Waseca County is a small, agricultural county in south-central Minnesota, situated between Owatonna to the east and Mankato to the west along the US-14 corridor. Its approximately 19,000 residents are concentrated in Waseca (the county seat, population roughly 9,200) — making it one of the few Minnesota counties where the county seat holds nearly half the total population — along with New Richland (~1,100) and Janesville (~2,200). Waseca city is built around Waseca Lake and Clear Lake, giving the county seat a recreational amenity and quality-of-life feature unusual for a south-central Minnesota agricultural community of its size. The county’s economy is rooted in corn, soybean, and hog production on productive prairie soils, supplemented by Waseca’s manufacturing sector (including Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative’s operations and other food-related manufacturing), healthcare (Mayo Clinic Health System Waseca), county government, and the Waseca Public Schools district. The University of Minnesota Southern Research and Outreach Center operates an agricultural research station in Waseca, adding research employment and connecting the community to the broader University of Minnesota system. The I-35 interchange at Owatonna is roughly 15 miles east, giving residents access to the major north-south interstate for commutes or regional travel.
All residential landlord-tenant matters in Waseca County are governed by Minn. Stat. Ch. 504B. Eviction actions are filed at the Waseca County District Court in Waseca. Minnesota has no statewide rent control and no just-cause eviction requirement. No Waseca County municipality has enacted a local rent stabilization ordinance. There are no tribal trust land jurisdictional complications in Waseca County.
Waseca (~9,200), Janesville (~2,200), New Richland (~1,100)
Median Rent
~$650–$950
Major Economy
Corn & soybean agriculture, Mayo Clinic Health System Waseca, food manufacturing, county government, U of M Southern Research & Outreach Center, Waseca & Clear Lake recreation
Rent Control
None (no statewide or local ordinance)
Landlord Rating
4/10 — small stable market; Mayo clinic anchor; lake amenity adds appeal; affordable rents; buy-and-hold with good tenant retention
⚖️ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
14-Day Pay or Vacate
Lease Violation
Reasonable time to cure
No-Cause (Month-to-Month)
One full rental period written notice (≥30 days)
Court
Waseca County District Court, Waseca
Process Name
Eviction (Unlawful Detainer)
Post-Judgment Move-Out
As ordered by court; writ issued after judgment
Avg Timeline
3–6 weeks (uncontested)
Waseca County Local Ordinances
County and municipal rules that apply alongside Minnesota state law
Category
Details
Rental Registration
No county-wide rental registration or landlord licensing in Waseca County. No municipality has enacted a formal rental inspection program. Pre-1978 properties require federal lead paint disclosure under 42 U.S.C. §4852d; older housing stock in Waseca makes this routine compliance for many rentals.
Rent Control
None. No Waseca County municipality has enacted rent stabilization. Minnesota has no statewide rent control statute.
Security Deposit
No statutory cap in Minnesota. Minn. Stat. §504B.178 requires return within 21 days after tenancy ends and landlord receives forwarding address. Itemized deductions required. Annual interest at MN Dept. of Commerce rate. 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.
Waseca, Lakes & County Economy
Waseca city sits between Waseca Lake and Clear Lake, giving it a genuine small-city lakefront character that distinguishes it from many south-central Minnesota county seats of comparable size. The lakes support recreational boating, fishing, and waterfront lifestyle that adds quality-of-life appeal for residents choosing to live in Waseca over comparable communities without lake access. Mayo Clinic Health System operates the Waseca Medical Center, providing clinic and specialty care services that employ physicians and clinical staff as a key professional anchor. The University of Minnesota Southern Research and Outreach Center conducts agricultural research on a large campus on the city’s edge, employing scientists, researchers, and support staff. Food processing and manufacturing operations supplement county employment. The Waseca Public Schools district is a significant public employer. County government, local retail, and agricultural services serving the surrounding corn and soybean farming community complete the economic picture. Owatonna, roughly 15 miles east via US-14, and Mankato, roughly 30 miles west, serve as the regional hubs for larger retail, specialty healthcare, and employment options that Waseca cannot provide at its scale.
Just-Cause Eviction
No just-cause requirement in Waseca 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 ordinance does not apply.
Minn. Stat. Ch. 504B statutes, notice requirements, and landlord rights that apply in Waseca 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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AI-generated, state-specific eviction notices, pay-or-quit letters, lease termination documents, and more — pre-filled with your tenant's information and built to Minnesota requirements.
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⚠️ 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.
Waseca (county seat, Waseca & Clear Lake, Mayo Clinic, U of M research), Janesville, New Richland. US-14 corridor between Owatonna & Mankato. No rent control, 14-day pay or vacate.
Waseca County
Screen Before You Sign
Mayo Clinic staff, U of M researchers, county and school employees are your most stable profiles. Waseca’s lake setting gives it genuine lifestyle appeal that can attract quality tenants from the broader region — highlight that amenity in your marketing.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Waseca County, Minnesota
Waseca County occupies the south-central Minnesota agricultural belt, a landscape of productive corn and soybean fields bisected by US-14 connecting Owatonna to the east and Mankato to the west. Its county seat city of Waseca has something most small agricultural county seats in Minnesota lack: lakes. Waseca Lake and Clear Lake sit on either side of the city, giving Waseca a genuine recreational amenity and small-city character that distinguishes it from the dozens of comparably sized county seats that exist purely as service centers for surrounding farm communities. For landlords, that distinction matters in subtle but real ways when marketing properties and attracting tenants who have choices about where in the region to live.
Mayo, Research, and the Professional Tenant Base
Mayo Clinic Health System’s presence in Waseca — operating a medical center that provides clinic and specialty care services to the county — adds the Mayo brand name and employment to a market that would otherwise rely entirely on local agriculture and manufacturing for its professional workforce. Mayo employees, even at a smaller outpost clinic, tend to be stable long-term renters: trained professionals who have chosen a specific practice setting and typically stay for multi-year tenures. The University of Minnesota Southern Research and Outreach Center employs agricultural scientists, crop researchers, and support staff on a substantial campus at the edge of the city. These researchers, many of whom hold advanced degrees and are mid-career professionals, are excellent rental prospects when they relocate to Waseca for research positions.
The US-14 Corridor Position
Waseca’s location on US-14 positions it between two larger regional centers: Owatonna (Federated Insurance, Allina Health, I-35 access) roughly 15 miles east, and Mankato (Minnesota State University, Mayo Clinic Health System Mankato, significantly larger retail and employment base) roughly 30 miles west. Some Waseca County residents commute to either city for employment that Waseca cannot offer at its scale. This commuter dynamic means landlords are competing at the margin with both Owatonna and Mankato for mobile professionals who could choose to live in any of the three cities — Waseca’s competitive advantages are its lower rents and its lake setting, which represent genuine quality-of-life value for renters who prioritize outdoor recreation and community character over proximity to urban amenities.
State Law: Straightforward Throughout
Waseca County has no local landlord-tenant ordinances. Minn. Stat. Ch. 504B governs entirely: 14-Day Pay or Vacate for nonpayment (§504B.285); security deposit return within 21 days with itemized deductions and annual interest, 2x damages for wrongful retention (§504B.178); 24-hour entry notice (§504B.195); 68°F minimum heat October through April; no rent control; no just-cause eviction; self-help eviction illegal (§504B.375). All evictions go to Waseca County District Court in Waseca.
Waseca 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 Waseca County District Court, Waseca. 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 Waseca 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.
