Fergus Falls, Minn., Mun. Code Ch. 117 (2026) § 117.12
HEARING ON DENIAL OR VIOLATION
Operative Text
(A) Notice of action. If the City Administrator or designee denies the issuance of a registration, or suspends, or revokes a registration, or imposes civil penalties as prescribed in this chapter, the City Administrator or designee shall send to the applicant, or registration holder, by certified mail, return receipt requested, written notice of the action, and the right to an appeal. Appeals shall be heard as set forth in §§ 33.45 through 33.47 of this code. (B) Default. If the applicant or registration holder has been provided written notice of the denial, nonrenewal, or violation and if no request for a hearing is filed within the ten-day period, then the denial under § 117.04 of this chapter or civil penalty or revocation imposed in § 117.10 of this chapter shall take immediate effect by default. The City Administrator or designee shall mail notice of the denial, fine, suspension, or revocation to the applicant or registration holder. The City Administrator shall investigate compliance with the denial or revocation. (C) Continuing obligations; penalty. Revocation, suspension or nonrenewal of a registration shall not excuse the owner/registration holder from compliance with all terms of this section, this code, and state laws for as long as any units in the facility are occupied. Failure to comply with all terms of this chapter during the term of revocation, suspension or nonrenewal is a misdemeanor and grounds for extension of the term of such revocation or suspension or continuation of nonrenewal, or for a decision not to reinstate the registration, notwithstanding any limitations on the period of suspension, revocation or nonrenewal specified in the City Council’s written decision. (D) New registrations prohibited. A person who has a rental registration revoked may not receive a rental registration for another property within the city for a period of one-year from the date of revocation. The person may continue to operate other currently registered rental properties if the properties are maintained in compliance with city codes and other applicable regulations. (Ord. 86, Seventh Series, passed 10-7-2019)
Fergus Falls Ch. 117 § 117.12 establishes the procedural framework that applies when the City Administrator denies, suspends, or revokes a rental registration, or imposes civil penalties. Affected parties must receive written notice by certified mail and have the right to appeal through the process outlined in §§ 33.45–33.47 of the city code. If no appeal is requested within ten days, the denial or penalty takes effect automatically by default. Even after a revocation or suspension, property owners remain legally obligated to comply with all applicable codes for as long as any units remain occupied, and a revocation bars the holder from obtaining a new rental registration for any other city property for one year.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Fergus Falls Ch. 117 § 117.12, compliant operators who receive a notice of denial, suspension, revocation, or civil penalty are aware that they have a ten-day window to request a hearing before any action becomes final by default. Operators generally maintain records of certified-mail correspondence from the City Administrator and track appeal deadlines carefully. Even during a period of revocation or suspension, continuing to meet all code requirements for occupied units is expected, as noncompliance during that period constitutes a misdemeanor and can extend the revocation or prevent reinstatement. A revocation also triggers a one-year prohibition on obtaining a rental registration for any other property within Fergus Falls.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Fergus Falls Ch. 117 § 117.12 provides tenants with indirect protections by requiring that landlords remain bound by all city code obligations even if their rental registration is revoked, suspended, or not renewed, for as long as units remain occupied. This means a landlord cannot use a registration action as a reason to abandon habitability or other legal duties toward current tenants. Tenants who believe a landlord is failing to meet those ongoing obligations may consider contacting the Fergus Falls City Administrator's office, consulting a tenant-rights organization, or reviewing the appeal and enforcement procedures outlined in §§ 33.45–33.47 of the city code.
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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