Byron, Minn., Mun. Code Ch. 114 (2026) § 114.15
PROSPECTIVE TENANT BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS
Operative Text
It is the declared purpose and intent of this section to protect and reserve this city’s neighborhoods and the public health, safety, welfare and morals of it’s citizens by recommending that all landlords conduct a criminal history/background investigation of prospective tenants. If a violation occurs as stated under § 114.13 and the licensee can not prove a background check was completed on the renter, the city may suspend or revoke the license. (Ord. 114, passed 6-25-08)
Byron Ch. 114 Crime Free Rental Housing § 114.15 expresses the city's stated purpose of protecting neighborhood health, safety, welfare, and morals by recommending that landlords conduct criminal history and background investigations on prospective tenants. While the background check itself is framed as a recommendation rather than a strict mandate, the provision creates a practical consequence: if a violation under § 114.13 occurs and the landlord cannot demonstrate that a background check was completed, the city may suspend or revoke the rental license. The provision thus links the recommendation to a potential licensing penalty in cases where a violation is already at issue.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Byron Ch. 114 § 114.15, compliant rental operators in Byron generally maintain documentation showing that a criminal history and background investigation was conducted for prospective tenants. Because the provision ties the absence of such records to a potential license suspension or revocation when a § 114.13 violation arises, operators typically retain background check records as part of their standard leasing files. Keeping organized, consistent documentation of screening practices is a common approach among operators seeking to demonstrate compliance if a licensing question is ever raised.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Byron Ch. 114 § 114.15 governs how landlords are expected to conduct and document background investigations of prospective tenants, and it primarily creates obligations and risks for the landlord's rental license rather than directly regulating tenant rights. Prospective tenants who believe a background check was conducted improperly or used in a discriminatory manner may have rights under separate fair housing laws at the state or federal level. Tenant-rights organizations and local housing authorities can be useful starting points for understanding how screening practices intersect with those broader protections.
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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