Homesteads

Qualifying as a Homestead

Homesteads may apply to residential and agricultural property. To qualify for homestead, you must own and occupy property as your principal place of residence (unless you qualify for a relative homestead - see below). You must also make application according to the state’s deadlines. In most cases, the owner must also be a Minnesota resident, but there are some exceptions for agricultural land.

Tax Reduction

Receiving the homestead designation on your residential property may reduce the taxable value of your property up to $30,400 depending on the value of your property, therefore possibly reducing your taxes. For agricultural homesteads, you will receive a credit up to $490 on your tax bill reducing your overall taxes (the credit was less than $490 in years prior to payable 2015).

In most cases, once you make application, your homestead will remain until you sell the property or you notify our office. You are required to notify our office within 30 days if you are no longer using the property as a homestead. Please call us at (507) 304-4251 or send an email.

Agricultural Homesteads


There are different requirements to receive homestead for agricultural land. Please contact our office at (507) 304-4251 or by email for more information. Additionally, there is a Special Agricultural Homestead Program when property owners do not live on their farm. There are numerous requirements for this program, please see this link or contact our office for more information.

Applying as a Homestead

It is the owner’s responsibility to ensure a property that is eligible for homestead is receiving it. When a property transfer occurs, our office will send a reminder letter to apply for homestead. We may also send a homestead application if we are verifying that a property continues to qualify.

Our office notifies property owners of homestead status on the Notice of Valuation and Classification that is mailed each spring as well as on the Truth in Taxation form mailed in the fall.

If you would like to apply for homestead, please complete the appropriate form and mail it to us or bring it to our department in the Government Center. If you have any questions on which form to complete, contact us at (507) 304-4251 or by email. Homestead applications are due by December 31 of the year of the assessment.  Occupancy and ownership must also be in place by December 31 of the assessment year.

Applications

These applications are for Special Agricultural Homesteads where the applicant farms the land and lives within four cities or townships.  Please select application according to ownership type.

Relatives Residing on the Property

There are instances where certain relatives can live in a property and qualify for homestead. For residential property, these relatives include the following (by blood or by marriage):
  • Child
  • Stepchild
  • Parent
  • Stepparent
  • Grandchild
  • Grandparent
  • Brother
  • Sister
  • Aunt
  • Uncle
  • Niece
  • Nephew

Special Programs

There are other special programs associated with homestead property, including a homestead for owners and occupants who are blind or permanently disabled, and a homestead for qualifying disabled veterans. Please visit our special programs page for more information