Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 14 § 14.530
CORRECTION OF IMMEDIATE HAZARDS (Bloomington Time-of-Sale Housing Evaluations and Manufactured Home Park Regulations)
Operative Text
(a) The following items, when discovered by the evaluator, shall be identified as immediate hazards in the evaluation report : (1) Heating systems that are unsafe due to burned out or rusted heat exchangers; burned out, rusted or plugged flues; no vent; connection with unsafe gas supplies; or incapacity to adequately heat the living space; (2) Water heaters that are unsafe due to burned out or rusted heat exchangers; burned out, rusted or plugged flues; no vent; connection with unsafe gas supplies; or lack of temperature and pressure relief valves; (3) Electrical systems that are unsafe due to dangerous overloading; damaged or deteriorated equipment; improperly tapped or spliced wiring; exposed uninsulated wires; temporary distribution systems; or ungrounded systems; (4) Plumbing systems that are unsanitary due to leaking waste systems, fixtures or traps; lack of an operating toilet; lack of washing and bathing facilities; cross connection of municipal water supply with fixtures or sewage lines; or the lack of water; (5) Structural systems, including walls, chimneys, ceilings, roofs, foundations, floor systems or decks which are not capable of carrying imposed loads; (6) Exterior roofs, walls, chimneys and foundations that are not weather-tight and water-tight to the extent that it creates an immediate hazard ; (7) Abandoned fuel tanks; (8) Refuse, garbage, human waste, decaying vermin or other dead animals, animal waste, vermin infestation or other materials rendering residential building and structures unsanitary for human occupancy; and (9) Lack of properly located operational smoke detectors. (b) No occupancy shall be permitted of any dwelling unit if vacant and an immediate hazard exists. If the dwelling unit is occupied and an immediate hazard exists, corrective action shall be taken by the owner or agent of the owner. (c) When correcting identified hazards, the owner shall obtain all necessary permits from the city and the premises shall be subject to city inspection prior to occupancy of the dwelling . (d) If, due to hardship , the owner cannot undertake corrective action, the buyer may elect to correct immediate hazards identified in the evaluator’s report. A buyer intending to correct immediate hazards must have written consent from the issuing authority . Such written consent may be subject to terms and conditions including: (1) A signed agreement from the buyer accepting responsibility for correction of the hazardous items; (2) Reasonable completion dates; (3) Evidence of financial ability to perform the corrections; and (4) When the buyer may occupy the dwelling . (e) If the owner is a government agency or if an agreement exists between the owner and buyer that the buyer will correct immediate hazards as part of a remodeling project, the buyer may correct immediate hazards identified in the evaluator’s report. A buyer intending to correct immediate hazards must have written consent from the issuing authority . Such written consent may be subject to the terms and conditions including: (1) A signed agreement from the buyer accepting responsibility for correction of the hazardous items; (2) Reasonable completion dates; (3) Evidence of financial ability to perform the corrections; and (4) When the buyer may occupy the dwelling . (Recodified by Ord. 95-13, passed 8-7-1995)
Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 14.530 establishes a specific list of conditions — such as unsafe heating systems, faulty electrical wiring, structural failures, vermin infestations, and missing smoke detectors — that must be flagged as "immediate hazards" in a property evaluation report. A vacant dwelling unit with any such hazard cannot be occupied until the hazard is corrected, while an occupied unit with a hazard requires the owner or their agent to take corrective action. In certain circumstances, such as owner hardship or a government-agency sale, a buyer may assume responsibility for corrections with written consent from the issuing authority and under agreed-upon terms.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 14.530, property owners and their agents are responsible for correcting any immediate hazards identified in an evaluation report before a vacant unit may be reoccupied, and must act promptly when hazards are found in an occupied unit. Compliant operators typically obtain all required city permits before beginning corrective work and arrange for city inspection of the premises prior to allowing occupancy. When a sale is involved and the owner cannot address hazards due to hardship, or when the owner is a government agency, the owner should be aware that written consent from the issuing authority is required before a buyer may take on correction responsibilities under § 14.530(d) and (e).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 14.530 of Bloomington's Code of Ordinances gives tenants a basis to expect that immediate hazards — including unsafe heating, plumbing failures, structural deficiencies, and missing smoke detectors — are addressed by the property owner, and that no vacant unit with such hazards may be offered for occupancy. Tenants who believe an immediate hazard exists in their dwelling may consider documenting the condition and contacting the City of Bloomington's relevant inspection or housing department to request an evaluation. Tenant-rights organizations in Minnesota can also help residents understand how § 14.530 interacts with other state and local housing protections and what options may be available when a landlord fails to act.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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