Fairmont, Minn., Mun. Code Ch. 27 (2026) § 27-5
Health and safety
Operative Text
(a) Maintenance. The owner shall be responsible for maintaining the rental property in compliance with the requirements of the Minnesota codes regulating residential structures, as they are currently written and as might be amended in the future, including, but not limited to: the State Building Code Minn. Stat. §§ 326B101-194; the State Fire Code Minn. Stat. Chapter 299F; and Minnesota Administrative Rules Chapter 1300. (1) Garbage. The owner of each rental housing unit shall provide garbage collection containers, dumpsters or other garbage management options adequate to accommodate all garbage and recyclables generated by each rental housing unit. Owners shall provide proof of current garbage contract with a licensed garbage hauler in Martin County, Minnesota. Owners and tenants of single-family or multi-family units, shall comply with Fairmont City Code section 22-18 . (2) Lawn care. The owner shall be responsible for lawn care and for the removal of ice and snow according to Fairmont City Code Chapter 17 and section 23-3 , respectively. (3) Mold, rodents and insect infestations shall be promptly eliminated by the owner and the rental housing unit shall then be kept mold and infestation free by the tenant. (b) Responsibilities of owners, occupants, tenants, and local property managers. Owners, occupants, tenants, and local property managers, shall be jointly responsible for maintaining rental property in a safe, sanitary, and orderly condition and in compliance with this chapter and other applicable laws, rules, and regulations. Owners are and remain liable for violation of duties imposed by this chapter even if a duty is also imposed on the occupants of the property, or on a local property manager, and even if the owner has, by agreement, imposed on the occupant, or local property manager the duty of furnishing or maintaining required devices, equipment, or facilities or otherwise complying with this chapter. (Ord. No. 2021-03, 11-22-21; Ord. No. 2025-04, 7-28-25)
Fairmont Ch. 27 Rental Housing Standards § 27-5 establishes that rental property owners bear primary responsibility for keeping their properties compliant with Minnesota's building, fire, and administrative codes. Owners must arrange adequate garbage collection, maintain lawns, and promptly address mold, rodent, and insect infestations. After an owner eliminates an infestation or mold problem, tenants take on the ongoing responsibility of keeping the unit free of those conditions. Owners, tenants, occupants, and local property managers share joint responsibility for safe, sanitary, and orderly conditions, but owners remain liable for code violations even when a lease or agreement shifts certain duties to tenants or managers.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 27-5, compliant rental operators in Fairmont generally maintain active garbage contracts with a licensed Martin County hauler, keep documentation of that contract available, and ensure containers or dumpsters are adequate for all units. They also stay current with lawn care and snow and ice removal obligations under the referenced city code chapters, and they respond promptly to any mold, rodent, or insect infestation reports. Importantly, § 27-5(b) makes clear that owners remain liable for violations of this chapter even when a lease delegates maintenance duties to a tenant or local property manager, so operators typically build compliance verification into their routine property management practices.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 27-5 gives tenants a stake in the shared responsibility for keeping rental property safe, sanitary, and orderly, and it specifically assigns tenants the ongoing duty of keeping a unit mold- and infestation-free after the owner has addressed an initial problem. If an owner is not meeting their maintenance obligations—such as failing to arrange garbage service, address infestations, or comply with applicable Minnesota codes—tenants can document the conditions and contact the City of Fairmont to report a potential violation of § 27-5. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services can help tenants understand what options may be available, including how a landlord's failure to comply with this chapter might be raised in a housing dispute.
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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