Andover, Minn., City Code title 9 ch. 8 art. A (2026) § 9-8A-3
: RESPONSIBILITIES OF OWNERS AND OCCUPANTS: No owner or
Operative Text
9-8A-3: RESPONSIBILITIES OF OWNERS AND OCCUPANTS: No owner or
other person shall occupy or let to another person any dwelling, dwelling unit,
rooming unit, building, or structure unless it and the premises are fit for human
occupancy and comply with all appropriate legal requirements of the State of
Minnesota, and the City of Andover as set forth specifically in the following
subsections:
A. Maintenance of Shared or Public Areas: Every owner of a dwelling
containing two (2) or more dwelling units shall maintain or shall provide
for maintenance of the shared public areas of the dwelling and
premises thereof.
B. Housekeeping of Occupied Areas: Every occupant of a dwelling,
dwelling unit, or rooming unit shall properly housekeep that part of the
dwelling, dwelling unit, and premises thereof that he/she occupies and
controls.
C. Storage and Disposal of Refuse:
1. Every occupant of a dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit,
building or structure shall store and dispose of all his/her refuse
and garbage and any other organic waste which might provide
food for insects, rodents and/or vermin as required by Title 4 of
this Code.
2. Every owner of a multiple-family dwelling shall supply facilities
for the storage and/or disposal of refuse and garbage. In the
case of single- or two-family dwellings, it shall be the
responsibility of the occupant to furnish such facilities as
prescribed by City ordinance.
D. Responsibility for Storage and Disposal of Garbage and Refuse: Every
owner of a multiple-family dwelling shall supply facilities for the storage
and/or disposal of refuse, garbage, and recycling materials. All
garbage, waste material, debris, and recyclables shall be kept in an
enclosed building or contained in a closed container designed for such
purposes.
Owners shall provide for refuse enclosures to screen all containers that
are visible from a public street or alley. Such enclosure shall have a
concrete floor base. Gates may not be required if properly oriented on
the site. The design of such enclosures shall be reviewed and
approved by City staff prior to issuing a building permit.
Provisions for storage and disposal of garbage and refuse consistent
with this chapter must be provided for multifamily buildings upon
obtaining a building permit costing more than $5,000.00. In the case of
single-family dwellings, it shall be the responsibility of the occupant to
adequately provide for the storage and disposal of garbage and refuse.
E. Responsibility for the Storm and Screen Doors and Windows: The
owner of any dwelling unit shall be responsible for providing, maintain
and hanging all screen and storm doors and storm windows whenever
the same are required under the provisions of this ordinance.
F. Responsibility for Pest Extermination: Every occupant of a single-
family dwelling unit shall be responsible for the extermination of vermin
infestations and/or rodents on the premises. Every occupant of a
dwelling unit in a building containing more than one dwelling unit shall
be responsible for such extermination whenever his/her dwelling unit is
the only one infested, except when infestation is caused by the failure
of the owner to maintain a dwelling in a reasonably rodent-proof
condition; then, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner.
When infestation exists in two or more of the dwelling units in any
building or in the shared or public parts of any dwelling containing two
or more dwelling units, extermination shall be the responsibility of the
owner.
G. Rodent Harborage Prohibited in Occupied Areas: No occupant of a
dwelling shall accumulate boxes, firewood, lumber, scrap metal, or any
other similar materials in such a manner that may provide rodent
harborage in or about any dwelling. Outside stored materials shall be
stacked neatly in piles at least four inches off bare soil or ground.
H. Rodent Harborage Prohibited in Public Areas: No owner or occupant of
a dwelling shall accumulate or permit the accumulation of boxes,
lumber, scrap metal, or any other similar materials in such a manner
that may provide rodent harborage in or about shared or public areas
of a dwelling or premises. Materials stored outside by the owner or
permitted to be stored by the owner shall be stacked neatly in piles at
least four inches above bare soil or ground.
I. Prevention of Food for Rodents: No owner or occupant of a dwelling
unit shall store, place, or allow to accumulate any materials that may
serve as food for rodents in a site accessible to rodents.
J. Maintenance of Plumbing Fixtures and Facilities: The owner of a
dwelling unit, rooming unit, building or structure shall maintain all
supplied plumbing fixtures and facilities therein in good working order.
K. Minimum Heating Capability and Maintenance: In every dwelling unit or
rooming unit when the control of the supplied heat is the responsibility
of a person other than the occupant, a room temperature of at least 68
degrees Fahrenheit shall be maintained from October 15th through
April 15th.
L. Removal of Snow and Ice: The owner of any building or structure shall
be responsible for the removal of snow and ice from parking lots,
driveways, steps, and walkways on the premises, as well as from
abutting sidewalks. The owner of any building or structure shall
additionally be responsible for ice control measures. Individual
snowfalls of three inches or more or successive snowfall
accumulations to a depth of three inches shall be removed from
walkways, steps and public sidewalks within 48 hours after cessation
of the snowfall. The City’s policy to assist in snow removal does not
exempt any property owner from meeting these requirements.
M. Minimum Exterior Lighting. The owner of a rental dwelling or dwellings
shall be responsible to provide and maintain effective illumination in all
exterior parking areas and walkways.
N. Maintenance of Driveway and Parking Areas. The owner of a multiple-
family dwelling or dwellings shall be responsible to provide and
maintain in good condition paved and delineated parking areas and
driveways for tenants. Each driveway and parking area on any
multiple-family property existing on or before October 21, 1970 shall be
paved with asphalt, concrete, brick, or similar dust-free surface at such
time as a building permit may be taken for either remodeling or
improvements costing more than $5,000.00.Andover City Code § 9-8A-3 establishes a comprehensive set of property maintenance responsibilities divided between owners and occupants of dwellings, dwelling units, rooming units, and other structures. Under this provision, no one may occupy or rent out a dwelling unless it meets state and local habitability requirements. Duties are allocated based on the type of dwelling and the nature of the space: owners of multi-unit buildings generally bear responsibility for shared areas, refuse facilities, pest control in common spaces, heating, snow removal, exterior lighting, and parking maintenance, while individual occupants are generally responsible for housekeeping, refuse disposal, and pest control within their own units.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Owners and managers of rental properties in Andover should be familiar with the full scope of § 9-8A-3, which assigns them direct responsibility for a wide range of conditions. In multi-family buildings, compliant operators typically maintain shared and public areas, supply enclosed refuse and recycling facilities (with screened enclosures visible from public streets), ensure heat of at least 68°F is available from October 15 through April 15 when tenants do not control the heat source, clear snow and ice from walkways and abutting sidewalks within 48 hours of a qualifying snowfall, and keep exterior parking areas lit and in good paved condition. Owners of multi-family properties undertaking permitted work costing more than $5,000 should also be aware that § 9-8A-3 triggers requirements for refuse enclosures and paved parking areas at that threshold.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 9-8A-3, tenants have a right to occupy a dwelling that meets Andover's habitability and maintenance standards, and owners of multi-unit buildings bear responsibility for shared areas, common-area pest control, adequate heat, and other conditions beyond the tenant's individual unit. Tenants are generally responsible under this provision for keeping their own unit clean, properly storing and disposing of refuse, and managing pest control within their unit unless the infestation extends to multiple units or results from the owner's failure to maintain a rodent-proof structure. Tenants who believe an owner is not meeting the obligations set out in § 9-8A-3 may consider contacting the City of Andover's code enforcement office or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand available complaint and enforcement options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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