Quick answer: Adults 21 and older in Minnesota can grow up to 8 cannabis plants at home, and no more than 4 can be mature and flowering at once. That’s a limit per residence, not per person. The grow must be at an adult’s primary residence, in an enclosed, locked space that isn’t open to public view.

Last verified: October 30, 2026, against 2026 Minnesota Statutes § 342.09 and the Office of Cannabis Management. Laws change, so check the official site before you plant.

How the limit works

Under § 342.09, subd. 2, up to 8 plants can be grown at a single residence without a license, and no more than 4 of those can be mature, flowering plants.

The number belongs to the home, not the people in it. A two-adult home gets 8 plants total, with up to 4 flowering, not 16. Four adults in one house? Still 8.

Seedlings count too. Minnesota’s definition of a cannabis plant covers any growing plant, including a mother plant, a mature flowering plant, an immature plant or a seedling. So a tray of 12 seedlings puts you over the limit even with nothing in flower.

The caregiver exception

A registered designated caregiver can grow up to 8 plants for one patient household, plus up to 8 for their own personal use. That makes 16 at the caregiver’s home, with no more than 8 mature and flowering. Under § 342.52, subd. 9, a patient who hands their growing right to a caregiver must notify the state and can’t also grow for personal use.

Where you can grow

Three conditions apply to every home grow:

• Primary residence: the grow has to be at the primary home of someone 21 or older. No cabin grows.
• Enclosed and locked: the space must be enclosed and locked.
• Not open to public view: people passing by shouldn’t be able to see it.

The yard is allowed, since the statute covers a residence “including the curtilage or yard.” The enclosure rule still applies outside, though.

Here’s the gap: the statute doesn’t define “enclosed, locked space,” and we didn’t find official guidance that spells it out. Our cautious suggestion, which isn’t a legal standard, is to use something fully closed with a real lock, like a locked room, a locked grow tent inside a locked room or a locked greenhouse with no view in. A plain fence around open garden beds is much less certain. If you’re unsure, ask the OCM.

Renters, landlords and local rules

Being legal under state law doesn’t override your lease. The OCM’s multifamily housing page says a rental, lease or other housing agreement may restrict your ability to grow. It also says the office can’t give legal advice on individual leases, so talk to your property manager or a lawyer.

On local rules, § 342.13 says cities and counties can’t prohibit the possession, transportation or use of cannabis authorized by state law. That list doesn’t mention home cultivation, so check your city code. We didn’t find a state rule on HOAs, so treat that as unsettled.

How much of your harvest can you keep?

Minnesota is generous at home. You can have up to 2 pounds of cannabis flower in your private residence. In public, the limit is 2 ounces of flower, plus 8 grams of concentrate and edibles with up to 800 mg of THC.

Keep an eye on that 2-pound line. Possessing more than 2 pounds is first-degree possession under § 152.0263, with up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

And no butane projects. Section 342.09, subd. 3, bars anyone without the right license from using a volatile solvent to extract concentrate at home.

Can you give it away?

Yes. Adults 21 and older can give another adult 21 or older up to 2 ounces of flower, 8 grams of concentrate or an edible product with up to 800 mg of THC, as long as no payment is involved. You can’t give any to someone under 21, and a business can’t use cannabis as a free sample or promotional gift. Selling without a license is banned outright.

Where do you get seeds or clones?

Licensed retailers. Under § 342.27, a licensed cannabis retailer can sell immature cannabis plants and seedlings to people 21 or older, as long as they came from a licensed business. Retailers can’t give them away for free.

Seeds are less clear. That list names plants and seedlings, not seeds, so ask your retailer or the OCM what’s available. Either way, keep your total at 8 plants.

What if you go over the limit?

• More than 8 plants, or more than 4 mature ones: the OCM can assess a civil penalty of up to $500 for each plant over the limit (§ 342.09, subd. 6).
• More than 16, up to 23 plants: second-degree cultivation under § 152.0265, with up to 364 days in jail, a $3,000 fine, or both.
• More than 23 plants: first-degree cultivation, with up to 5 years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both.

Note that a fifth flowering plant can trigger that civil penalty even if your total is 8 or fewer.

And one plain reminder: home growing is still illegal under federal law, even where the state allows it. Recreational marijuana remains Schedule I, and the April 2026 move to Schedule III covers only state-licensed medical marijuana and FDA-approved products.

Minnesota home grow FAQ

Is Minnesota’s 8-plant limit per person or per home?

Per home. Minnesota allows up to 8 cannabis plants at a single residence, with no more than 4 mature and flowering, no matter how many adults live there.

Can I grow cannabis outdoors in Minnesota?

Yes, if the rules are met. Minnesota’s home-grow law covers a residence’s yard, but the plants must still be in an enclosed, locked space that isn’t open to public view, at an adult’s primary residence.

Do seedlings count toward Minnesota’s plant limit?

Yes. Minnesota defines a cannabis plant to include immature plants and seedlings, so they count toward the 8-plant limit. They don’t count as mature, flowering plants until they reach that stage.

Can a Minnesota landlord ban home growing?

A lease can restrict it. Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management says rental, lease and other housing agreements may limit your ability to grow cannabis, so check yours before you plant.

For the bigger picture, see our Minnesota marijuana law guide and marijuana cultivation for beginners.

Setting up a legal grow? See our guides to the best grow lights and grow tents.