Cottage Grove, Minn., Mun. Code Ch. 15 (2026) § 3-15-9
CONDITIONS OF THE LICENSE
Operative Text
As conditions of the license, the licensee must do the following: A. Tenant Register: Maintain a current register of tenants and other persons who have a lawful right to occupancy of rental dwellings or rental dwelling units, which must be available for inspection by City officials upon request. The licensee must designate the name of the person or persons who will have possession of the register and must promptly notify the City Administrator of any change in the identity, address, or telephone numbers of such person. For purposes of this Section, “current” means that the register is updated every thirty (30) days. B. Fire Certification: Execute a statement that the smoke detectors are properly installed and operable and that the fire exits are accessible. C. Tenant Screening Certification: Execute a statement that the licensee has a screening process the licensee uses during the approval process of each tenant to attempt to ensure quality tenants occupy the rental dwelling. D. Minnesota Crime-Free Lease Addendum: Use the Minnesota Crime-Free Lease Addendum, or its equivalent, as part of its leases. This condition does not apply to short term home rentals. E. Display of License Certificate: For multi-family, the license certificate must be exhibited in a conspicuous place at or near the entrance to the rental dwelling. One (1) license certificate must be displayed for each building. If practical, the certificate must be displayed in the rental office or other common area accessible to all tenants of the licensed building. For single-family homes and duplexes, a copy of the license certificate must be provided to the tenants. F. Lodging and Sale Taxes: In addition to state sales taxes, short term home rentals are required to pay the City lodging tax pursuant to City Code Section 1-5-5 directly to the City on a quarterly basis. The property owner must provide information on a web-based booking service(s) used for the property. If no sales are made during a quarter, a report must be submitted to the City stating that no sales were made or lodging tax collected during that quarter. (amd. Ord. 1085, 12-4-2024)
Cottage Grove Ch. 15 Rental Licensing § 3-15-9 sets out several ongoing obligations that come with holding a rental license in the city. Licensed rental operators must keep an up-to-date tenant register (refreshed every 30 days), certify smoke detector and fire exit compliance, certify that a tenant screening process is in place, use the Minnesota Crime-Free Lease Addendum, display or distribute the license certificate appropriately, and—for short-term home rentals—remit lodging and sales taxes to the City on a quarterly basis. These conditions apply for as long as the license is held, and City officials may inspect the tenant register upon request.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators holding a rental license under § 3-15-9 generally keep a tenant register that is updated at least every 30 days and designate a named contact who holds that register, notifying the City Administrator promptly of any changes to that contact's identity or contact information. Compliant licensees also execute the required certifications for smoke detectors, fire exits, and tenant screening; incorporate the Minnesota Crime-Free Lease Addendum (or equivalent) into leases for non-short-term rentals; and display or distribute the license certificate as specified for their property type. Those operating short-term home rentals additionally file quarterly lodging tax reports with the City under § 3-15-9(F)—even in quarters with no revenue—and disclose any web-based booking platforms used.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 3-15-9, tenants in Cottage Grove rental properties have a right to expect that their landlord is maintaining a current register of lawful occupants and has certified that smoke detectors are operable and fire exits are accessible. For multi-family buildings, the license certificate should be visibly posted near the entrance or in a common area; tenants in single-family homes or duplexes are entitled to receive a copy of that certificate. Tenants who believe a landlord is not meeting these license conditions may contact the City of Cottage Grove directly, or consult a tenant-rights organization to understand what options may be available to them.
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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