McLeod County is a south-central Minnesota county of approximately 36,000 residents situated along the South Fork of the Crow River, positioned roughly 50 to 60 miles west of downtown Minneapolis along the U.S. Highway 212 corridor. The county seat of Glencoe, with roughly 5,600 residents, serves governmental functions, while Hutchinson — the county’s largest city at approximately 14,000 residents — is its true economic and commercial hub. Hutchinson is notable for hosting a major 3M manufacturing complex that produces specialty tapes and abrasive products and has been one of the city’s anchor employers for decades, providing well-paying manufacturing and technical jobs that anchor the professional and working-class rental market. McLeod County’s proximity to the Twin Cities metro creates a meaningful commuter dynamic, particularly for residents who work in the western suburbs (Eden Prairie, Chaska, Chanhassen) or take Highway 212 east toward the metro core. Agriculture — corn, soybeans, and hogs — covers much of the county’s non-urban land. The Crow River and its tributaries provide a natural amenity that supports outdoor recreation and some residential appeal.
All residential landlord-tenant matters in McLeod County are governed by Minn. Stat. Ch. 504B. Eviction actions are filed at the McLeod County District Court in Glencoe. Minnesota has no statewide rent control and no just-cause eviction requirement. No McLeod County municipality has enacted a local rent stabilization ordinance. There are no tribal trust land jurisdictional complications in McLeod County — state law governs throughout.
County and municipal rules that apply alongside Minnesota state law
Category
Details
Rental Registration
No county-wide rental registration or landlord licensing in McLeod County. Landlords should verify with the City of Hutchinson whether any rental inspection or licensing program is in effect — as a city with a large manufacturing workforce and growing housing demand, such programs have been discussed. Pre-1978 properties require federal lead paint disclosure under 42 U.S.C. §4852d.
Rent Control
None. No McLeod County municipality has enacted rent stabilization. Minnesota has no statewide rent control statute. Landlords may raise rent at lease renewal with proper written notice.
Security Deposit
No statutory cap in Minnesota. Minn. Stat. §504B.178 requires return within 21 days after tenancy ends and landlord receives tenant’s forwarding address, whichever is later. Itemized written statement required for any deductions. Interest must be paid annually at the rate set by the MN Dept. of Commerce. Wrongful withholding: up to 2× damages plus attorney’s fees.
Landlord Entry
Minimum 24 hours’ advance notice for non-emergency entry under Minn. Stat. §504B.195. Emergency entry permitted without notice. Entry must be at reasonable times only.
Hutchinson, 3M & the Twin Cities Corridor
Hutchinson is McLeod County’s economic engine and its largest city by a significant margin. 3M Company operates a major manufacturing facility in Hutchinson that produces specialty adhesive tapes, abrasives, and related products — one of the largest private employers in the county and a source of well-paying technical and manufacturing jobs that have anchored Hutchinson’s economy for decades. Hutchinson Health (part of Allina Health) provides hospital and clinic services as the county’s primary healthcare employer. The city sits directly on the U.S. Highway 212 corridor, which connects it to the western Twin Cities suburbs in approximately 50 to 60 minutes under normal conditions — putting Eden Prairie, Chaska, Chanhassen, and Minnetonka within reasonable commute range. This highway access has increasingly made Hutchinson and McLeod County attractive to households seeking more affordable housing than the western suburbs offer while maintaining metro employment access. Glencoe, the county seat, adds county government employment. Winsted has a small manufacturing base of its own along with its role as a bedroom community for western metro commuters closer to the Carver County line.
Just-Cause Eviction
No just-cause requirement in McLeod County or any of its municipalities. Month-to-month tenancies may be terminated with one full rental period’s written notice (§504B.135). Minneapolis’ just-cause eviction ordinance has no application here.
Minn. Stat. Ch. 504B statutes, notice requirements, and landlord rights that apply in McLeod County
⚡ Quick Overview
14
Days Notice (Nonpayment)
Varies - reasonable cure period; immediate for illegal activity
Days Notice (Violation)
21-90
Avg Total Days
$$285-320
Filing Fee (Approx)
💰 Nonpayment of Rent
Notice Type14-Day Notice to Pay or Quit
Notice Period14 days
Tenant Can Cure?Yes - tenant can pay all rent within 14 days to stop eviction
Days to Hearing7-14 days
Days to WritImmediate after judgment (24 hours to vacate) days
Total Estimated Timeline21-90 days
Total Estimated Cost$400-800
⚠️ Watch Out
CRITICAL (2024): 14-day notice must include specific accounting of total due (rent; late fees; other charges); landlord contact info; statement that tenant has right to seek legal help and emergency rental assistance; information about financial/legal resources. Court MUST dismiss and expunge case if notice is deficient. Tenant can 'redeem tenancy' by paying all rent owed plus court costs before sheriff executes writ. Eviction records sealed from public until final judgment entered. For leases over 20 years: 30-day notice required. 2025 change: landlord must also send court papers electronically if regularly communicates with tenant electronically.
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the District Court or Housing Court (Hennepin/Ramsey Counties). Pay the filing fee (~$$285-320).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Minnesota eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified Minnesota attorney or local legal aid organization.
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Select your state, eviction reason, and the date you plan to serve notice. We'll calculate your earliest filing date and key milestones.
⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
Hutchinson (largest city, 3M, Allina/Hutchinson Health), Glencoe (county seat), Winsted, Stewart. Hwy 212 corridor to Twin Cities, Crow River Valley. No rent control, 14-day pay or vacate, no just-cause eviction.
McLeod County
Screen Before You Sign
3M technicians and engineers, Hutchinson Health staff, county government employees, and Twin Cities commuters are your most reliable tenant profiles. Manufacturing employment at a Fortune 500 company provides strong income verification. Apply consistent, documented screening criteria to every applicant.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in McLeod County, Minnesota
McLeod County occupies an interesting position in Minnesota’s geography — close enough to the Twin Cities to attract commuters and feel the metro economy’s pull, but far enough out to maintain an agricultural and small-city character that keeps housing costs well below anything the western suburbs can offer. That combination, anchored by one of the most economically distinctive smaller cities in Minnesota, makes McLeod County a genuinely attractive landlord market for investors who understand the dynamics at play.
Hutchinson: A 3M Town With Real Economic Depth
Hutchinson is the story of McLeod County for landlords. At roughly 14,000 residents it is by far the county’s largest city, and its economy is more complex and resilient than most communities of its size in greater Minnesota. The centerpiece is 3M Company’s manufacturing presence. 3M, one of the largest manufacturing companies in the world, has operated facilities in Hutchinson for decades, producing specialty adhesive products, industrial tapes, and abrasive materials at a plant that ranks among the largest private employers in the county. Working for a Fortune 500 company with robust benefits and competitive manufacturing wages puts 3M employees in a different financial category than typical rural Minnesota manufacturing workers — stable income, predictable employment, and typically strong credit profiles that make them desirable tenants.
Alongside 3M, Hutchinson Health (part of the Allina Health system) serves as the county’s anchor healthcare employer, operating a full-service hospital and a network of clinics that provide physician, nursing, and administrative employment at the professional salary tier. The combination of major manufacturing and regional healthcare means Hutchinson has a genuinely diversified economic base — when one sector softens, the other often holds. County government in Glencoe, the school district, and a well-developed retail corridor serving the surrounding agricultural region round out the employment landscape.
The Highway 212 Commuter Dynamic
U.S. Highway 212 runs directly from Hutchinson eastward through Glencoe and Winsted before connecting to the western Twin Cities suburbs, reaching Eden Prairie, Chaska, and Chanhassen in roughly 50 to 60 minutes under normal traffic conditions. This highway access has made McLeod County an increasingly attractive option for households that work in the southwestern metro but cannot afford or do not want to pay the housing costs that Scott County, Carver County, and Hennepin County command. A family renting a three-bedroom house in Hutchinson for $1,000 to $1,100 per month and commuting to an employer in Eden Prairie or Shakopee can achieve a housing-to-income ratio that would be impossible in Chaska or Shakopee itself.
The commuter dynamic is most pronounced in Winsted, which sits at the eastern edge of McLeod County close to the Carver County line and is positioned on the 212 corridor for easy metro access. Winsted has grown steadily as a bedroom community, and its rental market is influenced by both local employment and the metro commuter pool. Landlords in Winsted should understand that their tenant base may include a meaningful share of metro-employed commuters with metro-level income expectations for property quality.
Glencoe: The County Seat Economy
Glencoe, with approximately 5,600 residents, serves as McLeod County’s governmental hub and has a stable, if modest, rental market anchored by county employees, school district staff, and the local healthcare and commercial sector. Glencoe Regional Health Services provides hospital-level care for the county seat area. The city has a strong German immigrant heritage reflected in its historic architecture, churches, and community institutions — a stable, civic-minded community character that translates into reliable tenants and low turnover in the rental market. Properties near the downtown or in established residential neighborhoods are well-positioned for long-term workforce tenants.
Agriculture and the Crow River Valley
Beyond the urban cores, McLeod County’s land base is primarily agricultural — corn, soybeans, and hog production across rolling glacial till terrain bisected by the South Fork of the Crow River and its tributaries. The Crow River watershed provides a natural corridor that supports fishing, canoeing, and rural recreation, and the river valley’s wooded bottomlands offer aesthetic relief from the surrounding cropland. Agricultural employment contributes to the county’s working population through farm operators, farm employees, and agribusiness support workers, though manufacturing and healthcare dwarf agriculture as rental market drivers in Hutchinson and Glencoe.
Minnesota State Law: Straightforward and Complete
McLeod County has no local landlord-tenant ordinances. Minn. Stat. Ch. 504B is the complete legal framework. Nonpayment of rent triggers a 14-Day Pay or Vacate notice before filing an eviction action (§504B.285). Security deposits must be returned within 21 days of tenancy end and receipt of the tenant’s forwarding address, with annual interest paid and deductions itemized in writing; wrongful retention exposes landlords to up to twice the deposit plus attorney’s fees (§504B.178). Non-emergency landlord entry requires 24 hours’ advance notice (§504B.195). Minimum heat of 68°F is required from October 1 through April 30. No rent control. No just-cause eviction requirement. Self-help eviction is illegal and carries civil penalties up to $500 per day plus potential misdemeanor liability (§504B.375). All evictions are filed at McLeod County District Court in Glencoe.
McLeod County landlord-tenant matters are governed by Minn. Stat. Ch. 504B. Nonpayment notice: 14-Day Pay or Vacate (§504B.285). Lease violation: reasonable time to cure. No-cause termination: one full rental period written notice (§504B.135). Security deposit return: 21 days; up to 2× damages for wrongful retention plus attorney’s fees (§504B.178). Security deposit interest required annually at MN Dept. of Commerce rate. Landlord entry: 24 hours’ advance notice required (§504B.195). Minimum heat: 68°F, Oct. 1–Apr. 30. No rent control. No just-cause eviction requirement. Eviction actions filed at McLeod County District Court, Glencoe. Self-help eviction: illegal, up to $500/day civil penalty + misdemeanor (§504B.375). Fair Housing Act applies. No tribal trust land complications. Minneapolis just-cause ordinance does not apply. Last updated: April 2026.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in McLeod County, Minnesota and is not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Always verify current requirements with a licensed Minnesota attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: April 2026.
