Faribault, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. V § 7-37
Definitions
Operative Text
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Board of appeals means city council. City means the City of Faribault, Minnesota. City council means the city council of the City of Faribault, Minnesota. Compliance official means the city administrator or the city administrator's designee(s). Dwelling unit refers any room or rooms providing complete, independent living facilities for one or more persons including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation. Inspector means the person designated by the city administrator to inspect rental dwellings in the city. Let means to permit possession or occupancy of a rental dwelling by a person who is not the legal owner of record thereof, pursuant to a written or unwritten lease, or pursuant to a recorded or unrecorded agreement whether or not a fee is required by the agreement. License/rental license means the license required by and issued pursuant to this article. Licensed premises means a licensed rental dwelling and all accessory structures of the rental dwellings, such as garages, storage buildings, and appurtenances such as sidewalks, driveways and retaining walls, which are on the property of the rental dwelling. Licensee/owner means any person, agent, operator, firm or corporation having a legal or equitable interest in the property or rental dwelling; or recorded in the official records of the state, county or municipality as holding title to the property; or otherwise having control of the property or rental dwelling, including the guardian of the estate of any such person, and the executor or administrator of the estate of such person if ordered to take possession of real property by a court, or any person representing the actual owner, holding a valid rental license from the city. Modify means a change in license category. Official order means a written notice stating violation(s) of city Code and corrective action to be taken. Operate means to let for occupancy or to rent. Property manager or local agent means a person authorized by the owner to act on the owner's behalf as to the licensed premises. Property Maintenance Code means the Property Maintenance Code of the City of Faribault as adopted in section 7-21 of the city Code. Rental dwelling means any building containing one or more rental dwelling units. Rent means to let for occupancy or to let. Revoke/revocation means a license action due to noncompliance with the requirements of this article. Tenant means a person who is occupying a dwelling unit in a rental dwelling under a lease or contract, whether oral or written, that requires the payment of money or exchange of services.
Faribault Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. V § 7-37 establishes the official vocabulary for the city's rental-housing licensing article, assigning precise meanings to terms such as "dwelling unit," "licensee/owner," "let," "operate," and "revocation." These definitions govern how every other provision in Article V is interpreted, ensuring that words carry consistent, specific meanings throughout the regulatory framework. For example, "letting" a unit covers arrangements with or without a formal lease and with or without a fee, and "licensee/owner" extends beyond the deed holder to anyone exercising control over a rental property.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 7-37, the term "licensee/owner" is defined broadly enough to encompass agents, operators, and anyone exercising control over a rental property — not just the person whose name appears on the deed. Compliant operators in Faribault typically ensure that any property manager or local agent acting on their behalf is properly identified, since that representative relationship is recognized within the article's definitions. Familiarity with these defined terms — particularly "official order," "revocation," and "compliance official" — helps operators understand the procedural language they will encounter throughout Article V.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 7-37 defines "tenant" as anyone occupying a rental dwelling under an oral or written arrangement that involves payment of money or exchange of services, meaning a wide range of living situations fall within the article's protections and requirements. The definition of "dwelling unit" requires complete, independent living facilities — including provisions for sleeping, cooking, eating, and sanitation — which can be relevant when evaluating whether a space qualifies as a regulated rental unit under Article V. Tenants who have questions about how these definitions apply to their housing situation may find it useful to consult a local tenant-rights organization or review the full text of Faribault Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. V.
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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