Eden Valley, Minn., Mun. Code Ch. 153 (2026) § 153.13
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS
Operative Text
(A) Purpose . The City Council has determined that there are persons residing in rental property in the city engaging in disorderly conduct which results in a hostile environment for other citizens of the city living near or close to the rental property. It is the declared purpose and intent of this section to protect and preserve the city’s neighborhoods and the public health, safety, and welfare of its citizens by providing a system at the local level for criminal history/background investigation of prospective tenants. (B) Background investigations . Each operator is strongly encouraged to conduct criminal history/background investigations on prospective tenants in rental property though the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. (Ord. passed 4-6-2016)
Eden Valley Ch. 153 Rental Code § 153.13 establishes a local policy framework aimed at preserving neighborhood safety and public welfare by addressing disorderly conduct in rental housing. Rather than mandating a specific screening requirement, the provision expresses the City Council's intent and strongly encourages—but does not legally compel—rental property operators to conduct criminal history and background investigations on prospective tenants. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is identified as the recommended channel through which such investigations may be conducted.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Eden Valley Ch. 153 Rental Code § 153.13, operators are strongly encouraged—though not strictly required—to run criminal history and background checks on prospective tenants through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Operators who choose to conduct such screenings generally document their process consistently and apply it uniformly to all applicants to reduce the risk of fair housing concerns. Because this provision operates alongside other federal, state, and local fair housing laws, operators typically ensure their screening criteria are narrowly tailored and applied in a non-discriminatory manner.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Eden Valley Ch. 153 Rental Code § 153.13 frames criminal background screening as an encouraged practice rather than a mandatory one, meaning landlords are not legally obligated by this provision alone to conduct such checks. Prospective tenants should be aware that even where background checks are permitted, other federal and Minnesota state fair housing protections may limit how criminal history information can be used in rental decisions. Tenants who believe a screening process was applied in a discriminatory or inconsistent manner may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or a local fair housing agency to understand available options.
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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