Cottage Grove, Minn., Mun. Code Ch. 15 (2026) § 3-15-2

The following words, terms, and phrases when used in this Chapter shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this Section except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:


ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT: A subordinate habitable dwelling unit, which has its own basic requirements of shelter, heating, cooking, and sanitation added to or created within a single-family dwelling or detached accessory structure.


APARTMENT: A community, complex or building having a common owner and containing at least one (1) rental dwelling unit.


CITY ADMINISTRATOR: The Cottage Grove City Administrator or their designee.


CITY APPROVED INSPECTOR’S REPORT OR INSPECTION REPORT: A rental dwelling inspection report prepared and signed by a City inspector.


DWELLING: A building or one (1) or more portions of a building occupied or intended to be occupied for residential purposes.


DWELLING UNIT: A single-family dwelling or a discrete portion of a dwelling or detached structure/garage designed for occupancy by one (1) family.


FAMILY: Those persons legally related to each other in a linear relationship such as spouses, grandparents, parents, children, grandchildren, and siblings. Family does not include branching relationships such as aunts, uncles, or cousins.


LET FOR OCCUPANCY OR TO LET OR TO RENT: To permit possession or occupancy of a dwelling or rental dwelling unit, whether or not compensation is paid, by a person who is not the legal owner of record thereof, pursuant to a written or unwritten lease.


OCCUPANT OR TENANT: Any person living or sleeping in a dwelling unit, or having possession of a space within a dwelling unit.


OPERATE: To rent, lease or grant the use and possession of a rental dwelling unit, whether or not compensation is paid.


OPERATOR OR MANAGER: Any person who has charge, care or control of a structure or premises that is let or offered for occupancy.


OWNER OR LICENSEE: Any person, agent, or operator having a legal or equitable interest in the property or recorded in the official State, County or City records as holding title to the property or otherwise having control of the property.


PERSON: An individual, corporation, firm, association, company, partnership, organization or any other group acting as a unit.


RENTAL DWELLING: Any dwelling used for residential occupancy by one (1) or more persons who are not the owner or a member of the owner’s family.


RENTAL DWELLING UNIT: Any room or rooms, or space, in any rental dwelling designed or used for residential occupancy by one (1) or more persons who are not the owner or a member of the owner’s family.


SHORT TERM HOME RENTAL: The furnishing for consideration of lodging to transient guests in a dwelling or dwelling unit, such as VRBO and Airbnb, where the renting or letting for occupancy is for a temporary period of time that is typically less than thirty (30) consecutive days.


STRUCTURE: That which is built or constructed, an edifice or building of any kind, or any piece of work artificially built up or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner.