103F.227 SHORELAND DEVELOPMENT; EXISTING RESORTS.
    Subdivision 1. Applicability. This section applies statewide and preempts local ordinances
that are inconsistent with its terms. A county or municipality may by ordinance impose upon
resorts reasonable regulations to prevent and abate nuisances and to protect the public health,
welfare, safety, and environment.
    Subd. 2. Resort defined. For purposes of this section, "resort" means a shoreland
commercial establishment, existing on or before August 1, 2007, that includes buildings, lodges,
structures, dwelling units, camping or recreational vehicle sites, or enclosures, or any part thereof
kept, used, maintained, or advertised as or held out to the public to be a place where sleeping
accommodations are furnished to the public, primarily to persons seeking recreation, for periods
of one day or longer, and having for rent three or more cabins, rooms, campsites, or enclosures. A
shoreland commercial establishment must be primarily service oriented for transient lodging of
guests. All cabins, rooms, dwelling units, camping or recreational vehicle sites, or enclosures
must be included in the resort rental business. Resorts must not allow residential use of a dwelling
unit or site, except dwellings used as residences for the service providers. To qualify as a resort
under this section, a resort must be fully licensed and permitted under appropriate state and local
regulations. The entire parcel of land must be controlled and managed by the licensee.
    Subd. 3. Maintenance and replacement. (a) So long as the establishment continues to
operate as a resort, a county or municipality must allow a resort owner to:
    (1) maintain structures, including the replacement of aging or outdated components or
systems of the structure, while not increasing the structure's footprint on the land; and
    (2) replace structures damaged or lost to fire or natural disaster.
    (b) Paragraph (a), clause (2), applies only when an application for a building permit is
made within 180 days of the damage or loss.
    Subd. 4. Expansion. A county or municipality must allow a resort owner to increase a
structure footprint to minimally meet federal, state, or local dwelling standards or codes. To
"minimally meet" the standards or codes means that the replacement structure does not add
new architectural elements, such as more bedrooms, that did not exist in the original structure.
Structural expansion under this subdivision must not result in a structure that is any larger than
required to meet standards or codes or a structure or any portion that is any closer to the shoreline
than prior to the expansion.
    Subd. 5. Change in ownership. A change in ownership of a resort shall not be construed as
a conversion to a different use so long as the new owner continues to use the property as a resort.
History: 2007 c 92 s 2