Cloquet, Minn., City Code ch. 10 §§ 10.3, 10.7 (2026) § 10.3.07

10.3.07 Condemnation. Dwellings or multi-family dwellings shall be condemned as dangerous structures or
unsafe for human habitation as herein provided.

Subd. 1. Dangerous Structures. If all or part of any building or structure (including among others a
        fence, billboard or sign) or the equipment for the operation thereof (including among others the heating
        plant, plumbing, electric wiring moving stairways, elevators and fire extinguishing apparatus) shall be
        found, in the opinion of the building official to be in an unsafe condition - dangerous to life, limb, or
        property, he/she shall proceed to have the same condemned pursuant to the applicable provisions of the
        ordinances of the municipality pertaining to unsafe structures, or of State Law.

        Subd. 2. Structures Unfit for Human Occupancy. Whenever the building official finds that any
        dwelling or multi-family dwelling constitutes a hazard to the safety, health, or welfare of the occupants or
        to the public because it lacks maintenance; or is in disrepair, unsanitary, vermin - infested or rodent -
        infested; or because it lacks the sanitary facilities or equipment or otherwise fails to comply with the
        minimum provisions of this code, but has not yet reached such state of complete disrepair as to be
        condemned as a dangerous structure as herein provided, he/she may declare such dwelling or multi-family
        dwelling as UNFIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION and order it to be vacated. If any dwelling or multi-
        family dwelling or any part thereof is occupied by more occupants than permitted under this code, or was
        erected altered or occupied contrary to law, such dwelling or multi-family dwelling shall be deemed an
        unlawful structure and the building official may cause such dwelling to be vacated. It shall be unlawful to
        again occupy such dwelling until it or its occupation, as the case may be, has been made to conform to the
        law.

        Subd. 3. Notice. Notice of the declaration of any building under the Housing Code as unfit for human
        habitation and order to vacate it shall be served as provided in the following sections. When the condition
        requires the removal or demolition of the building such notice shall be given as provided in State Statutes,
        or such other codes or ordinances of the municipality pertaining to unsafe buildings.

                 A.       Posting of Notice. Any dwelling or multi-family dwelling declared as UNFIT FOR
                          HUMAN HABITATION shall be posted with a placard by the building official. The
                          placard shall include the following:

                          1.       Name of City;
                          2.       The name of the authorized department having jurisdiction;
                          3.       The chapter and section of the code under which it is issued;
                          4.       An order that the dwelling or multi-family dwelling when vacated must remain
                                   vacant until the provisions of the order are complied with and the order to vacate
                                   is withdrawn;
                          5.       The date that the placard is posted;
                          6.       A statement of the penalty for defacing or removal of the placard.

                 B.       Form of Notice. Whenever the building official has declared a dwelling or multi-family
                          dwelling as unfit for human habitation, he/she shall give notice to the owner of such
                          declaration and placarding of the dwelling or multi-family dwelling as unfit for human
                          habitation. Such notice shall:

                          1.       Be in writing;
                          2.       Include a description of the real estate sufficient for identification;
                          3.       Include a statement of the reason or reasons why it is being issued;
                          4.       State the time to correct the conditions;
                          5.       State the time occupants must vacate the dwelling units.

                 C.       Service of Notice. Service of notice to vacate shall be as follows:

                          1.       By delivery to the owner personally, or by leaving the notice at the usual place
                                   of abode of the owner with a person of suitable age and discretion; or
                          2.       By depositing the notice in the United State Post Office addressed to the owner
                                   at his/her last known address with postage pre-paid thereon; or

3.       By posting and keeping posted for twenty-four (24) hours a copy of the notice in
                                   placard form in a conspicuous place on the premises to be vacated.

                 D.       Removal of Placard or Notice. No person shall deface or remove the placard from any
                          dwelling or multi-family dwelling which has been declared or placarded as unfit for
                          human habitation except by authority in writing from the building official.

        Subd. 4. Vacating of Declared Building. Any dwelling or multi-family dwelling which has been
        declared and placarded as unfit for human habitation by the building official shall be vacated within a
        reasonable time as required by the building official, and it shall be unlawful for any owner or operator to let
        to any person for human habitation said dwelling, multi-family dwelling or dwelling unit; and no person
        shall occupy any dwelling or multi-family unit which has been declared or placarded by the building
        official as unfit for human habitation after the date set forth in the placard.

                 A.       Occupancy of Building. No dwelling or multi-family dwelling which has been declared
                          or placarded as unfit for human habitation shall again be used for human habitation until
                          written approval is secured from the building official. The building official shall remove
                          such placard whenever the defect or defects upon which the declaration and placarding
                          action were based have been eliminated.

                 B.       Report of Notice to Vacate. The building official shall furnish a copy of each notice to
                          vacate a building to the health officer and the chief of the fire prevention bureau and any
                          other designated official of the municipality concerned herewith.