Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Cashing in on the cabin

Published (3/7/2008)
By Courtney Blanchard
Share on: 



Minnesota is the Land of 10,000 Lakes and more than 100,000 cabins.

Not all of the cabins are on a lakeshore, but there are about 115,200 “seasonal recreational” properties in the state, according to the Department of Revenue. Whether it’s a cabin, summer home or hunting shack, the owner is not eligible for a property tax refund from the state. That would change with HF2348, sponsored by Rep. Ron Erhardt (R-Edina).

The bill was laid over Feb. 29 by the House Property Tax Relief and Local Sales Tax Division for possible inclusion in its omnibus bill. There is no Senate companion.

To be eligible for a refund, the owner’s annual income couldn’t exceed $96,300. The maximum refund would be about $1,800, at an annual cost of about $9 million to the state.

About 25 percent of homeowners claim a refund on their property taxes, and if given the option, about 20 percent of cabin owners would claim a refund, according to the department.

“A house is a house,” said Jeff Forester, executive director of the Minnesota Seasonal Recreational Property Owners Coalition, who added that most cabin owners are not rich, and oftentimes split expenses among a large extended family.

According to the group, the average annual income for a cabin owner is under $60,000, and most have owned their cabin for more than 25 years. He said increasing land values are making it too expensive for people to hold onto their cabins. Oftentimes, owners are pressured into selling to developers who split parcels, resulting in cleared woodlands and crowded lakeshores, Forester said.

Session Weekly More...


Session Weekly Home



Related Stories


At Issue: It’s all about compromise
Weeks of negotiations result in levy caps, tax reform and new credits
(view full story) Published 5/30/2008

First Reading: Different paths to the same outcome
Lenczewski, Simpson offer conflicting visions to attain best tax policy
(view full story) Published 5/9/2008

First Reading: A mega opportunity at what cost?
Public money sought for Mall of America expansion, jobs
(view full story) Published 4/25/2008

At Issue: Refurbishing the system
Property tax plan proffered to base payment on income
(view full story) Published 4/25/2008

Minnesota Index
Figures and statistics on taxes in Minnesota
(view full story) Published 4/4/2008

At Issue: Federal conformity and tax increases
Parties differ on future of tax bill approved by the House
(view full story) Published 3/7/2008