Columbia Heights, Minn., Mun. Code Ch. 5A (2026) § 5A.201
BASIC EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
Operative Text
(A) Occupancies shall meet the minimum requirements for basic equipment and facilities as set forth in the Minnesota State Building Code, Minnesota State Fire Code, and city code for the type of occupancy. (B) No owner, operator or occupant shall cause any service, facility equipment or utility which is required under this chapter to be removed from or shut off from or discontinued for any occupied premises except for temporary interruptions as may be necessary while actual repairs or alterations are made or during temporary emergencies. No premises may use the utilities, services or facility equipment of another premises after their utility service or facility equipment has been removed or shut off unless it is with the permission of the Building Official. (C) Buildings in existence at the time of the adoption of the code may have their use or occupancy continued, if such use or occupancy was legal or legal nonconforming at the time of the adoption of the code, provided such continued use is not dangerous to life. Nonconformities shall follow the requirements of Chapter 9, Article I of city code. (Ord. 1532, passed 11-26-07) Penalty, see § 5A.702
Columbia Heights Ch. 5A Rental Housing § 5A.201 establishes that all rental occupancies must meet minimum standards for basic equipment and facilities as defined by the Minnesota State Building Code, State Fire Code, and local city code. Owners, operators, and occupants are prohibited from removing, shutting off, or discontinuing any required service, facility, or utility in an occupied unit, except for brief interruptions during actual repairs or genuine emergencies. Buildings that existed before the code's adoption may continue their prior legal or legal-nonconforming use, provided that use does not pose a danger to life, and any nonconformities must comply with Chapter 9, Article I of city code.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 5A.201, compliant property owners and operators ensure that all required services, utilities, and facility equipment—such as heat, water, and electrical systems—remain continuously available to occupied units throughout the tenancy. Temporary interruptions are permissible only while active repairs or alterations are underway or during genuine emergencies, and operators do not allow one unit to draw on another unit's utility service without Building Official approval. Owners of pre-code buildings document the legal or legal-nonconforming status of their occupancy and address any nonconformities in accordance with Chapter 9, Article I of city code.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 5A.201 gives tenants the right to continuous access to all required services, utilities, and facility equipment in their occupied unit; an owner or operator generally may not cut off or remove these services except during brief, necessary repair interruptions or genuine emergencies. If a required service is shut off without a legitimate reason, tenants may have grounds to raise a violation of this provision when interacting with the Columbia Heights Building Official or in relevant legal proceedings. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Columbia Heights rental housing law can help residents understand the range of options available when services are disrupted in potential violation of § 5A.201.
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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