Businesses in Minnesota that provide overnight sleeping accommodations are defined in Minn. Stats.§ 157.15. Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) licenses and inspects lodging establishments in Minnesota.
Review:
Definitions
Hotel or motel
Minn. Stats.§ 157.15, subd. 7
If rooms are rented for periods of less than one week, the establishment will be licensed as a hotel or motel. In addition to traditional hotels and motels, some common examples include:
Lodging establishment
Minn. Stats.§ 157.15 subd. 8
If you rent sleeping accommodations for periods of one week or more, and have five or more beds, your establishment will be licensed as a lodging establishment.
If you furnish sleeping accommodations exclusively to patients, their families, and caregivers while the patient is receiving or waiting to receive health care treatments or procedures for periods of one week or more, your establishment will be licensed as a lodging establishment.
Minn. Stats.§ 157.15 subd. 11
If your business provides convenient access to a recreational area for periods of one day, one week, or longer, and has five or more cottages, rooms, or enclosures for rent, your establishment will be licensed as a resort.| Type of business | License type required | Number of units | Period of stay | For more information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotels
Motels |
Hotel or motel | One or more units | One night or more |
|
| Bed and breakfast | Hotel or motel | One or more units | One night or more | |
| Vacation home rental | Hotel or motel | One or more units | One night or more |
|
| Bunkhouses | Hotel or motel | One or more units | Up to three nights |
|
| Camper cabins | Hotel or motel | One or more units | One night or more |
|
| Lodging establishment | Lodging establishment | Five or more units | One week or more |
|
| Resort | Resort | Five or more units | One night or more with recreational area access |
Many care facilities are regulated by the Health Regulation division within MDH. Visit Facility Certification, Regulation and Licensing for more information.
Businesses holding a Housing with Services (HWS) registration are exempt from lodging licensure for tenant units or apartments. To determine if your establishment holds a HWS registration, search the Health Care Facility and Provider Database. HWS registration is issued through the Licensing and Certification program of the Minnesota Department of Health, Health Regulation division.
See Plan Review
License application forms are not available online. Contact MDH at 651-201-4500 for a license application.
Annual fees include: base fee (highest of any applicable base fees), statewide hospitality fee, and all applicable license fees.
The plan review fee (when plan submittal is required) is separate from the license fee.
See FPLS Plan Review and License Fees, effective 7/1/2025, for the full fee schedule.
|
Establishment fee description |
Plan review fee (new) |
Plan review fee (remodel) |
License fee |
|
Base fee – food and beverage |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
$300 |
|
Statewide Hospitality fee |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
$50 |
|
Technology fee |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
$5 |
|
Category 1 (food) |
$550 |
$450 |
$185 |
|
Category 2 (food) |
$750 |
$500 |
$430 |
|
Category 3 (food) |
$800 |
$550 |
$670 |
|
Food Cart |
$500 |
$400 |
$150 |
|
Seasonal Temporary Food Stand |
$500 |
$400 |
$150 |
|
Seasonal Permanent Food Stand |
$500 |
$400 |
$150 |
|
Mobile Food Unit |
$700 |
$400 |
$150 |
|
Special Event Food Stand |
Plan review is not required |
Plan review is not required |
$75 |
|
Additional Food Service |
$400 |
$400 |
$250 |
|
Additional Inspection Fee (K-12 schools) |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
$350 |
|
HACCP |
$600 |
Not applicable |
$225 |
|
Base fee – lodging |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
$300 |
|
Lodging – less than 25 units |
$450 |
$300 |
$15 per unit |
|
Lodging – 25 to 99 units |
$500 |
$350 |
$15 per unit |
|
Lodging – 100 units or more |
$600 |
$500 |
$15 per unit |
|
Cabins – less than five cabins |
$400 |
$300 |
$15 per unit |
|
Cabins – five to nine cabins |
$450 |
$400 |
$15 per unit |
|
Cabins – 10 or more |
$500 |
$450 |
$15 per unit |
|
Base fee – Manufactured Home Park |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
$280 |
|
Manufactured Home Park – 24 or less sites |
$400 |
$300 |
$8 per site |
|
Manufactured Home Park – 25 to 99 sites |
$425 |
$350 |
$8 per site |
|
Manufactured Home Park – 100 or more sites |
$520 |
$500 |
$8 per site |
|
Base fee – Recreational Camping Area – 24 or less sites |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
$100 |
|
Base fee – Recreational Camping Area – 25 to 99 sites |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
$410 |
|
Base fee – Recreational Camping Area – 100 or more sites |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
$610 |
|
Base fee – Special Event Camping Area |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
$250 |
|
Recreational Camping Area – 24 or less sites |
$400 |
$300 |
$8 per site |
|
Recreational Camping Area – 25 to 99 sites |
$425 |
$350 |
$8 per site |
|
Recreational Camping Area – 100 or more sites |
$525 |
$500 |
$8 per site |
|
Special Event Camping Area – less than 25 sites |
$475 |
$300 |
$4 per site |
|
Special Event Camping Area – 25 to 99 sites |
$500 |
$350 |
$4 per site |
|
SECA – 100 or more sites |
$600 |
$500 |
$4 per site |
|
Youth camp – up to 99 campers |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
$375 |
|
Youth camp – 100 to 199 campers |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
$600 |
|
Youth camp – 200 or more campers |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
$800 |
|
Private sewer or water |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
$85 |
Other Administrative Fees
▪ Late Fee, up to 30 days late - $120
▪ Late Fee, more than 30 days - $360
January 1 through December 31. The license must be renewed annually.
Establishment licenses in the City of St. Paul are valid for one year from the date the initial license was issued.
You will receive your license in the mail in about two weeks.
Once plans are approved and construction is completed, follow these steps to get your establishment license:
1. Apply for a license.
Contact MDH to request a license application. The license fee is separate from the plan review fee.
Submit the completed license application and required license fee before contacting MDH to request a preoperational inspection.
2. Have your establishment inspected.
Contact MDH 14 days before the intended opening date to schedule a preoperational inspection. The inspection will cover all aspects of your approved project, including:
▪ Equipment is present, correctly installed and operational.
▪ Floor, wall and ceiling finishes are installed as approved.
▪ Mechanical and plumbing installations are approved by the appropriate authority.
3. Post the license in the establishment.
MDH will issue a license after approval. Post the original license in the establishment at all times.
