Rice County, Minnesota Eviction Risk: Moderate

Rice County, Minnesota eviction laws carries an average eviction-risk score of 4.9/10 (Moderate), placing it among the higher-risk counties in the state. With only 9 of Minnesota's 87 counties scoring worse, landlords operating here are dealing with conditions that sit meaningfully above the statewide middle. Rent averaging $1,095 per month and a rent-burden rate of 27.6% signal a renter base that is financially stretched, which tends to correlate with late payments and elevated eviction filings.

Across the county's 7 cities, scores span from 4/10 to 6.2/10, a spread wide enough that city selection matters as much as county selection. A landlord choosing Dundas faces a very different operating environment than one buying in Faribault eviction risk, even though both properties carry the same county mailing address and the same state statutes. Understanding the local landscape before acquiring is essential.

The cities inside Rice County

Faribault anchors the high-risk end of the county with a score of 5.1/10. It is also the county's largest city at 24,631 residents, meaning the concentrated risk is layered on top of significant tenant volume. Morristown follows at 4.9/10, and Lonsdale sits at 4.6/10 with a population of 4,896. These three cities represent the tier where landlords should expect more frequent screening challenges, higher average days-to-resolution, and a renter population carrying heavier cost burdens.

Northfield, the county's second-largest city at 20,742 residents, scores 5/10, a noticeably better position than Faribault despite comparable urban infrastructure. Warsaw comes in at 4.4/10 and Dundas at 5/10, making them the most landlord-favorable markets in the county. Risk inside Rice County is genuinely hyper-local: a single county line tells you almost nothing about the specific city you are evaluating.

State-level laws that apply here

Every landlord in Rice County operates under Minn. Stat. § 504B (Landlord and Tenant). For nonpayment of rent, state law (Minn. Stat. § 504B.291) requires a 14-day notice before filing. Material lease violations and month-to-month terminations each require a 30-day notice under Minn. Stat. § 504B.135. Minnesota eviction laws does not require just cause for nonrenewal, and there is no statewide rent cap, which preserves landlord flexibility on pricing. Entry requires 24 hours advance notice. For a complete walkthrough of what happens after the notice period, see the Minnesota eviction laws eviction process guide.

When a case does proceed to court, court filing fees run $310 to $410, sheriff lockout fees run $55 to $150, and attorney fees typically range from $750 to $3,000. An uncontested case resolves in roughly 30 to 60 days; a contested case can stretch to 60 to 150 days. For a full breakdown of what landlords pay out of pocket when a tenancy fails, the Minnesota eviction costs guide covers each fee category in detail.

Rice County's average poverty rate of 10.6% and renter share of 28.6% set the baseline risk context; the city grid above breaks that exposure down to the individual market level where investment decisions are actually made.