Minnesota landlord guide — Stillwater, Woodbury, Oakdale, Twin Cities east suburb, St. Croix River, historic county seat, fast-growing metro county & Minn. Stat. Ch. 504B
🏛️ County Seat: Stillwater 👥 Population: ~275,000 🏭 State: MN
Landlord-Tenant Law in Washington County, Minnesota
Washington County is the Twin Cities’ eastern suburban county, bordering Wisconsin along the scenic St. Croix River and encompassing one of the metro area’s most desirable residential corridors. With approximately 275,000 residents, it is one of Minnesota’s more populous counties and a core component of the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. Woodbury (~75,000) is the county’s largest city and one of the fastest-growing communities in the entire state, a planned suburban city with high median incomes, strong school districts, and a substantial professional residential base. Stillwater (~19,000), the historic county seat on the St. Croix River, is one of Minnesota’s most picturesque small cities — a restored Victorian lumber town with a nationally recognized downtown, wine trails, boutique hotels, and year-round tourism that makes it a premier destination in the region. Oakdale, Lake Elmo, Forest Lake, Cottage Grove, and Hugo round out the county’s significant communities. Washington County has some of the highest median household incomes in Minnesota, driven by a professional workforce employed across the broader Twin Cities metro. The rental market is active and well-supported, with strong demand across price points from workforce apartments to executive rental homes, driven by the county’s employment access, school quality, and quality of life.
All residential landlord-tenant matters in Washington County are governed by Minn. Stat. Ch. 504B. Eviction actions are filed at the Washington County District Court in Stillwater. Minnesota has no statewide rent control and no just-cause eviction requirement. No Washington County municipality has enacted a local rent stabilization ordinance. There are no tribal trust land jurisdictional complications in Washington County.
Woodbury (~75,000), Oakdale (~28,000), Cottage Grove (~40,000), Stillwater (~19,000), Forest Lake (~20,000), Hugo (~17,000)
Median Rent
~$1,400–$2,000
Major Economy
Twin Cities professional commuter base, 3M (Maplewood HQ adjacent), healthcare, technology, retail, Stillwater tourism & hospitality, St. Croix River recreation
Rent Control
None (no statewide or local ordinance)
Landlord Rating
7/10 — strong east metro market; high incomes; premium rents; no rent control; Woodbury demand particularly robust; excellent landlord environment
⚖️ 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
Washington County District Court, Stillwater
Process Name
Eviction (Unlawful Detainer)
Post-Judgment Move-Out
As ordered by court; writ issued after judgment
Avg Timeline
3–6 weeks (uncontested)
Washington County Local Ordinances
County and municipal rules that apply alongside Minnesota state law
Category
Details
Rental Registration
No county-wide rental registration in Washington County. Individual municipalities may have property maintenance codes and rental requirements — landlords in Woodbury, Oakdale, and other larger cities should verify current requirements with the relevant city. Pre-1978 properties require federal lead paint disclosure under 42 U.S.C. §4852d; Stillwater’s historic Victorian-era housing stock makes this particularly relevant for that city’s older rental inventory.
Rent Control
None. No Washington County municipality — including Woodbury and Stillwater — 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.
Woodbury, Stillwater & County Economy
Washington County divides naturally into two rental markets with distinct characters. Woodbury and the I-94 corridor communities (Oakdale, Lake Elmo, Cottage Grove, Hugo) represent the county’s suburban growth story — high-income professional households, new construction apartments and townhomes, strong school districts that drive family residential demand, and a workforce employed across the broader Twin Cities metro with particularly strong ties to 3M’s Maplewood campus (immediately adjacent in Ramsey County), healthcare employers along the east metro corridor, and downtown St. Paul employers accessible via I-94. Woodbury consistently ranks among the Twin Cities’ most desirable communities for professional families and commands some of the region’s highest suburban rents. Stillwater is an entirely different proposition — a nationally recognized historic downtown city on the St. Croix River, a designated National Scenic Riverway, with Victorian-era commercial buildings, antique shops, wineries, hotels, and a year-round tourism economy that draws visitors from across the region and beyond. Stillwater also serves as an exurban residential community for professionals who value its historic character over Woodbury’s newness. The lift bridge, now converted to pedestrian use, and the new St. Croix Crossing bridge connect Stillwater to Wisconsin’s Pierce County across the river.
Just-Cause Eviction
No just-cause requirement in Washington 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 in Washington County.
Minn. Stat. Ch. 504B statutes, notice requirements, and landlord rights that apply in Washington 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.
🔍 Reduce Your Risk Before Signing a Lease:
Minnesota landlords who screen tenants carefully before signing a lease significantly
reduce their risk of ending up in eviction court. Understanding
tenant screening in Minnesota —
including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most
cost-effective steps you can take to protect your rental property. Before you ever need Minnesota's
eviction process, proper tenant screening can help
you identify red flags early and avoid problem tenancies altogether.
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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.
Stillwater (county seat, St. Croix River, historic Victorian downtown, tourism), Woodbury (planned suburb, highest rents, top schools), Oakdale, Cottage Grove, Forest Lake, Hugo. Twin Cities east metro. No rent control, 14-day pay or vacate.
Washington County
Screen Before You Sign
Washington County draws some of the Twin Cities’ highest-income households. Professional families, 3M and healthcare workers, and St. Paul commuters are your core profiles. In Woodbury especially, demand is strong — screen thoroughly but move decisively on qualified applicants.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Washington County, Minnesota
Washington County is the Twin Cities metro’s east suburban county — a place of genuine contrasts between the planned, high-income suburban neighborhoods of Woodbury and the historic St. Croix River towns anchored by Stillwater. These contrasts produce two distinct landlord markets within a single county, each with its own tenant profiles, price points, and investment logic. Understanding which market you’re operating in shapes every decision from acquisition price to lease terms.
Woodbury: The Premium Suburban Market
Woodbury is one of the Twin Cities metro’s premier suburban communities — a planned city that has grown from a small township into a city of 75,000 in the span of three decades, driven by master-planned residential development, top-rated school districts, and its position at the I-494 and I-94 interchange that provides unmatched access to both downtown St. Paul and the broader metro highway network. The city consistently ranks among Minnesota’s wealthiest by median household income, and its rental market reflects that demographic: newer apartment complexes and townhomes at price points well above the statewide metro average, rented to dual-income professional households who are either transitioning between home purchases or prefer renting in a high-quality suburban environment. Demand in Woodbury is consistently strong and vacancy periods are short.
The proximity of 3M’s global headquarters campus in Maplewood — just across the Ramsey County line — gives Washington County’s eastern communities a significant corporate employment anchor. 3M employs tens of thousands of engineers, scientists, and corporate professionals, many of whom live in Washington County communities along the I-94 corridor. HealthEast (now Fairview Health), Regions Hospital employees, and a range of technology and financial services employers with east metro operations add to the professional employment base driving rental demand.
Stillwater: The Historic River Town
Stillwater operates on an entirely different logic than Woodbury. Minnesota’s oldest city — it predates statehood — Stillwater grew as a lumber industry hub on the St. Croix River and retains a remarkable concentration of Victorian-era commercial and residential architecture that has been carefully preserved and restored. The downtown, anchored by Main Street running along the river bluff, is lined with independent restaurants, wine bars, boutique shops, and galleries that draw visitors year-round. The Lift Bridge (now a pedestrian bridge) and the new St. Croix Crossing span the river to Wisconsin, connecting Stillwater to the Wisconsin side of the valley and its own recreational corridor. Bed and breakfasts, boutique hotels, and event venues make Stillwater a premier Minnesota destination for weekend getaways, weddings, and wine trail tourism.
For landlords, Stillwater’s older housing stock means pre-1978 lead paint disclosure obligations are routine across much of the residential market. The historic character of Stillwater properties can command a quality premium from tenants who specifically seek that aesthetic — professionals who value walkability, river views, and historic charm over the newness of Woodbury. The county courthouse in Stillwater serves all Washington County evictions, giving the historic downtown an ongoing governmental function alongside its tourism economy.
State Law: Clean and Landlord-Friendly
Washington County has no local landlord-tenant ordinances beyond standard municipal property maintenance codes. 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 Washington County District Court in Stillwater. Minneapolis’ just-cause eviction ordinance does not apply in Washington County.
Washington 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 Washington County District Court, Stillwater. 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 Washington 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.
