Chaska, Minn., Mun. Code ch. 11.16 (2026) § 11.16.040
Enforcement/Responsibilities
Operative Text
Authority. The Building Official is hereby authorized and directed to enforce all the provisions of this Code. Right of entry. Upon presentation of proper credentials, the Building Official or the Building Official's duly authorized representatives may enter at reasonable times any building, structure, or premises in the City to perform any duty imposed upon him by this Code. Privacy. The Building Official shall keep confidential all evidence exclusive of the inspection record, which the Building Official may discover or obtain in the course of any inspection made pursuant to this section and such evidence shall be considered privileged. Responsibilities defined. Every owner remains liable for violations of duties imposed by this Code even though an obligation is also imposed on the occupants of the owner's building, and even though the owner has, by agreement, imposed on the occupant the duty of furnishing required equipment or of complying with this Code. Every owner, or the owner's agent, in addition to being responsible for maintaining the building in a sound structural condition, shall be responsible for keeping that part of the building or premises which the owner occupies or controls in a clean, sanitary and safe condition including the shared or public areas in a building containing two or more dwelling units. Every owner shall furnish and maintain approved sanitary facilities and shall furnish and maintain approved equipment or facilities for the prevention of insect and rodent infestation, and where infestation has taken place, shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents or other pests. Heating rental properties. Every owner, operator or manager of any building who rents, leases or lets for human habitation any habitable room or unit contained within such building on terms, either expressed or implied, to supply or furnish heat to the occupants thereof, shall have the capability of maintaining a minimum temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit between September 1 and June 1 inclusive, from a location within the room or unit at a point three (3) feet above the floor level and not closer than thirty-six (36) inches from any wall. The heating equipment shall be property installed and maintained throughout the year. All occupants shall keep their premises in a safe and sanitary condition. Every occupant of a dwelling unit, in addition to being responsible for keeping the dwelling or dwelling unit or premises which they occupy and control, in a clean, sanitary and safe condition, shall dispose of all rubbish, garbage and other organic waste.
Chaska Ch. 11.16.040 establishes a framework of shared but non-transferable responsibilities for housing maintenance. Property owners remain legally liable for code violations regardless of any lease agreement that shifts duties to tenants, and they must maintain structural soundness, sanitation, pest control, and adequate heat (at least 70°F from September 1 through June 1) in rental units. Occupants, meanwhile, carry their own independent duty to keep their spaces clean, safe, and free of improperly disposed waste. The Building Official is empowered to enter properties at reasonable times to enforce these requirements, while keeping non-inspection evidence confidential.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Chaska Ch. 11.16.040, compliant rental property operators maintain structural integrity, shared-area cleanliness, functioning sanitary facilities, and pest-prevention measures regardless of what any lease says about tenant responsibilities. Operators who rent heated units ensure their heating systems can sustain a minimum of 70°F at the prescribed measurement point throughout the September 1–June 1 heating season and keep equipment properly installed year-round. Because the provision explicitly preserves owner liability even when a lease delegates maintenance duties to occupants, operators generally document their own compliance efforts independently of tenant obligations.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Chaska Ch. 11.16.040 makes clear that a landlord's duty to maintain safe, sanitary, and adequately heated housing cannot be contractually shifted away from the owner — tenants retain the benefit of those protections even if a lease purports to place those burdens on them. Tenants also carry their own obligations under this section to keep their unit and controlled areas clean and to properly dispose of rubbish and organic waste. Tenants who believe a landlord is not meeting the code's requirements — such as failing to provide adequate heat or pest control — may consider contacting the Chaska Building Official, who holds enforcement authority under this provision, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on available 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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