Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.10 What constitutes.
244.10. - What constitutes.
This chapter and Chapter 242 shall be known and may be cited as the Housing Maintenance Code. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 66.010)
GENERALLY
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances tit. 12, ch. 244, art. I
in effectMinneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.20 Purpose and policy.
244.20. - Purpose and policy.
The purpose of the housing maintenance code is to protect the public health, safety and welfare. Said code (a) Establishes minimum standards for basic equipment and facilities; for light, ventilation and heating; for safety from fire; for space, use and location; for safe and sanitary maintenance of all dwellings; (b) Determines the responsibilities of owners, operators and occupants of dwellings; (c) Provides, as an incident to the primary regulation, for registering the operation of certain dwellings; and (d) Provides for administration and enforcement. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 66.020)
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.30 Findings.
244.30. - Findings.
The council finds there exist in the city numerous dwellings which are substandard in one or more important features of structure, equipment, maintenance or occupancy. Such conditions adversely affect public health and safety and lead to the continuation, extension and aggravation of urban blight. Adequate protection of public health, safety and welfare therefore requires the establishment and enforcement of minimum housing standards. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 66.030)
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.40 Definitions.
244.40. - Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in the housing maintenance code shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:
Approved: Approved by the director of regulatory services or the director's designee pursuant to applicable provisions of this Code of Ordinances and other ordinances and regulations.
Algorithmic device: A device that uses one (1) or more algorithms to perform calculations of non-public competitor data concerning local or statewide rents or occupancy levels to advise an owner or operator on whether to leave a unit vacant or on the amount of rent that the owner or operator may obtain for that unit. This includes a product that incorporates an algorithmic device but does not include (a) any report publishing existing rental data in an aggregated manner without recommending rents or occupancy levels for future leases or (b) a product used for the purpose of establishing rent or income limits in accordance with the affordable housing program guidelines of a local government, the state, the federal government, or other political subdivision.
Attic story is any story situated wholly or partly in the roof, so designed, arranged or built as to be used for business, storage or habitation.
Basement: Any floor level below the first story in a building, except that a floor level in a building having only one (1) floor level shall be classified as a basement unless such floor level qualifies as a first story as defined herein.
Bath: A bathtub or shower bath.
Bedroom: A habitable room within a dwelling unit which is used, or intended to be used, primarily for the purpose of sleeping, but shall not include any kitchen or dining room.
Block: A portion of the city, whether occupied by buildings or not, which is enclosed by and bounded by adjoining streets having official street name designations.
Clean: The condition of being completely free from readily noticeable dirt, soil, stain, left over food particles, or other material not intended to be a part of the object in question.
Commissioner of health: The commissioner of health or authorized representative in the department of health.
Communal: Used or shared by, or intended to be used or shared by the occupants of two (2) or more rooming units or sleeping rooms.
Communicable disease: The following diseases for the purposes of the housing maintenance code, are deemed communicable: Chicken pox, diphtheria, poliomyelitis, smallpox, tuberculosis, typhoid fever and fevers with rash.
Dining room: A habitable room used or intended to be used for the purpose of eating but not for cooking or the preparation of meals.
Director of regulatory services: The legally designated director of regulatory services of the city or authorized representative.
Dwelling: Any building or structure, or portion thereof, except temporary housing, which is wholly or partly used or intended to be used for living or sleeping by human occupants.
Dwelling unit: Any habitable room located within a dwelling and forming a single habitable unit with facilities which are used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking and eating.
Efficiency living unit: "Efficiency living unit" is any room having cooking facilities used for combined living, dining and sleeping purposes and for the purpose of this Code shall be deemed a dwelling unit.
Emergency: Any condition or combination of conditions which in the opinion of the commissioner of health, director of regulatory services or their designee or the fire marshal requires immediate action for the protection of health, safety or welfare of the occupants of a dwelling or of the public.
Extermination: The control and elimination of insects, rodents, vermin or other pests.
Family: A "family" is an individual or two (2) or more persons, intending upon residing and living together as a single household and housekeeping unit in a dwelling unit for thirty (30) days or more and not for short-term, tourist or transient use.
Fire escape: An emergency means of egress. A fire escape shall not constitute a required stairway.
Fire marshal: The Fire Marshal of the City of Minneapolis, or any of the fire marshal's designees from the sworn service of the fire department or designees of the director of regulatory services charged with the administration or enforcement of the Minnesota State Fire Code for the City of Minneapolis. The fire marshal's designees may include any sworn member of the Minneapolis Fire Department, regardless of rank or assignment, or any member of the Fire Inspections Services.
Fire resistance or fire-resistive construction: Construction to resist the spread of fire, details of which are specified in section 85.100 and Chapter 87, Article II of this Code.
Garbage: Animal or vegetable waste resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking or consumption of food.
Group residential facility: A "group residential facility" is one (1) operated by a lawfully established and existing philanthropic or charitable organization or agency and which employs personnel of demonstrated competency in the fields of social, spiritual and physical rehabilitation, and has and operates under its own charter, regulations, rules and standards. In order to qualify, such agency must furnish adequate proof of the soundness of its governing charter, regulations and code and of its prior successful existence and practice.
Habitable floor area: An area which has a ceiling height of seven and one-half (7½) feet throughout. However, on floors above the first floor the habitable area shall have a minimum ceiling height of seven and one-half (7½) feet over fifty (50) percent or more of its area, and no part of any floor having a ceiling height of less than five (5) feet shall be considered as part of the habitable floor area; and further, in dwellings one (1) story and attic in height, attic type bedrooms may be located above the first floor of each dwelling unit if such attic type bedrooms have a minimum ceiling height of not less than seven (7) feet over fifty (50) percent of their floor area.
Habitable room: Any room meeting the requirements of this Code for sleeping, living, cooking or dining purposes excluding such enclosed spaces as closets, pantries, bath or toilet rooms, service rooms, recreation rooms, connecting corridors, laundries, unfinished attics, foyers, storage spaces, cellars, utility rooms and similar spaces.
Hazardous heating installations: All heating installations except those which conform with the applicable laws regulating the installation of such space heating in effect now or at the time of installation and which have been maintained in good repair and working condition and are being used in a safe manner.
Hazardous plumbing: All plumbing except that which conforms with the applicable laws regulating the installation of such plumbing in effect now or at the time of installation and which has been maintained in good condition and which is free of cross connections and siphonage between fixtures.
Hazardous wiring: All wiring except that which conforms with the applicable laws regulating the installation of such wiring in effect now or at the time of the installation, and which has been maintained in good condition and is being used in a safe manner.
Hotel, licensed: Any dwelling wherein sleeping or rooming accommodations are offered or furnished to the general public for a shorter period of time than one (1) week, with or without meals. It shall not include rooming houses or lodging establishments.
Hotel unit, licensed: Any room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit used or intended to be used for living and sleeping in a licensed hotel, but not for cooking of meals.
Infestation: The presence of any insects, rodents, vermin or other pests within a dwelling or on the dwelling premises.
Kitchen: A habitable room used or intended to be used for cooking or the preparation of meals.
Living room: A habitable room within a dwelling unit which is used or intended to be used primarily for general living purposes.
Lodging establishment: Every building or structure, or any part thereof, kept, used as, maintained as, advertised as, or held out to be a place where sleeping accommodations are furnished regularly to roomers, for periods of one (1) week or more, and having five (5) or more sleeping rooms or five (5) or more beds to let. "Lodging establishment" shall not include that part of a building or structure containing "shared-bath dwellings" as that term is defined in Chapter 244 of the Minneapolis Housing Maintenance Code. The term "lodging establishment" shall include fraternities and sororities as defined in the Minneapolis Zoning Code.
Lodging establishment with boarding: A lodging establishment where in meals are prepared and/or served to tenants.
Motel: "Motel" shall mean "hotel, licensed" as defined in this Code.
Multiple dwelling: Any dwelling occupied, fitted up or arranged to be occupied as three (3) or more dwelling units and shall also include rooming houses and lodging establishments as defined herein.
Nondwelling structure: Any structure, except a dwelling, used or intended to be used for the shelter or enclosure of any animal or property of any kind.
Non-public competitor data: Information that is not available to the general public, including information about actual rent prices, occupancy rates, lease start and end dates, and similar data, regardless of whether the information is attributable to a specific competitor or anonymized and regardless of whether it is derived from or otherwise provided by another person that competes in the same market or a related market.
Occupant: Any person over one (1) year of age, including an owner or operator, living, sleeping, cooking or eating in, or having actual possession of a dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit, or sleeping room or hotel unit.
Operator: Any person who has charge, care or control of a building, or part thereof, in which dwelling units, rooming units, sleeping rooms or hotel units are let.
Owner: The person who is the last owner of record or the fee owner or the contract purchaser or the agent of the aforementioned person or member resident of a warrant-owned building as defined by Minnesota Statutes, Section 273.124, subdivision 3.
Plumbing system: The plumbing system of a building includes the water supply distributing pipes; the fixtures and fixture traps; the soil, waste and vent pipes; the building drain and building sewer; the storm water drainage, with their devices and appurtenances; and connections within the building and outside the building within the property line.
Premises: A platted lot or part thereof or unplatted lot or parcel of land or plot of land, either occupied or unoccupied by any dwelling or nondwelling structure.
Professional: Whenever the words "professional state of maintenance and repair" are used in this Code, they shall mean that such maintenance and repair shall be made in a reasonably skillful manner.
Recyclables or recyclable materials: Recyclables are former items of rubbish which have been cleaned so as not to cause health or nuisance problems and separated into categories as follows for purposes of transportation, processing and final remanufacturing. Recyclables shall include, but not be limited to glass; aluminum, bi-metal, steel or tin cans, and other scrap metals such as brass, copper, lead; paper such as newsprint, corrugated cardboard, magazines, ledger paper, bond, computer printout paper, computer tab cards; housewares such as small and large appliances, furniture, utensils, tools; textiles such as clothing and linen.
Any of the above items which are not properly cleaned, prepared or stored such that they pose the threat of health, environmental or nuisance problems shall remain the responsibility and property of the individuals or household from which the materials originated.
Roomer: An occupant of a rooming house or lodging establishment who is not a member of the family of the operator of that rooming house, and shall also mean an occupant of a dwelling unit who is not a member of the family occupying the dwelling unit. This shall not be construed as to include temporary nonpaying guests of the operator.
Rooming house: An establishment validly licensed as a lodging establishment and shall not include a single room occupancy housing unit.
Rooming unit: Any room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit used or intended to be used for living and sleeping, but not for cooking of meals.
Rubbish: Combustible or noncombustible waste materials, including garbage; and the term shall include, but shall not be limited to, such material as ashes, paper, rags, cartons, boxes, wood, excelsior, rubber, leather, tree branches, yard trimmings, tin cans, scrap metal, mineral matter, glass, crockery and dust. Rubbish shall not include human excreta, sewage or motor lubricating oils.
Sanitary: The condition of being completely free from infective, physically hurtful, diseased, poisonous, unwholesome, or otherwise unhealthful substances or influence and being completely free from rodents or arthropods, from the traces of either, and from an environment conducive to the growth of either.
Shared bath dwelling: A dwelling unit which does not contain a water closet and a hand lavatory and a bathtub or shower for the exclusive use of the occupants of the unit.
Short-term rental dwelling unit: A dwelling unit rented for a period of less than thirty (30) consecutive days, for tourist or transient use.
Single room occupancy housing unit: Any housing unit, operated by a non-profit organization, government agency, or healthcare agency, intended or designed to be used for sleeping purposes by residents which serves as their primary residence. Occupancy by no more than two (2) people of a single room, or of two (2) or more rooms which are joined together, separated from all other rooms within an apartment in a structure, so that the occupant or occupants thereof reside separately and independently of the other occupant or occupants of the same apartment. The unit may have a bathroom in addition to the occupied room. Single room occupancy housing units may, notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Code, share a kitchen with one (1) or more other single room occupancy unit(s) in the same building and may also share a bathroom.
Single-family dwelling structure: A detached building occupied as a dwelling by one (1) family alone.
Sleeping room: Any room in a lodging establishment which is used, intended to be used, or offered or held out for use, as a place where roomers sleep.
Story: That portion of a building included between the upper surface of any floor and the upper surface of the floor next above, except that the topmost story shall be that portion of a building included between the upper surface of the topmost floor and the ceiling or roof above. If the finished floor level directly above a basement, cellar or unused underfloor space is more than six (6) feet above grade, as defined herein, for more than fifty (50) percent of the total perimeter, or is more than twelve (12) feet above grade, as defined herein, at any point, such basement, cellar or unused underfloor space shall be considered a story.
Story, first: The lowest story in a building which qualifies as a story, as defined herein, except that a floor level in a building having only one (1) floor level shall be classified as a first story, provided such floor level is not more than four (4) feet below grade, as defined herein, for more than fifty (50) percent of the total perimeter, or more than eight (8) feet below grade, as defined herein, at any point.
Superficial floor area: Clear floor space, exclusive of fixed or built-in cabinets or appliances.
Supplied: Furnished, provided by, or under the control of, the owner, operator or agent.
Temporary housing: Any tent, trailer or other structure used for human shelter which is designed to be transportable and which is not permanently attached to the ground or to another structure.
Two-family dwelling: Any dwelling containing only two (2) dwelling units.
Water closet: A toilet, with a bowl and trap made in one (1) piece, which is connected to the city water and sewer system or other approved water supply and sewer system.
Wood-frame construction: As applied to dwelling shall mean that type of construction in which the load bearing portions of the exterior walls or a portion thereof are of wood. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 66.040; Ord. of 2-22-74, § 1; Ord. of 9-12-74, § 1; 78-Or-244, § 1, 11-22-78; 79-Or-160, § 1, 8-9-79; 82-Or-094, § 1, 5-28-82; 82-Or-106, § 1, 6-11-82; 83-Or-097, § 1, 4-29-83; Pet. No. 252271, § 6, 5-11-90; 91-Or-240, § 1, 12-6-91; 2003-Or-110, § 1, 8-22-03; 2006-Or-073, § 1, 6-30-06; 2011-Or-108, § 1, 11-18-11; 2013-Or-161, § 1, 12-6-13; Ord. No. 2017-054, § 1, 10-20-17; Ord. No. 2021-016, § 1, 4-16-21; Ord. No. 2021-034, § 1, 7-23-21; Ord. No. 2025-010, § 2, 3-27-25, eff. 3-1-26)
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.50 Meaning of certain words.
244.50. - Meaning of certain words.
(a) Whenever the words "dwelling," "dwelling units," "shared bath dwelling," "shared bath units," "rooming house," "rooming unit," "lodging establishment," "sleeping room," "hotel," "hotel units" or "premises" are used, they shall be construed as though they were followed by the words "or any part thereof."
(b) Whenever the words "professional state of maintenance and repair" are used they shall mean that such maintenance and repair shall be made in a reasonably skillful manner.
(c) Whenever the words "properly installed," "properly maintained," "properly connected" or "properly constructed" are used they shall mean in conformance with such ordinances of the city applicable now or at the time of such installation which governed such installations, maintenance connections or construction. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 66.050; 81-Or-106, § 2, 6-11-82; Pet. No. 252271, § 7, 5-11-90; 2006-Or-073, § 2, 6-30-06)
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.60 Temporary housing prohibited; exception.
244.60. - Temporary housing prohibited; exception.
(a) Unless otherwise provided in this section, no camp car, house trailer, automobile, tent or other temporary structure may be parked or placed upon any public street or on any public or private premises or street in the city and used as a shelter or enclosure of persons and their effects for the purpose of living therein.
(b) The director of regulatory services may issue a permit to allow for temporary housing when a specified emergency creates the need to allow for such housing. A permit may be issued only when the emergency creating the need is an act of nature, a technological failure or malfunction, a terrorist incident, a public health emergency, an industrial accident, a hazardous material accident, or destruction caused by a civil disturbance.
(c) When the director of regulatory services issues a permit to allow for temporary housing, the director shall provide that the permit will expire after a specific period of time, not to exceed six (6) months. The director shall attempt to set the expiration date to coincide with the elimination of the need for temporary housing. The director may grant one (1) six-month extension of this permit.
(d) The director of regulatory services may set conditions on the use of the permit to mitigate the negative impacts of the permit. These conditions may include compliance with applicable statutes, ordinances and/or rules, including but not limited to the Minneapolis Fire Code, Minneapolis Health Code, Minneapolis Building Code, Minneapolis Housing Maintenance Code, and the Minneapolis Zoning Code. In addition, the director may impose any additional appropriate conditions to the use of the temporary housing permit.
(e) The director of regulatory services may revoke the permit if the need for such temporary housing ends, or if the permit holder fails to comply with the conditions set by the director as to the use of the temporary housing permit. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 66.060; 2005-Or-145, § 1, 12-23-05; 2013-Or-161, § 2, 12-6-13 Ord. No. 2024-034, § 1, 9-19-24; Ord. No. 2026-009, § 1, 4-23-26)
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.70 Continuing violations.
244.70. - Continuing violations.
Each day's continuance of any violation of the housing maintenance code after due notice has been served in accordance with the terms and provisions of section 244.150 shall be deemed a separate offense. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 66.070)
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.80 Enforcement by suit.
244.80. - Enforcement by suit.
(a) In addition to the punishments provided in this Code of Ordinances, the city through the officer charged with the enforcement of the various provisions of the housing maintenance code, or any person with standing to sue may seek enforcement thereof in any court of competent jurisdiction by any appropriate form of civil action and may seek enjoinment of any continued violation thereof and seek to compel obedience thereto by mandatory orders and writs.
(b) No tenancy of a dwelling, dwelling unit, two-family dwelling or multiple dwelling covered by the housing maintenance code may be terminated because of the commencement of an action pursuant to this section or because of the report to the proper code enforcement authorities of a condition believed to be in violation of the housing maintenance code. In any action brought for the restitution of premises covered by the housing maintenance code, the lessee may show that notice of termination was received subsequent to the making of a violation report to the proper enforcement authorities or subsequent to the commencement of an action pursuant to this section. Such evidence shall be prima facie proof that the tenancy was terminated in violation of this section. The lessor may rebut the presumption of illegal termination through proof that the termination was for other good cause, including nonpayment of rent, or by showing that in fact no report of a violation was made or an action commenced, prior to notice to terminate being given. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 66.080)
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.90 Powers declared additional.
244.90. - Powers declared additional.
The powers conferred on the director of regulatory services shall be in addition to the power already conferred upon said director of regulatory services and shall not be construed as in any way limiting these powers. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 66.090; Pet. No. 252271, § 8, 5-11-90; 2013-Or-161, § 3, 12-6-13)
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_ARTIGEFetched: 11/2/2026