Chaska, Minn., Mun. Code ch. 11.16 (2026) § 11.16.030

For the purpose of this Code, certain abbreviations, terms, phrases, words and their derivatives shall be construed as specified. Words used in the singular include the plural and the singular. Words used in the masculine gender include the feminine and the masculine. Terms, words, phrases and their derivatives used but not specifically defined in this Code shall have the meaning defined in Chapter 4 of the Uniform Building Code. 

Accessory building or structure: Accessory building or structure shall mean a detached building or structure in a secondary or subordinate capacity from the main or principal building or structure on the same premises. 

Apartment house: Apartment house is any building, or portion thereof, which is designed, built, rented, leased, let or hired out to be occupied, or which is occupied as the home or residence of two (2) or more families living independently of each other performing their own cooking services in the apartment house. Said definition includes the rented portion of an owner/occupied duplex. 

Basement: Any floor level below the first story in a building, except that a floor level in a building having only one floor level shall be classified as a basement unless such floor level qualifies as a first story. 

Board of Appeals: Board of Appeals, when used herein, shall mean the Board of Appeals and Adjustments of the City of Chaska. 

Boarding house: A dwelling unit where lodging with or without meals is provided for compensation and occupied by three (3) or more persons, but not to exceed eight (8) persons. 

Building: Any structure having a roof supported by columns or walls. When divided by party walls without openings, each portion of such building so separated shall be deemed a separate building. 

Building official: The Building Official shall be defined as the person or persons designated as Building Official by the City Administrator. 

Bulk container: Bulk container shall mean any metal garbage, rubbish and/or refuse container having a capacity of two (2) cubic yards or greater and which is equipped with fittings for hydraulic and/or mechanical emptying, unloading and/or removal. 

Clean: The absence of rubbish, garbage, vermin or other unsightly, offensive or extraneous matter. 

Dormitory: Dormitory shall mean a building or group of rooms in a building used for institutional living and sleeping purposes by four (4) or more persons. 

Dwelling: Dwelling shall mean any space wholly or partially used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking, and eating: provided that temporary housing as hereinafter defined shall not be classified as a dwelling. Industrialized housing and modular construction which conform to nationally accepted industry standards and used or intended for use for living, sleeping, cooking and eating purposes shall be classified as dwellings. Single-family, two-family and multiple family dwellings are as follows: 
Dwelling, single-family. A residential building containing one (1) dwelling unit including detached, semi-detached and attached dwelling. 

Dwelling, two-family. A residential building containing two (2) dwelling units including detached, semi-detached, and attached dwelling. 

Dwelling, multiple family. A building or portion thereof containing three (3) or more dwelling units, but not including a motel, hotel, or rooming house. 

Dwelling unit: One (1) or more rooms arranged for residential use containing cooking, living, sanitary and sleeping facilities, permanently installed, which are arranged, designed, used or intended for use as living quarters for one (1) family and for not more than an aggregate of two (2) roomers or boarders. 

Efficiency living units: Efficiency living unit is any room having cooking facilities used for combined living, dining and sleeping purposes and meeting the requirements of Section 503(b) Exception, of the Uniform Housing Code. 

Egress: Egress shall mean an arrangement of exit facilities to assure a safe means of exit from buildings. 

Family: One (1) or more persons related by blood, marriage or adoption, including foster children, or a group of not more than four adult individuals (excluding personal care attendants, in accordance with Minn. Stat. §§ 2566.04, Subd. 6 and 2566.0625, Subd. 19 and Minnesota Rules, Rule 9505.0335), maintaining a common household in a dwelling unit. 

Guest: Guest shall mean an individual who shares a dwelling unit in a non-permanent status for not more than thirty (30) days. 

Habitable room: Habitable room shall mean a room or enclosed floor space used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking, or eating purposes, excluding bathrooms, water closet compartments, laundries, furnace rooms, pantries, kitchenettes, utility rooms of less than fifty (50) square feet of floor space, foyers, or connecting corridors, stairways, closets, storage spaces, and workshops, hobby and recreation areas. All habitable rooms shall comply with all the provisions contained herein. 

Hot water: Hot water shall mean water at a temperature of not less than 110 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Household: A household shall mean a family as defined in this section. 

Kitchen: Kitchen shall mean any room used for the storage, preparation, and serving of food and that contains at least the following equipment: sink, stove or microwave oven, refrigerator, cabinets and/or shelves, and a counter or table. 

Kitchenette: Kitchenette shall mean a small kitchen or an alcove containing cooking facilities. Multiple dwelling: A building of any size or type occupied by more than four (4) families, including boarding houses and rooming houses. "Multiple dwelling" does not include hotels, motels, hospitals and homes for aged. 

Nuisance: The following shall be defined as nuisances: 
Any public nuisance known in common law or in equity jurisprudence. 

Any attractive nuisance which may prove detrimental to children whether in a building, on the premises of a building, or upon an unoccupied lot. This includes any abandoned wells, shafts, basements or excavations; abandoned refrigerators and motor vehicles; or any structurally unsound fences or structures; or any lumber, trash, fences, debris, or vegetation which may prove a hazard for inquisitive minors. 

Whatever is dangerous to human life or is detrimental to health. 

Overcrowding a room with occupants. 

Insufficient ventilation or illumination. 

Inadequate or unsanitary sewerage or plumbing facilities. 

Uncleanliness. 

Whatever renders air, food, or drink unwholesome or detrimental to the health of human beings. 

Occupant: Any person, firm, partnership, corporation, association, organization, corporation or other who shall be in actual possession or have charge, care or control of any dwelling within the City. 

Ordinary summer conditions: Ordinary summer conditions shall mean a temperature of not higher than ninety-two (92) degrees Fahrenheit. 

Ordinary winter conditions: Ordinary winter conditions shall mean a temperature of not lower than minus eighteen (-18) degrees Fahrenheit. 

Owner: Any person, firm, partnership, corporation or other association who alone, jointly, or severally with others is the fee owner of record of any dwelling or dwelling unit within the City or any trustee or guardian or other representative of the fee owner, contract for deed vendee or, holder of a life estate. 

Person: The word "person" shall include a corporation, firm, partnership, association, organization and any other group acting as a unit as well as individual. It shall also include an executor, administrator, trustee, receiver or other representative appointed according to law. Whenever the word "person" is used in any section of this Code prescribing a penalty or fine as to partnerships or association, the word shall include the officers, agents or members thereof who are responsible for any violation of such section. 

Plumbing: Plumbing shall mean any and all equipment, fixtures, and connections made to water, sewer or gas lines including but not limited to the following: gas pipes, gas burning equipment, water pipes, garbage disposal units, waste pipes, water closets, sinks, installed dishwashers, lavatories, bathtubs, shower baths, installed clothes washing machines, catch basins, drains, vents, valves and connectors. 

Premises: Premises shall mean a parcel of land either occupied or unoccupied by any structure or structures. 

Privacy: Privacy shall mean the existence of conditions which will permit an individual or individuals to carry out an activity commenced without interruption or interference, either by sight, sound, or presence by unwanted individuals. 

Properly connected: Properly connected shall mean connected in accordance with accepted industry standards and/or all applicable code and ordinances of this City as from time to time enforced; provided, however, that the application of this definition shall not require the alteration or replacement of any connection in good working order and not constituting a hazard to life or health. 

Repair: Repair shall mean to restore to a sound, acceptable state of operation, serviceability or appearance. Repairs shall be expected to last approximately as long as would the replacement by new items. 

Replace or replacement: Replace or replacement shall mean to remove an existing item or portion of a system and to construct or install a new item of a quality similar to that of the existing item when it was new. Replacement ordinarily takes place when repair of the item is impractical. Rooming house: Rooming house shall mean any dwelling other than a hotel or motel or that part of any dwelling containing one (1) or more rooming units, and/or one (1) or more dormitory rooms in which persons either individually or as families are housed without the provision of meals. 

Space heater: Space heater shall mean a self-contained, heating appliance of either the convection or radiant type and intended primarily to heat only a limited space or area such as one (1) room or two (2) adjoining rooms. 

Temporary housing: Temporary housing shall mean any tent, trailer, manufactured home or any other structure used for human shelter which is designed to be transportable and which is not attached to the ground, to another structure, or to any utility system on the same premises for more than thirty (30) consecutive days. 

Water closet: Water closet shall mean a toilet bowl which is flushed with water which has been supplied under pressure and equipped with a water sealed trap above the floor level.