Chaska, Minn., Mun. Code ch. 11.16 (2026) § 11.16.110

License Required. No person, firm or corporation shall operate a rental dwelling in the City without having first obtained a license as hereinafter provided from the Building Official. Each such licensee shall register annually with the Building Official. If the license is denied, no occupancy of dwelling units then vacant or which become vacant is permitted until a license has been issued. Apartment units within an unlicensed apartment building for which a license application has been made and which units are in compliance with Article IV, Chapter 6, may be occupied provided that the unlicensed units within the apartment building do not create a hazard to the health and safety of persons in occupied units.

License Procedures. Within sixty (60) days after the passage of this new Article IV, Chapter 6, the owner of any rental unit within the City shall apply to the Building Official for a rental housing license in the manner hereafter prescribed. 
Application shall be made on forms provided by the City and accompanied by the initial fee in an amount set by Resolution of the City Council. The owner of an apartment building or rental home constructed after the date of passage of this article shall obtain a license prior to actual occupancy of any rental unit therein. 

Applicants shall provide the following information on license applications: 
Name and address of the owner of the rental dwelling and the name and address of the operator or agent actively managing said rental dwelling. 

The name and address of the vendee if the rental dwelling is being sold on a contract for deed. 

The legal description and address of the rental dwelling. 

The number and kind of units within the rental dwelling, the floor area for each such unit and the total floor area of the building. 

The number of toilet and bath facilities shared by the occupants of two (2) or more dwelling units. 

A description of the type of construction of the exterior of the building. 

The number of paved off-street parking spaces available. 

Name and address of person to whom owner/applicant wishes correspondence to be sent. 

Such other information as the Community Development Department administrative staff shall require.

Application And Inspection. Upon receipt of a properly executed application for a rental housing license, the City Administrator shall cause scheduling of an inspection to be made of the premises to ensure that the structure is in compliance with the requirements of the Code.

Compliance Order. Whenever the Building Official determines that any dwelling, dwelling unit, or rooming unit, or the premises surrounding any of these, fails to meet the provisions of this article, he may issue a compliance order setting forth the violations of the ordinance and ordering the owner, occupant, operator, or agent to correct such violations. This compliance order shall: 
Be in writing; 

Describe the location and nature of the violations of this article; 

Establish a time for the correction of such violations; 

Include information regarding the owner's right to appeal the order and the procedure to be followed in filing such an appeal pursuant to CMCO 11.16.070; 

Be served upon the owner or owner's agent or the occupant, as the case may require. Such notice shall be deemed to be properly served upon such owner or agent, or upon any such occupant, if a copy thereof is: 
Served upon him/her personally, or 

Deposited in the U.S. Post Office addressed to the last known address of the owner with postage prepaid, certified, return receipt requested, or 

Upon failure to effect notice by personal service or mail, posted at a conspicuous place in or about the dwelling which is affected by the notice.

Issuance Of Rental Housing License. If the rental dwelling is in compliance with the requirements of the Code, a license shall be issued to the present owner, occupant or agent which shall state that the structure has been inspected and is in compliance with the requirements of the Code. The present owner or any agent designated by the present owner or occupant shall obtain a license. It the City finds that the circumstances of occupancy following the issuance of the license involve possible Code violations, substandard maintenance or abnormal wear and tear, the City may again inspect the premises during the licensing period.

License Display. A license issued under this chapter shall be conspicuously displayed on the rental premises wherever feasible. The licensee shall promptly produce the license upon demand of a prospective tenant or the Building Official or his/her authorized representative.

License Transfer. The license is transferable upon application to the Building Official. The Building Official shall assure that the licensed premises is in compliance with the Code. The license shall terminate if renewal or application for transfer is not made within thirty (30) days after transfer of ownership of the dwelling unit.

License Renewal. Renewal of the license as required annually by this Code may be made by filling out the required renewal form furnished by the Building Official to the owner, operator or agent of a rental dwelling and by mailing the form together with the required registration fee to the Building Official. Such renewal or registration may be made only when no change in the ownership, operation, agency or type of occupancy as originally licensed has been made and where there has been an inspection within the last two (2) years.

Suspension Or Revocation. A license issued or renewed under this paragraph may be revoked or suspended upon a finding of noncompliance with the provisions of this chapter. Reinstatement of a suspended license shall be accompanied by an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the license fee. Issuance of a new license after suspension or revocation shall be made in the manner provided for obtaining an initial license.

License Fees. License fees, inspection fees, and reinspection fees shall be established by Council Resolution.

Penalties. Violation of any provision of this rental housing maintenance, inspection and licensing program ordinance is a misdemeanor and upon conviction penalties provided in CMCO 1.12.010 may be imposed. 

In addition to the above: 

If an owner of a rental dwelling is determined by the Building Official to be in noncompliance with this Code, the Official may order the owner to cease from renting any vacated dwelling units until compliance is achieved. The Building Official may also order the tenants of any noncomplying owner to pay their rent to an escrow account up to an amount deemed by the Official as adequate to pay for the work required to successfully comply with the Code. These monies will be released as items are completed to the satisfaction of the Building Official. These penalties are separate from other fines and penalties listed elsewhere in this Code and may be applied concurrently with other penalties where appropriate.

Implementation. The licensing/inspection program shall be implemented in phases as follows: 
For all rented residential dwelling units, the requirements for licensing shall be in force January 1, 1994. The owner shall be notified by the Building Official of an initial inspection to be scheduled sometime after the date of January 1, 1994. 

Upon receipt of the application and appropriate fee, the Building Official shall issue a conditional license until an inspection of the unit(s) is completed. Upon compliance of all dwelling units in a building with the Code, the annual license shall be issued. 

Upon written notification of any and all possible Housing Code and Ordinance violations, the Building Official shall deem such notifications as priority and shall perform the necessary inspections to determine if the alleged violations exist.