counties · Click column headers to sort
| County | Population | Median Home | Property Tax | Growing Days | Overall Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aitkin County | 15,859 | $222,100 | $1,287 | 56 | Relatively Low |
| Anoka County | 363,985 | $302,300 | $2,937 | 61 | Relatively Moderate |
| Becker County | 35,202 | $249,600 | $1,851 | 55 | Very Low |
| Beltrami County | 46,274 | $203,900 | $2,091 | 51 | Relatively Low |
| Benton County | 41,300 | $229,300 | $2,446 | 59 | Relatively Low |
| Big Stone County | 5,161 | $115,000 | $1,006 | 60 | Very Low |
| Blue Earth County | 69,022 | $239,200 | $2,366 | 65 | Relatively Low |
| Brown County | 25,880 | $165,200 | $1,791 | 64 | Relatively Low |
| Carlton County | 36,362 | $218,000 | $2,595 | 56 | Relatively Low |
| Carver County | 107,216 | $400,500 | $4,170 | 62 | Relatively Low |
| Cass County | 30,288 | $241,000 | $1,444 | 55 | Relatively Low |
| Chippewa County | 12,466 | $138,900 | $1,403 | 62 | Very Low |
| Chisago County | 56,927 | $299,800 | $3,482 | 60 | Relatively Low |
| Clay County | 65,307 | $241,400 | $2,720 | 55 | Relatively Low |
| Clearwater County | 8,541 | $161,800 | $1,269 | 52 | Very Low |
| Cook County | 5,611 | $289,500 | $2,355 | 52 | Very Low |
| Cottonwood County | 11,481 | $141,600 | $1,586 | 65 | Very Low |
| Crow Wing County | 66,558 | $245,200 | $1,921 | 56 | Relatively Low |
| Dakota County | 439,179 | $341,200 | $3,439 | 63 | Relatively Moderate |
| Dodge County | 20,893 | $245,800 | $2,705 | 65 | Very Low |
| Douglas County | 39,081 | $277,800 | $2,380 | 58 | Relatively Low |
| Faribault County | 13,931 | $116,000 | $1,181 | 66 | Relatively Low |
| Fillmore County | 21,251 | $196,200 | $1,813 | 66 | Relatively Low |
| Freeborn County | 30,857 | $154,700 | $1,649 | 66 | Relatively Low |
| Goodhue County | 47,697 | $254,500 | $2,728 | 64 | Relatively Low |
| Grant County | 6,091 | $161,100 | $1,587 | 58 | Very Low |
| Hennepin County | 1,270,787 | $358,000 | $4,142 | 62 | Relatively High |
| Houston County | 18,826 | $216,400 | $2,486 | 66 | Very Low |
| Hubbard County | 21,479 | $245,500 | $1,962 | 54 | Very Low |
| Isanti County | 41,257 | $262,500 | $2,806 | 59 | Very Low |
| Itasca County | 45,054 | $198,500 | $1,692 | 53 | Relatively Low |
| Jackson County | 9,990 | $140,500 | $1,289 | 66 | Very Low |
| Kanabec County | 16,145 | $205,400 | $2,296 | 58 | Very Low |
| Kandiyohi County | 43,686 | $214,600 | $2,120 | 61 | Relatively Low |
| Kittson County | 4,191 | $122,100 | $1,158 | 48 | Very Low |
| Koochiching County | 12,072 | $132,200 | $1,004 | 50 | Very Low |
| Lac qui Parle County | 6,736 | $127,300 | $1,241 | 62 | Very Low |
| Lake County | 10,915 | $200,900 | $1,590 | 53 | Very Low |
| Lake of the Woods County | 3,786 | $204,300 | $1,399 | 48 | Very Low |
| Le Sueur County | 28,795 | $271,900 | $2,876 | 64 | Very Low |
| Lincoln County | 5,630 | $139,500 | $1,431 | 64 | Very Low |
| Lyon County | 25,352 | $177,600 | $1,806 | 64 | Relatively Low |
| McLeod County | 36,727 | $214,300 | $2,551 | 62 | Relatively Low |
| Mahnomen County | 5,389 | $132,900 | $1,396 | 53 | Very Low |
| Marshall County | 9,017 | $140,900 | $1,205 | 50 | Very Low |
| Martin County | 19,960 | $148,100 | $1,423 | 66 | Relatively Low |
| Meeker County | 23,352 | $216,800 | $1,994 | 61 | Very Low |
| Mille Lacs County | 26,680 | $221,300 | $2,340 | 58 | Very Low |
| Morrison County | 34,023 | $220,600 | $1,983 | 58 | Relatively Low |
| Mower County | 40,082 | $158,000 | $1,634 | 66 | Relatively Low |
| Murray County | 8,170 | $163,500 | $1,232 | 65 | Very Low |
| Nicollet County | 34,380 | $240,700 | $2,706 | 64 | Relatively Low |
| Nobles County | 22,194 | $161,000 | $1,589 | 66 | Relatively Low |
| Norman County | 6,457 | $129,300 | $1,309 | 53 | Very Low |
| Olmsted County | 162,307 | $285,600 | $3,110 | 65 | Relatively Moderate |
| Otter Tail County | 60,072 | $234,200 | $1,875 | 56 | Relatively Low |
| Pennington County | 13,995 | $173,800 | $2,166 | 50 | Relatively Low |
| Pine County | 29,090 | $207,100 | $1,878 | 58 | Relatively Low |
| Pipestone County | 9,380 | $126,500 | $1,110 | 65 | Very Low |
| Polk County | 31,128 | $204,600 | $1,967 | 52 | Relatively Low |
| Pope County | 11,312 | $225,900 | $1,830 | 59 | Very Low |
| Ramsey County | 547,202 | $289,300 | $3,578 | 62 | Relatively High |
| Red Lake County | 3,912 | $150,700 | $1,413 | 51 | Very Low |
| Redwood County | 15,428 | $138,700 | $1,351 | 64 | Very Low |
| Renville County | 14,707 | $138,200 | $1,402 | 62 | Very Low |
| Rice County | 67,152 | $279,700 | $2,770 | 64 | Relatively Low |
| Rock County | 9,659 | $189,100 | $1,329 | 66 | Very Low |
| Roseau County | 15,294 | $164,200 | $1,640 | 48 | Relatively Low |
| St. Louis County | 200,122 | $192,900 | $1,982 | 52 | Relatively Moderate |
| Scott County | 151,347 | $376,000 | $4,039 | 63 | Relatively Low |
| Sherburne County | 97,820 | $306,000 | $3,161 | 60 | Relatively Low |
| Sibley County | 14,950 | $196,600 | $2,195 | 63 | Very Low |
| Stearns County | 158,622 | $241,100 | $2,470 | 59 | Relatively Moderate |
| Steele County | 37,396 | $217,100 | $2,685 | 65 | Very Low |
| Stevens County | 9,682 | $170,700 | $1,491 | 59 | Very Low |
| Swift County | 9,806 | $132,400 | $1,169 | 61 | Very Low |
| Todd County | 25,277 | $173,200 | $1,743 | 58 | Very Low |
| Traverse County | 3,345 | $109,300 | $959 | 59 | Very Low |
| Wabasha County | 21,460 | $230,400 | $2,502 | 64 | Relatively Low |
| Wadena County | 14,108 | $163,400 | $1,710 | 56 | Very Low |
| Waseca County | 18,953 | $191,800 | $2,350 | 65 | Very Low |
| Washington County | 268,651 | $379,300 | $3,811 | 62 | Relatively Moderate |
| Watonwan County | 11,205 | $119,200 | $1,348 | 65 | Very Low |
| Wilkin County | 6,454 | $169,100 | $1,290 | 57 | Very Low |
| Winona County | 49,792 | $203,500 | $1,929 | 65 | Relatively Low |
| Wright County | 142,543 | $310,900 | $3,145 | 61 | Relatively Low |
| Yellow Medicine County | 9,569 | $145,400 | $1,480 | 62 | Very Low |
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