Chapter 504B — Landlord and Tenant

15.001 Application of Laws 2005, Chapter 56, Terminology Changes State agencies must use updated terminology from a 2005 law when they replace printed materials and signs, but they do … 504B.0001 This is a placeholder entry that cross-references section 15.001 regarding terminology changes. It does not contain any … 504B.001 Definitions This section defines the key legal terms used throughout Minnesota's landlord-tenant law (Chapter 504B). It covers what … 504B.101 Distress for Rent This law abolishes the old common-law remedy of 'distress for rent,' which allowed landlords to seize a tenant's … 504B.111 Written Lease Required; Penalty Landlords of residential buildings with 12 or more units must provide each tenant with a written lease that identifies … 504B.113 Service and Support Animal Documentation Landlords may ask tenants for documentation from a licensed professional to support a request for a service or support … 504B.114 Pet Declawing and Devocalization Prohibited Landlords who allow pets cannot require tenants to declaw or devocalize (remove the voice box of) their animals, and … 504B.115 Tenant to Be Given Copy of Lease When there is a written lease, the landlord must give the tenant a copy. If the landlord fails to provide a copy, the … 504B.116 Prorated Rent Required If your lease ends before the last day of the month, you only have to pay rent for the days you are allowed to live … 504B.117 Individual Taxpayer Identification Number Rental applications must give prospective tenants the option to provide either a Social Security number or an Individual … 504B.118 Receipt for Rent Paid in Cash When a tenant pays rent in cash, the landlord must provide a written receipt. If the payment is made in person, the … 504B.120 Prohibited Fees Landlords must list all required fees in the lease and show the total monthly payment (rent plus all mandatory fees) on … 504B.121 Tenant May Not Deny Title; Exception A tenant who is renting property under a valid lease generally cannot challenge the landlord's ownership of the property … 504B.125 Person in Possession Liable for Rent; Evidence Anyone who is living on rented property is responsible for paying rent for the portion they occupy, even if they only … 504B.131 Rent Liability; Uninhabitable Buildings If a rental building is destroyed or becomes unlivable through no fault of the tenant, the tenant may move out and stop … 504B.135 Terminating Tenancy at Will Either a landlord or a tenant can end a month-to-month or at-will tenancy by giving written notice. The notice period … 504B.141 Urban Real Estate; Holding Over If a tenant stays in a city rental after the lease ends without the landlord's agreement, the new tenancy period is only … 504B.144 Early Renewal of Lease Landlords cannot force tenants to renew a lease more than six months before the current lease ends, as long as the lease … 504B.145 Restriction on Automatic Renewals of Leases If a residential lease has an automatic renewal clause that would extend the lease for two months or more, the landlord … 504B.146 Lease Duration Notice A written residential lease must clearly show the start date and end date on its first page. If the tenant moves in or … 504B.147 Time Period for Notice to Quit or Rent Increase If a lease gives the landlord a longer notice period for rent increases or ending the lease than the tenant gets, the … 504B.151 Restriction on Residential Lease Terms for Buildings in Financial Distress; Required Notice of Pending Foreclosure When a rental building is in foreclosure or the landlord is losing the property, the landlord can only offer short-term … 504B.153 New Construction Delays; Tenant Remedies When a new construction rental is not ready by the move-in date, the landlord must notify the tenant within seven days … 504B.154 Tenant Abandonment of Dwelling When a tenant abandons a rental during the lease, the landlord must make reasonable efforts to re-rent it at a fair … 504B.155 Tenant Must Give Cold Weather Notice Before Vacation of Building Between November 15 and April 15, a tenant who plans to leave a building with plumbing or water pipes must give the … 504B.161 Covenants of Landlord or Licensor Landlords must keep rental housing safe, in good repair, and up to code. This includes providing heat (at least 68 … 504B.165 Unlawful Destruction; Damages Either a landlord or tenant can sue for willful and malicious damage to a rented home and recover the actual cost of … 504B.171 Covenant of Landlord and Tenant Not to Allow Unlawful Activities Every residential lease in Minnesota, whether written or oral, automatically includes a covenant that neither the … 504B.1715 Covenants; Sober Homes Sober living homes for people recovering from substance use disorders are allowed to ban cannabis products, hemp … 504B.172 Recovery of Attorney Fees If a residential lease says the landlord can recover attorney fees in a dispute, then the tenant has the same right to … 504B.173 Applicant Screening Fee This law limits what landlords can do with rental application screening fees. A landlord cannot charge a fee if no unit … 504B.175 Prelease Deposit A prelease deposit is money a prospective tenant gives a landlord before signing a lease to hold a unit. The landlord … 504B.177 Late Fees A landlord can only charge a late fee on rent if the tenant agreed to it in writing, and the fee cannot be more than 8 … 504B.178 Interest on Security Deposits; Withholding Security Deposits; Damages; Limit on Withholding Last Month's Rent Landlords must return a tenant's security deposit within three weeks (21 days) after the tenant moves out, or provide a … 504B.181 Landlord or Agent Disclosure This law requires landlords to tell tenants who manages the property and who to contact for legal notices. The landlord … 504B.182 Initial and Final Inspection Required Tenants have the right to request both a move-in inspection and a move-out inspection of their rental unit. The landlord … 504B.185 Inspection; Notice A residential tenant or a housing-related neighborhood organization (with the tenant's written permission) can request a … 504B.195 Disclosure Required for Outstanding Inspection and Condemnation Orders Landlords must give tenants and prospective tenants copies of any health or safety code violation orders or condemnation … 504B.204 Action for Rental of Condemned Residential Premises A landlord cannot collect rent or a security deposit for a property that has been condemned, declared unfit to live in, … 504B.205 Residential Tenant's Right to Seek Police and Emergency Assistance A landlord cannot punish a tenant or limit their right to call 911 or other emergency services, including for domestic … 504B.206 Right of Victims of Violence to Terminate Lease This law lets tenants break their lease without penalty if they or someone living with them is a victim of domestic … 504B.211 Residential Tenant's Right to Privacy Tenants have a right to privacy in their rental home. A landlord may only enter the rented premises for a reasonable … 504B.212 Tenant Right to Organize; Tenant Associations Residential tenants have the right to form and run tenant associations to address living conditions and housing issues. … 504B.215 This section number was created by a 2024 law but the text has been codified elsewhere. It serves as a placeholder … 504B.216 Utility Service in Shared-metered Residential Buildings In apartment buildings with shared utility meters, the landlord must be the customer on record with the utility company … 504B.221 Unlawful Termination of Utilities This law protects tenants from having their utilities shut off by a landlord. If a landlord cuts off electricity, heat, … 504B.225 Intentional Ouster and Interruption of Utilities; Misdemeanor It is a crime (misdemeanor) for a landlord to illegally lock out a tenant or shut off utilities like electricity, heat, … 504B.231 Damages for Ouster If a landlord illegally locks out, removes, or forcibly keeps a tenant out of their home, the tenant can sue for three … 504B.235 Definitions This section defines key terms used in Minnesota's tenant screening laws, including what counts as a tenant screening … 504B.241 Residential Tenant Reports; Disclosure and Corrections Tenant screening companies must let you see the information in your file and correct any errors. If a screening report … 504B.245 Tenant Report; Remedies Anyone harmed by a violation of the tenant screening rules can sue the landlord or screening company for $1,000 or … 504B.251 Recording of Notice of Cancellation of Leases When a lease has been officially recorded with the county, the landlord can also record a notice of lease cancellation … 504B.255 Termination Notice Requirement for Federally Subsidized Housing Landlords of federally subsidized housing (like Section 8 properties) must give tenants one year of written notice … 504B.261 Pets in Subsidized Disability Accessible Rental Housing Units Tenants in subsidized, disability-accessible apartment units must be allowed to keep two birds, one spayed or neutered … 504B.265 Termination of Lease Upon Death of Tenant When a tenant dies, either the landlord or the tenant's estate representative can end the lease with at least two … 504B.266 Termination of Lease Upon Infirmity of Tenant A tenant (or their guardian or power of attorney) can end a lease early with two months' written notice if a medical … 504B.268 Right to Counsel in Public Housing; Breach of Lease Eviction Actions Tenants in public housing who face eviction for a lease violation have the right to a free court-appointed lawyer if … 504B.271 Tenant's Personal Property Remaining in Premises When a tenant abandons a rental unit or is evicted, this law governs what happens to the tenant's personal property left … 504B.275 Attorney General's Statement; Distribution The Minnesota Attorney General must create and regularly update a plain-language summary of the key rights and duties of … 504B.281 Forcible Entry and Unlawful Detainer Prohibited No one may take possession of property by force. If someone has the legal right to occupy property, they may only enter … 504B.285 Eviction Actions; Grounds; Retaliation Defense; Combined Allegations This section lists when a landlord can file an eviction case in court and what defenses a tenant can raise. A landlord … 504B.291 Eviction Action for Nonpayment; Redemption; Other Rights This is the main law governing eviction for nonpayment of rent in Minnesota. A landlord can file an eviction action when … 504B.301 Eviction Action for Unlawful Detention A person who unlawfully takes possession of property or refuses to leave after their right to be there has ended can be … 504B.305 This section number was created by a 2023 law but the text has been codified elsewhere. It serves as a placeholder … 504B.311 No Eviction Action if Tenant Holds Over for Three Years A landlord cannot file an eviction against a tenant if the lease ended more than three years ago and the tenant (or … 504B.315 Restrictions on Eviction Due to Familial Status A tenant cannot be evicted just because their family situation changed during the tenancy (such as having a baby), … 504B.321 Complaint and Summons This is the main law governing how eviction cases are filed and started in Minnesota. A landlord must file a complaint … 504B.325 Expedited Relief A landlord can ask the court for fast emergency relief, such as a restraining order, alongside filing an eviction … 504B.331 This section governs writs of recovery, which are court orders that allow a landlord to have a tenant physically removed … 504B.332 Summons and Complaint; How Served Eviction papers must be served on the tenant at least seven days before the court date, either in person or by mail and … 504B.335 Answer; Trial This law governs the hearing and trial process in Minnesota eviction cases. The tenant can answer the complaint at the … 504B.341 This section number was created by a 2023 law but the text has been codified elsewhere. It serves as a placeholder … 504B.345 Judgment; Execution This law governs what happens after a judge or jury decides an eviction case. If the landlord wins, the court orders the … 504B.351 Failure of Jury to Reach a Verdict If the jury in an eviction trial cannot agree on a verdict, the court can dismiss the jury and order a new one to be … 504B.355 Form of Verdict When a landlord wins an eviction case, the court must use a specific standard form for the verdict that states the facts … 504B.361 Forms of Summons and Writ The state court administrator must create uniform forms for eviction summons and writs of recovery. These forms must … 504B.365 Execution of the Writ of Recovery of Premises and Order to Vacate This law explains how a writ of recovery (the court order removing a tenant after a lost eviction case) is actually … 504B.371 Appeals After losing an eviction case, a tenant has the right to appeal the decision within 15 days. If the tenant tells the … 504B.375 Unlawful Exclusion or Removal; Action for Recovery of Possession If a landlord illegally locks out a tenant, shuts off utilities, or removes doors or windows, the tenant can go to court … 504B.381 Emergency Tenant Remedies Action Tenants can ask the court for emergency help when essential services fail, such as loss of running water, heat, … 504B.385 Rent Escrow Action to Remedy Violations Tenants can deposit their rent with the court instead of paying the landlord when there are housing code violations or … 504B.391 Violations of Building Repair Orders A landlord who deliberately ignores a court order to fix building violations faces fines starting at $250 for the first … 504B.395 Procedure Tenants, neighborhood housing organizations (with a tenant's permission), and government agencies can bring a court … 504B.401 Summons After a tenant or organization files a complaint about building violations, the court must schedule a hearing within 7 … 504B.411 Answer In a building violation case, the landlord can file a written answer before the hearing or present defenses orally at … 504B.415 Defenses A landlord defending against a tenant's building violation complaint can argue that the violations do not exist or have … 504B.421 Hearing Building violation cases are decided by a judge without a jury. The court can delay the trial by up to ten days if a … 504B.425 Judgment When a court finds building violations exist, it can order the landlord to make repairs, let the tenant fix problems and … 504B.431 Service of Judgment A copy of the court's judgment in a building violation case must be personally delivered to every tenant and business in … 504B.435 Landlord's Right to Collect Rent Suspended When a court appoints an administrator to manage a building because of violations, the landlord loses the right to … 504B.441 Residential Tenant May Not Be Penalized for Complaint A landlord cannot evict a tenant, raise rent, or cut services as punishment for filing a building violation complaint. … 504B.445 Administrator A court-appointed building administrator can collect rent, evict tenants for nonpayment, hire contractors to make … 504B.451 Receivership Revolving Loan Fund The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency can set up a loan fund to cover the costs of court-appointed building … 504B.455 Removal of Administrator A court-appointed building administrator can ask the court to be relieved of their duties, and any party in the case can … 504B.461 Termination of Administration A building administration ends when a government agency certifies that all the violations have been fixed, or when the … 504B.465 Waiver Not Allowed Any lease term that tries to waive a tenant's rights under the emergency tenant remedies and building violation repair … 504B.471 Purpose to Provide Additional Remedies The emergency tenant remedies and building violation repair laws give tenants extra tools to get problems fixed, but … 504B.501 Attorney General Enforcement The Minnesota Attorney General has the power to investigate and take legal action against anyone who violates the …