Clearwater, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 8 § 8-3

(a) Registration required. No owner shall allow a person to occupy a rental premises, or a unit therein, without having a valid registration certificate from the city. Registration certificates shall be issued in the name of the owner and, in the case of a multi-family dwelling or apartment building, only one registration certificate is required and it shall apply to both the entire dwelling or apartment building as well as each individual unit therein. Any suspension of the registration certificate or the right to receive a registration certificate may involve the entire dwelling or apartment building, or any individual unit or units within the dwelling or apartment building, in the city's sole discretion.
(b) Application. An application for a registration certificate shall be filed by the owner at City Hall and shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee, and in the case of a multi-family dwelling or apartment building, an additional per-unit application fee, as provided in the city's fee schedule. Each application shall contain the following information:
(1) The name, address, and telephone number of the owner of the rental premises. If the owner is a partnership, the name of the partnership, address and telephone number of the managing partner. If the owner is a corporation, the name and address of the corporation, and the name, address and telephone number of the chief operating officer. If the rental premises is being sold on a contract for deed, the name and address of the contract vendee;
(2) The name, address and telephone number of an agent appointed by the owner to accept service of process and to receive or give receipt for notices under this section, if any;
(3) The name, address and telephone number of an agent actively involved in maintenance or management of the rental premises, if any;
(4) The legal street address of rental premises and the unit number for each unit offered for rent within the premises; and
(5) The details regarding the number and type of units offered for rent within the rental premises and the facilities incorporated in such rental units.
(c) Code compliance. Whenever the review of an application indicates that the rental premises complies with all provisions of this Code, including any provisions of the zoning ordinances, the city administrator or designee shall issue a registration certificate. Review of an application made under this section shall not include an inspection of the rental premises to determine code compliance, although residential tenants may request inspections pursuant to Minn. Stats. § 504B.185 or any other applicable law.
(d) Deadline. An application for any dwelling to be converted to a use which would require a registration certificate shall be made and filed with at least 30 days prior to such conversion.
(e) Violations. Any owner required to register a rental premises under the provisions of this section and who fails to do so, or who allows a property to be occupied when the registration certificate is suspended, shall be guilty of a violation of this section. Each day that a rental premises is rented out without a valid registration certificate shall constitute a separate violation.
(f) Registration fee. The annual registration fee shall be set by the city council by ordinance or resolution.
(g) Penalty. Each violation of this section shall be subject to a penalty fee set by the city council by ordinance or resolution. Penalty fees imposed under this section are considered a lien against the property and may be assessed to the property taxes if they remain unpaid after 60 days.