Renters insurance in Minnesota (MN): what it costs, whether you need it, and what it covers

How much is renters insurance in Minnesota?

The average renters insurance policy in Minnesota costs about $20 a month, or $240 a year, according to ValuePenguin, Best Cheap Renters Insurance in Minnesota (Sept 2026). The cheapest large insurer in Minnesota averages $11 a month for $30,000 of personal property coverage, about half the state average. Minneapolis and Bloomington are the most expensive cities at $22 a month; Rochester is the cheapest at $17.

For a like-for-like comparison with other states, ValuePenguin's 50-state rate study (updated September 2026) puts Minnesota at $20 a month against a national average of $23, which makes it cheaper than most states. Different studies assume different coverage amounts, so treat any single average as a guide, not a quote.

Your own price depends on five things: how much personal property you insure (most renters choose $15,000–$30,000), your liability limit (usually $100,000), your deductible ($500 is common), your ZIP code, and your claims history. Raising the deductible from $500 to $1,000 is the quickest way to lower the premium.

See the national cost guide for how each factor changes the price, and the coverage calculator to size your policy.

Is renters insurance required in Minnesota?

No. No Minnesota law requires renters insurance. No Minnesota statute requires tenants to carry renters insurance. A landlord or management company can require it before move-in, and many large apartment communities in Minneapolis, St. Paul and the first-ring suburbs do. (Source: Progressive, Minnesota Renters Insurance.)

If your lease requires a policy, it usually asks for a liability limit (often $100,000) and for the landlord or property manager to be listed as an "interested party," so they are notified if the policy lapses. Read more in can a landlord require renters insurance?

What renters insurance covers in Minnesota

A standard renters policy (an HO-4) has three parts everywhere in the US: personal property (your belongings), personal liability (if you injure someone or damage their property), and loss of use (hotel and meal costs if your home becomes uninhabitable after a covered event). What changes from state to state is which disasters you are likely to face, and whether the standard policy covers them.

• ✓Winter freeze: burst pipes, ice dams and snow load. Sudden water damage from a frozen pipe or an ice dam, and roof collapse under heavy snow, are covered across the state, from the Twin Cities to Duluth and the Iron Range, as long as you kept the heat on.
• ✓Tornadoes, hail and severe thunderstorms. Wind, hail and lightning damage are covered. The Twin Cities metro and southern Minnesota see the most tornado and large-hail damage, mostly June through August.
• ✓Theft. Theft is covered at home and, with limits, from your car or a storage unit. Minneapolis's property-crime rate, including car break-ins and catalytic-converter thefts, is the main reason its premiums top the state.
• ✕Spring snowmelt and river flooding. Flooding along the Red River in Moorhead, the Minnesota River in Mankato and the Mississippi in St. Paul during spring melt is excluded from every renters policy.
• ✕Basement flooding and sewer backup. Rain flooding of basement apartments in Minneapolis and St. Paul is excluded. Sewer and drain backup can be added as an endorsement and is worth having in older buildings.
• ✕Flood. No renters policy covers flood, including Red River spring flooding in Moorhead, the Minnesota River in Mankato, the Mississippi in St. Paul and basement flooding across the Twin Cities. A separate flood policy through the NFIP or a private insurer covers contents.

For the full list of what is and isn't covered, see what does renters insurance cover?

Renters insurance costs in Minnesota cities

Prices move with local theft rates, weather exposure and building age, so two renters in Minnesota can pay quite different premiums for the same coverage.

City	What to expect
Minneapolis $22/mo avg	About $22 a month, the most expensive city in Minnesota. Theft exposure drives the price; many large buildings require a policy with $100,000 liability. (ValuePenguin)
St. Paul $20/mo avg	About $20 a month, roughly 1% above the Minnesota average. Riverfront and basement units near the Mississippi need a separate flood policy. (ValuePenguin)
Rochester $17/mo avg	About $17 a month, the cheapest city ValuePenguin priced. Mayo Clinic housing and large complexes usually require proof of insurance. (ValuePenguin)
Bloomington $22/mo avg	About $22 a month, matching Minneapolis. (ValuePenguin)
Duluth	ValuePenguin did not price Duluth separately; expect rates below the Twin Cities. Lake Superior winters make ice dams and frozen pipes the main claims, and both are covered.
St. Cloud $19/mo avg	About $19 a month. Most St. Cloud State student leases require a policy. (ValuePenguin)

How to get renters insurance in Minnesota

Most national insurers quote renters policies in Minnesota online in a few minutes. Lemonade does not currently sell renters insurance in Minnesota (availability list), so compare quotes from the companies that do: the cheapest in the state are usually listed in the cost section above.

Whatever company you choose, compare the same three numbers: the personal property limit, the liability limit and the deductible. A cheaper quote with a $2,000 deductible is not a better deal if you'd struggle to pay it after a loss.

Renting in Minnesota: security deposits and tenant rights

These are Minnesota's statewide rules, checked against the statute and the state's official tenant guide in October 2026. Some cities add their own rules, and your lease can give you more protection but usually not less. Our guides to security deposits, tenant rights and breaking a lease explain how these rules work in practice.

Security deposits in Minnesota

Maximum deposit	No statutory limit on the amount; Minnesota's deposit law (§ 504B.178) sets no maximum.
Return deadline	Within three weeks (21 days) after the tenancy ends and the landlord has your forwarding address, return the deposit with interest or give a written statement of reasons for keeping any of it.
Interest and accounts	Landlord must pay 1% simple interest per year on the deposit, running from the first day of the month after you paid it in full.
Move-in condition list	Landlord must tell you, at the start of the tenancy or within 14 days of move-in, that you can request an initial inspection, and must offer a move-out inspection before your lease ends.
If it is wrongly kept	A landlord who misses the deadline owes the withheld amount plus interest as a penalty on top of the wrongfully withheld amount, plus up to $500 in punitive damages for bad-faith retention.
Law	Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.178, 504B.182

Tenant rights in Minnesota

Landlord entry	At least 24 hours' notice and a reasonable business purpose are required, with entry between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. unless you agree otherwise; emergencies are exempt and violations carry up to $500 each.
Repairs	Landlord must keep the unit fit to live in and in reasonable repair, a duty you can't waive; if repairs aren't made, you can pay rent into court through a rent escrow action.
Retaliation	Retaliation for enforcing your rights or reporting code violations is barred, and if an eviction notice comes within 90 days of such action, the landlord must prove it isn't retaliatory.
Ending a lease early	Tenants who fear imminent violence after domestic abuse, criminal sexual conduct, sexual extortion or harassment can end a lease with advance written notice and a qualifying document, owing that month's rent and forfeiting the deposit; tenants needing a medical care facility can end it with two months' notice.
Law	Minn. Stat. ch. 504B, including §§ 504B.161, 504B.206, 504B.211, 504B.266, 504B.285, 504B.385, 504B.441

Official guide: Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities (Minnesota Attorney General).

Laws change and vary by city. This is general information, not legal advice.

Tips for Minnesota renters

1. Keep the heat at 55°F or higher when you leave, even for a weekend. Minnesota insurers can deny a burst-pipe claim if the heat was off, and January cold snaps below -20°F are when most pipe claims happen.
2. Minnesota's cheapest insurer averages $11 a month against a $20 state average, so compare at least three quotes. The partner we link to does not sell renters insurance in Minnesota, so use the state comparison instead.
3. Add a sewer and drain backup endorsement if you rent a basement or garden-level unit in Minneapolis or St. Paul. Summer downpours back up older sewers, and standard policies pay nothing for it.
4. Most Twin Cities leases require $100,000 of liability and want the owner listed as an interested party. Add them when you buy so the lease file is complete at move-in.
5. If you rent in Moorhead, Mankato or along the Mississippi in St. Paul, price a contents-only NFIP flood policy before spring melt. Renters policies pay nothing for rising water.