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ROOMING HOUSES AND LODGING ESTABLISHMENTS

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances tit. 12, ch. 244, art. X
in effect

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.1020 State code incorporated.

244.1020. - State code incorporated. The Minnesota Lodging Code, Minnesota Rules, Chapter 4625, and Minnesota Statute Chapter 327, and amendments thereto, are hereby adopted by reference and are incorporated in this title as fully as if set forth herein, subject to and including such portions as are supplemented by Chapter 244, articles X and XII, rooming houses and lodging establishments, and hotels, of this Code. (2011-Or-069, § 1, 8-5-11; 2015-Or-046, § 1, 6-19-15)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.1025 More restrictive standards to apply.

244.1025. - More restrictive standards to apply. Where the conditions imposed by any provision of the housing maintenance code, article X rooming houses and lodging establishments, are either more restrictive or less restrictive than comparable conditions imposed by the Minnesota Lodging Code, or any other law, statute, rule, resolution, ordinance, or regulation of any kind, the regulations which are more restrictive or which impose higher standards or requirements shall govern. 2011-Or-069, § 1, 8-5-11)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.1030 "Regulatory authority" defined for the code.

244.1030. - "Regulatory authority" defined for the code. Wherever the term "regulatory authority" is used in the Minnesota Lodging Code, or in Chapter 244, Article X, rooming houses and lodging establishments, it shall be held to mean the Minneapolis Health Department. (2011-Or-069, § 1, 8-5-11; 2013-Or-161, § 26, 12-6-13)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.1035 No modification of zoning code intended.

244.1035. - No modification of zoning code intended. (a) The purpose of this article is to meet the requirements in Minn. Statutes, Chapter 157, for licensing of lodging establishments. Nothing contained in this article is intended to enlarge rights under the zoning code, or to legalize any use or activity which is not a valid permitted, conditional, or nonconforming use under the zoning code. (b) The issuance of a lodging establishment license shall not be construed as authorizing a use which is not authorized by the zoning code. (2006-Or-073, § 5, 6-30-06; Ord. No. 2023-038, § 3, 5-25-23)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.1040 Compliance required.

244.1040. - Compliance required. No person shall operate a rooming house or lodging establishment, or shall occupy or let to another for occupancy any rooming unit in any rooming house or any sleeping room or any bed in a lodging establishment, except in compliance with the requirements set forth in the housing maintenance code. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 76.010; 2006-Or-073, § 6, 6-30-06)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.1045 License required.

244.1045. - License required. (a) Every person who operates, maintains, or holds out to the public that he or she operates or maintains, a lodging establishment, shall first obtain a license as required by this article. (b) Operation without a license prohibited. No person shall operate, maintain, or hold out to the public that he or she operates or maintains, a lodging establishment, without a valid license issued under this article. (c) Exceptions. No lodging establishment license shall be required for any lodging establishment holding a health care license issued by the Minnesota Department of Health. (2006-Or-073, § 7, 6-30-06)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.1050 Lavatory and bath facilities.

244.1050. - Lavatory and bath facilities. At least one (1) water closet, hand lavatory and bathtub or shower, properly connected to a water and sewer system and in good working condition, shall be supplied for each ten (10) persons or fraction thereof residing within a rooming house or lodging establishment, including members of the operator's family wherever they share the use of the said facilities; provided that in a rooming house or lodging establishment where rooms are let only to males, flush urinals may be substituted for not more than one-half (½) of the required number of water closets, and provided further that in rooming houses or lodging establishments existing prior to July 1, 1972, where a hand lavatory, connected to a water and sewer system and in good working condition, is supplied in each rooming unit or sleeping room, then the number of persons who shall share the use of a water closet and bathtub or shower shall not exceed twelve (12) persons. All such facilities shall be so located within the rooming house or lodging establishment as to be accessible to the occupants of each rooming unit or sleeping room sharing such facilities without going through a unit of another occupant. Every hand lavatory and bathtub or shower required under the provisions of this section shall be supplied with hot and cold running water at all times. No plumbing facilities required under this section except the guest toilet room may be located in a cellar. No such plumbing facilities shall be located more than one (1) floor distant from the rooming unit for which such plumbing facilities are provided. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 76.020; Ord. of 3-9-73, § 1; 2006-Or-073, § 8, 6-30-06)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.1060 Communal kitchens.

244.1060. - Communal kitchens. Communal kitchens shall be permitted only in rooming house or lodging establishment occupancies. Every rooming house or lodging establishment within which the occupants of rooming units or sleeping rooms are permitted to prepare meals shall contain a communal kitchen which has adequate cooking, refrigeration and plumbing facilities to allow the preparation of meals in a clean and healthful manner by the occupants. Every communal kitchen shall be located within a room accessible to the occupant of each rooming unit or sleeping room sharing the use of such kitchens, without going outside the rooming house or lodging establishment and without going through a unit of another occupant. The owner or operator of a rooming house wherein meals are served to tenants or lodging establishment with boarding shall comply with all applicable requirements of Chapter 188 of this Code of Ordinances. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 76.030; 78-Or-244, § 43, 11-22-78; 2006-Or-073, § 9, 6-30-06)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.1070 No-cooking signs.

244.1070. - No-cooking signs. The operator shall post in every rooming unit or sleeping room a sign on which shall be written or printed in letters not less than one inch in height the following words "No Cooking Permitted in This Room" and such sign shall remain so posted at all times. No person shall cook or prepare meals in any rooming unit or sleeping room, and no operator knowingly shall allow cooking or preparation of meals in any rooming unit sleeping room. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 76.040; 2006-Or-073, § 10, 6-30-06)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.1090 Sanitary maintenance.

244.1090. - Sanitary maintenance. The owner or operator of every rooming house or lodging establishment shall be responsible for the sanitary maintenance of all walls, floors, and ceilings, and for the sanitary maintenance of every other part of the rooming house or lodging establishment; and he shall be further responsible for the sanitary maintenance of the entire premises where the entire structure or building within which the rooming house or lodging establishment is contained is leased or occupied by the operator. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 76.060; 78-Or-244, § 45, 11-22-78; 2006-Or-073, § 12, 6-30-06)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.1100 Reporting of communicable disease.

244.1100. - Reporting of communicable disease. The operator of a rooming house or lodging establishment shall report to the commissioner of health within twenty-four (24) hours the name of any person living in the rooming house who is suffering from a communicable disease, and such report shall be made whenever there is reason to believe or suspect that any person in such rooming house or lodging establishment may be afflicted with any communicable disease. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 76.070; 2006-Or-073, § 13, 6-30-06)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.1105 Inspection.

244.1105. - Inspection. Pursuant to the authority granted in Minnesota Statutes, section 157.04, a duly authorized inspector of the City of Minneapolis may enter and have access to a lodging establishment at any time during the conduct of business thereon, for the purpose of verifying compliance with the provisions of this chapter. (2006-Or-073, § 14, 6-30-06)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.1110 Keeping of register.

244.1110. - Keeping of register. Every person licensed as a rooming house or lodging establishment operator shall at all times keep a register within the rooming house or lodging establishment, in which shall be written the names of all occupants renting or occupying rooming units or sleeping rooms in such rooming house or lodging establishment. After the name or names of persons renting or occupying any rooming unit the operator, or operator's agent, shall write the number of the room or rooms which each person is to occupy, together with the date and hour when such room or rooms are rented, all of which shall be done before such person is permitted to occupy such room or rooms. The register shall be open to inspection within twenty-four (24) hours of request by the chief of police, commissioner of health, director of regulatory services or fire marshal, or their authorized representatives. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 76.080; Ord. of 3-9-73, § 2; 78-Or-244, § 46, 11-22-78; Pet. No. 252271, § 25, 5-11-90; 2006-Or-073, § 15, 6-30-06; 2013-Or-161, § 27, 12-6-13)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.1120 Entry of true name in register.

244.1120. - Entry of true name in register. No person shall write or cause to be written in any rooming house or lodging establishment register any other or different name than the true name of such person or the name by which such person is generally known. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 76.090; 2006-Or-073, § 16, 6-30-06)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.1125 Dwelling units in same building.

244.1125. - Dwelling units in same building. An applicant who operates one (1) or more residential dwelling units in the same building or structure containing a lodging establishment shall be required to hold a rental dwelling license for those dwelling units as well as the license required in this chapter. (2006-Or-073, § 17, 6-30-06)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.1130 Hotel units in same building.

244.1130. - Hotel units in same building. An applicant who operates hotel units in the same building or structure containing a lodging establishment shall be required to hold a hotel license as well as the license required in this chapter. (2006-Or-073, § 18, 6-30-06)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.1135 Conditions.

244.1135. - Conditions. A licensee under this chapter shall comply with all of the following requirements, as well as any other applicable statutes, rules or codes. (a) Minneapolis Fire Code; (b) Minneapolis Health Code; (c) Minneapolis Building Code; (d) Minneapolis Housing Maintenance Code; (e) Minneapolis Zoning Code. (f) Minnesota Rules - Chapter 4625 (Lodging Establishments) (g) A lodging establishment licensee or operator shall comply with all rooming house or rooming unit regulations set forth in this chapter. (2006-Or-073, § 19, 6-30-06)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.1145 Expiration; renewal.

244.1145. - Expiration; renewal. All licenses issued under this article shall expire on November first of each year, subject to renewal year to year thereafter. All licensees shall apply for renewal of their licenses on a form provided by the commissioner of health. The renewal application may be in such abbreviated form as deemed sufficient by the director to verify current information on file concerning the licensee. An application for renewal shall be filed in the department at least thirty (30) days before expiration of the license. No license or provisional license shall be granted without payment of the required annual license fee. An individual who is operating a lodging establishment after the license has expired is operating an unlicensed lodging establishment. (2006-Or-073, § 21, 6-30-06; 2013-Or-161, § 28, 12-6-13)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.1150 License fees.

244.1150. - License fees. (a) The annual license fee required under this article for a lodging establishment or a lodging establishment with boarding shall be as established in Appendix J, License Fee Schedule. (b) New license surcharge. Every applicant for any license required under this article shall pay, in addition to any other specified fees required, an additional surcharge as established in Appendix J, License Fee Schedule: (1) Upon initial application for the required license; and (2) Upon application for the required license after failing to renew the license within one year of the expiration date of the previously held license. This additional new license surcharge shall not be refunded whether or not the license sought is granted. (c) The annual license fee shall be increased by fifty (50) percent when more than thirty (30) calendar days late. Late applicants shall not be entitled to prorated license fees. After December 31 of the license year, renewal of an expired license shall require the payment of the administrative fee set forth in (e) instead of the fee set forth in this paragraph. (d) License fees shall be prorated as follows: (1) Issued during first half of license year .....Full fee; (2) Issued during second half of license year .....½ fee. (e) Operation of an unlicensed lodging establishment shall be subject to an additional administrative fee of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) for the first sleeping room or bed, and ten dollars ($10.00) for each additional sleeping room or bed. This fee shall be in addition to any other appropriate enforcement action or fees due. (2006-Or-073, § 22, 6-30-06)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.1155 Application for license.

244.1155. - Application for license. Within ninety (90) days after the effective date of this article, the owner of each lodging establishment shall make written application to the commissioner of health for a license to carry on the business of renting lodging establishment property. Such application shall be made on a form furnished by the commissioner of health for such purpose and shall set forth the following information: (1) Name, business or residence address, telephone number, and date of birth of the owner of the lodging establishment. If the owner is a partnership, the name of the partnership, the name, residence address, and date of birth of the managing partner. If the owner is a corporation, the name and address of the corporation, and the name of the chief operating officer; in cases where the owner of a dwelling resides outside of the sixteen-county metropolitan area consisting of the following counties: Hennepin, Rice, Wright, Anoka, Washington, McLeod, Ramsey, Dakota, Scott, Carver, Sherburne, Isanti, Chisago, Sibley, Le Sueur and Goodhue; the owner's agent/contact person shall reside within the sixteen-county metropolitan area. (2) If the owner has appointed an agent authorized to accept service of process and to receive and give receipt for notices, the name, business or residence address, telephone number, and date of birth of such agent. (3) Every applicant, whether an individual, partnership, or corporation, shall identify in the application, by name, residence or business street address, telephone number, and date of birth, a natural person who is actively involved in, and responsible for, the maintenance and management of the premises. Said natural person shall, if other than the owner, affix his or her notarized signature to the application, thereby accepting joint and several responsibility with the owner (including any potential criminal, civil, or administrative liability) for the maintenance and management of the premises. A post office box or commercial mail receiving service are not acceptable as an address for such person. The individual designated herein may also be the owner of the dwelling or an agent identified in subsection (2) above. (4) Street address of the dwelling. (5) Number and kind of units within the dwelling (sleeping rooms and or beds provided as applicable). (6) Any other information deemed necessary to regulate the operations of a lodging establishment. (7) In the event that any of the information required to be provided by this section changes, the applicant or licensee shall, within fourteen (14) days, notify in writing the commissioner of health, or an authorized representative of the commissioner, of the change. However, if the natural person designated in subsection (3) changes, the licensee or applicant shall file an entirely new application within fourteen (14) days. Furthermore, for just cause, the commissioner of health, or an authorized representative of the commissioner, may request that an applicant or licensee complete and file a new or replacement application for any rental dwelling, giving the licensee or applicant a minimum of fourteen (14) days to comply. (2006-Or-073, § 23, 6-30-06; 2013-Or-161, § 29, 12-6-13)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.1160 Licensing Standards.

244.1160. - Licensing Standards. The owner of a lodging establishment must comply with the licensing standards set forth in section 244.1910 and must comply with 244.2020. The city council may revoke, suspend, refuse to issue, or refuse to renew any license for failure to comply with the requirements of those sections, pursuant to the procedure set forth in sections 244.1930 to 244.1970. (2006-Or-073, § 24, 6-30-06)
Source: City of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Code of Ordinances, City Charter and Park and Recreation Board Code of Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mn/minneapolis/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TIT12HO_CH244MACO_ARTXROHOLOESFetched: 11/2/2026

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