Chaska, Minn., Mun. Code ch. 11.16 (2026) § 11.16.090
Permits And Inspections
Operative Text
The following repairs are exempt from building permit requirements, if they do not affect or involve any plumbing, electrical, mechanical, structural or subsurface member and if the repair returns the affected area to its intended original condition: Paint roofing/gutters/downspouts. Trim/moldings/shutters/decorations. Glass (but not window frames). Weather-stripping/caulking/tuck pointing walks/landscape masonry (if not on city easement) non-structural hardware. Finish flooring/carpets. Door slabs (but not door frames) fences.
Under Chaska Ch. 11.16 Housing Maintenance/Inspection And Licensing § 11.16.090, certain minor repair and replacement tasks are carved out from the city's building permit process. These exemptions apply only when the work does not touch plumbing, electrical, mechanical, structural, or subsurface components, and when the repair restores the area to its original intended condition. Covered work includes items such as painting gutters and downspouts, replacing carpet or finish flooring, swapping door slabs (not frames), and similar cosmetic or surface-level fixes.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under § 11.16.090 generally keep records of which repairs fall within the listed exemptions and confirm that no plumbing, electrical, mechanical, structural, or subsurface work is involved before proceeding without a permit. Compliant operators also verify that the scope of work genuinely returns the affected area to its original condition rather than altering or upgrading it. When any doubt exists about whether a task qualifies under § 11.16.090's exemption list, obtaining a permit before starting work is the standard practice to avoid potential code violations.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 11.16.090 of Chaska's Housing Maintenance code establishes which repairs a landlord may perform without pulling a building permit, and understanding this list can help tenants recognize when unpermitted work may fall outside the exemption. If a tenant believes a landlord has performed work that required a permit but did not obtain one — for example, work touching window frames, door frames, or structural elements — that concern can generally be raised with the city's building or housing inspection department. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Chaska's municipal code can help residents understand how § 11.16.090 interacts with broader habitability and licensing requirements.
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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