Bemidji, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 10, art. II § 10-53
Inspection access
Operative Text
(a) All premises registered pursuant to this article will be made available for inspection by the city. The city building department will provide reasonable advance notice at a minimum of five business days to the owner and/or manager. If denied access while attempting to inspect, the city building department may suspend or revoke the license or rental certificate of occupancy upon written notice to the occupant, owner and manager, and subject to the right of appeal as provided in section 10-60 . The suspension or revocation will remain in effect until inspection has been permitted and any violations found are corrected. (b) It is the owner and/or manager's responsibility to notify tenants of the inspection as required by Minnesota law, in advance of the inspection.
Under Bemidji Code of Ordinances ch. 10, art. II § 10-53, all registered rental premises must be made available for city inspection, with the city building department required to give at least five business days' advance notice to the owner and/or manager. If access is denied, the city may suspend or revoke the property's license or rental certificate of occupancy after providing written notice, and that suspension or revocation stays in place until the inspection is completed and any identified violations are corrected. Owners and managers are also responsible for notifying tenants of the upcoming inspection in accordance with Minnesota law.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 10-53, compliant rental operators ensure that registered properties are accessible when the city building department schedules an inspection, and they keep contact information current so the required five-business-day advance notice can be received. Upon receiving notice, operators promptly inform tenants of the scheduled inspection as required by Minnesota law, since that notification duty rests with the owner and/or manager. Operators who deny access risk suspension or revocation of their rental license or certificate of occupancy, which remains in effect until the inspection occurs and any violations are resolved.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 10-53 entitles tenants to advance notice of a city inspection, because the law places the responsibility for that notification on the property owner and/or manager under Minnesota law. If a tenant believes proper notice was not given or that the inspection process was mishandled, they may raise that concern with the Bemidji city building department or consult a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options. Tenants should also be aware that if an owner denies the city access to inspect, the property's rental license or certificate of occupancy can be suspended or revoked, which may affect the legal status of the rental unit.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.