Cloquet, Minn., City Code ch. 10 §§ 10.3, 10.7 (2026) § 10.3.04
Environmental Requirements. The provisions of this article shall govern the minimum conditions of
Operative Text
10.3.04 Environmental Requirements. The provisions of this article shall govern the minimum conditions of
property and buildings to be used for human occupancy. Every building or structure occupied by humans, except as
exempted by section 10.3.03 subdivision 4, and the premises on which it stands shall comply with the conditions
herein prescribed as they may apply thereto.
Subd. 1. Exterior property Areas. No person shall occupy as owner-occupant or let to another for
occupancy any dwelling unit for the purpose of living therein or premises which does not comply with the
following requirements. The building official of the municipality shall cause periodic inspections to be
made of dwelling premises to secure compliance with these requirements.
A. Sanitation. All exterior property areas shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary
condition free from any accumulation of rubbish or garbage.
B. Grading and Drainage. All premises shall be graded and maintained so as to prevent
the accumulation of stagnant water thereon, or within any building or structure located
thereon.
C. Noxious Weeds. All exterior property areas shall be kept free from species of weeds or
plant growth which are noxious or detrimental to the public health.
D. Insect and Rodent Harborage. Every owner of a dwelling or multi-family dwelling
shall be responsible for the extermination of insects, rodents, vermin, or other pests in all
exterior areas of the premises; except that the occupant shall be responsible for such
extermination in the exterior areas of the premises of a single-family dwelling.
Whenever infestation exists in the shared or public parts of the premises of other than a
single-family dwelling, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner.
E. Accessory Structures. All accessory structures including detached garages shall be
maintained structurally sound and in good repair.
Subd. 2. Exterior Structure. No person shall occupy as owner-occupant, or let to another for occupancy,
any dwelling or multi-family dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house, rooming unit, or portion thereof for
the purpose of living therein; which does not comply with the following requirements:
A. Foundation, Walls and Roof. Every foundation, exterior wall, roof, and all other
exterior surfaces shall be maintained in a workmanlike state of maintenance and repair
and shall be kept in such condition as to exclude rodents. All exterior surfaces shall be
maintained free of loose, deteriorated or decayed materials, and all exterior wood
surfaces, other than decay resistant woods, shall be protected from the elements and
decay by paint which shall not be lead-based paint or by other protective covering or
treatment, which shall be maintained in a neat and attractive manner according to the
prevailing standards of the neighborhood or area in which the building shall be located.
1. Foundations. The foundation elements shall adequately support the building at
all points.
2. Exterior Walls. Every exterior wall shall be free of holes, breaks, loose or
rotting boards or timbers, and any other conditions which might admit rain, or
dampness to the interior portions of the walls or to the occupied spaces of the
building.
3. Roofs. The roof shall be structurally sound, tight, and have no defects which
might admit rain; and roof drainage shall be adequate to prevent rain water from
causing dampness in the walls or interior portion of the building.
B. Stairs, Porches and Railings. Stairs and other exit facilities shall be adequate for safety
and shall comply with the following subsections:
1. Structural Safety. Every outside stair, every porch, and every appurtenance
attached thereto shall be so constructed as to be safe to use and capable of
supporting the loads to which it is subjected as required by the building code and
shall be kept in sound condition and good repair.
2. Handrails. Where the building official deems it necessary for safety, every
flight of stairs which is more than two (2) risers high shall have handrails which
shall be located as required by the building code; and every porch which is more
than two (2) risers high shall have handrails so located and of such design as
required by the building code. Every handrail and balustrade shall be firmly
fastened and shall be maintained in good condition.
C. Windows, Doors and Hatchways. Every window, exterior door, and basement
hatchway shall be substantially tight and shall be kept in sound condition and repair.
1. Windows to be Glazed. Every window sash shall be fully supplied with glass
window panes or an approved substitute which are without open cracks or holes.
2. Windows to be Tight. Every window sash shall be in good condition and fit
reasonably tight within its frame.
3. Windows to be Openable. Every window, other than a fixed window shall be
capable of being easily opened and shall be held in position by window
hardware.
4. Door Hardware. Every exterior door, door hinge, and door latch shall be
maintained in good condition.
5. Doors to Fit in Frame. Every exterior door, when closed shall fit reasonably
well within its frame.
6. Window and Door Frames to Fit in Wall. Every window, door and frame
shall be constructed and maintained in such relation to the adjacent wall
construction so as to exclude rain as completely as possible and to substantially
exclude wind from entering the dwelling or multi-family dwelling.
7. Basement Hatchways. Every basement hatchway shall be so constructed and
maintained as to prevent the entrance of rodents, rain and surface drainage water
into the dwelling or multi-family dwelling.
8. Exit Doors. Every door available as an exit shall be capable of being opened
from the inside, easily and without the use of a key.
D. Screening. Guards and screens shall be supplied for protection against rodent’s and
insects in accordance with the following requirements:
1. Guards for Basement Windows. Every basement or cellar window which is
operable shall be supplied with corrosion resistive rodent proof shields of not
less than No. 22 U.S. gage perforated steel sheets, or No. 20 B&S gage
aluminum or No. 16 U.S. gage expanded metal or wire mesh screens, with not
more than one-half (1/2) inch mesh openings; or with other material affording
equivalent protection against the entry of rodents, including storm windows.
2. Insect Screens. From June 1st to October 15th of each year every door opening
directly from any dwelling or multi-family dwelling to the outdoors and every
window or other outside opening used for ventilation purposes shall be supplied
with a screen of not less than sixteen (16) mesh per inch and every swinging
screen door shall have a self-closing device in good working condition, except
that no such screens shall be required for a dwelling unit on a floor above the
fifth floor.
Subd. 3. Interior Structure. No person shall occupy as owner-occupant, or let to another for occupancy,
any dwelling, multi-family dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house, rooming unit, or portion thereof, for the
purpose of living therein which does not comply with the following requirements.
A. Free from Dampness. In every dwelling, multi-family dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming
house, and rooming unit, cellars, basements and crawl spaces shall be maintained
reasonably free from dampness to prevent conditions conducive to decay or deterioration
of the structure as required by the building code.
B. Structural Members. The supporting structural members of every dwelling and multi-
family dwelling used for human habitation shall be maintained structurally sound;
showing no evidence of deterioration which would render them incapable of carrying the
imposed loads in accordance with the provisions of the building code.
C. Interior Stairs and Railings. Stairs shall be provided in every dwelling, multi-family
dwelling, rooming, and boarding house as required by the building code.
1. Maintained in Good Repair. All interior stairs of every structure used for
human habitation shall be maintained in sound condition and good repair by
replacing treads and risers that evidence excessive wear or are broken, warped
or loose. Every inside stair shall be so constructed and maintained as to be safe
to use and capable of supporting a load as required by the provisions of the
building code.
2. Handrails. Every stairwell and every flight of stairs which is more than two (2)
risers high, shall have hand rails or railings located in accordance with the
provisions of the building code. Every handrail or railing shall be firmly
fastened and must be maintained in good condition. Properly balustrade
railings, capable of bearing normally imposed loads as required by the building
code, shall be placed on the open portions of stairs, balconies, landings and
stairwells.
D. Bathroom Floors. Every toilet and bathroom floor surface shall be constructed and
maintained so as to be substantially impervious to water and so as to permit such floor to
be easily kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
E. Sanitation. The interior of every dwelling and multi-family dwelling used for human
habitation shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition free from any
accumulation of rubbish or garbage. Rubbish, Garbage, and other refuse shall be
properly kept inside temporary storage facilities as required under sections 10.3.05 Subd.
1 (D) & (E) of this Code.
F. Insect and Rodent Harborage. Buildings used for human habitation shall be kept free
from insect and rodent infestation, and where insects or rodents are found they shall be
promptly exterminated by acceptable processes which will not be injurious to human
health. After extermination, proper precautions shall be taken to prevent reinfestation.
1. Extermination from Buildings. Every owner of a dwelling or multi-family
dwelling shall be responsible for the extermination of insects, rodents, vermin,
or other pests whenever infestation exists in two (2) or more of the dwelling
units or in the shared or public parts of the structure.
2. Extermination from Single Dwelling Units. The occupant of a dwelling unit
in a dwelling or multi-family dwelling shall be responsible for such
extermination within the unit occupied by him/her whenever his/her dwelling
unit is the only unit in the building that is infested.
3. Responsibility of Owner. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, whenever
infestation of rodents is caused by failure of the owner to maintain any dwelling
or multi-family dwelling in a rodent-proof condition, extermination of such
rodents shall be the responsibility of the owner.Cloquet, MN City Code Ch. 10 § 10.3.04 establishes minimum environmental and structural conditions that all occupied residential buildings and their surrounding property must meet. The rule covers a broad range of requirements spanning exterior grounds (sanitation, drainage, weed control, pest management), exterior building components (foundations, walls, roofs, stairs, windows, doors, and screens), and interior conditions (structural integrity, dampness control, stair safety, bathroom surfaces, cleanliness, and pest control). Responsibility for meeting these standards is shared between property owners and occupants depending on the type of dwelling and the nature of the condition at issue.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 10.3.04, property owners and managers of rental dwellings are generally responsible for maintaining exterior grounds free of rubbish, stagnant water, noxious weeds, and pest harborage, as well as keeping all structural elements—foundations, walls, roofs, stairs, windows, and doors—in sound, weathertight condition. In multi-family settings, owners bear responsibility for pest extermination whenever infestation affects two or more units or any shared area, and must ensure insect screens are in place from June 1 through October 15 each year. Compliant operators typically conduct routine inspections of all covered components, document maintenance and extermination activities, and respond promptly to conditions that could trigger a building official inspection under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 10.3.04 establishes a baseline of habitability conditions—including structural soundness, pest-free common areas, proper drainage, and sanitary interiors—that residential properties in Cloquet must meet before they can lawfully be occupied. Tenants who observe conditions falling short of these standards, such as rodent infestation in shared spaces, deteriorating exterior walls, or missing window screens during the required seasonal period, may have grounds to raise those deficiencies with the municipality's building official, who is authorized under this section to conduct periodic compliance inspections. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid resources can help residents understand which conditions may constitute violations and what general options—such as filing a complaint or raising a violation as a defense in a housing proceeding—may be available.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.