Gaylord, Minn., Mun. Code Ch. 151 (2026) § 151.18
HOUSING CERTIFICATE
Operative Text
(A) Application. An owner of a dwelling in which one or more dwelling units or rooming units are let or are intended to be let, shall make application for a housing certificate, unless the unit has been previously certified. An owner of a unit shall not allow occupancy of the unit unless and until a housing certificate has been issued. The Occupancy Inspector may issue a temporary housing certificate not exceeding six months in duration in order to bring the unit into compliance with this chapter. (B) Issuance. The Occupancy Inspector shall issue a certificate for each dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit when upon inspection the Occupancy Inspector finds the unit meets or exceeds the minimum requirements set by this chapter, dwelling unit or rooming unit, when a variance has been granted by the Board of Adjustment; provided, however, it is found that no prohibited condition or practice exists in a shared or public area of the building or in any other part of the unit, which could endanger the health or safety of the occupants of the unit or of the public. The certificate shall show the number of occupants for which the dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit is approved and once issued shall remain valid until expiration of the certificate or until the time as the Occupancy Inspector determines that the dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit does not meet the minimum requirements set by this chapter. (C) Renewals. A housing certificate shall expire three years after the date of issuance. Re-inspection of all dwellings, dwelling units or rooming units shall be required prior to issuance of a new certificate. (D) Revocation. A housing certificate may be suspended or revoked if failure to comply in accordance with this chapter. (E) Certificate fee. A fee shall be charged for each dwelling unit or rooming unit of any rental property to be paid at the time of the application for any housing certificate. This fee shall be imposed for all new applications or in the case of renewal of certificates upon reapplication. The fee shall be determined by the schedule on file at the office of the City Administrator. This fee may be amended from time to time by the City Council by resolution. (F) Occupancy Inspector. The Occupancy Inspector shall be the current Building Inspector for the city, Metro West Inspections. The Inspector may be changed from time to time by the City Council, by resolution. (Ord. 253, passed 10-5-2005; Ord. 261, passed 5-7-2008)
Gaylord Ch. 151 Housing Code § 151.18 establishes a housing certificate system for rental dwellings in Gaylord. Before any dwelling unit or rooming unit may be occupied, the owner must obtain a housing certificate from the Occupancy Inspector (currently Metro West Inspections), who issues one only after confirming the unit meets the chapter's minimum standards. Certificates are valid for three years, after which re-inspection and renewal are required, and they may be suspended or revoked if the unit falls out of compliance.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 151.18, compliant rental property operators in Gaylord apply for a housing certificate before allowing any tenant to occupy a unit, ensuring the unit has passed inspection by the Occupancy Inspector (Metro West Inspections) and meets the chapter's minimum requirements. Operators track the three-year expiration date on each certificate and initiate the re-inspection and renewal process before that deadline to avoid a lapse. If a unit needs time to come into compliance, a temporary certificate of up to six months may be available, and fees for new applications and renewals are set by the schedule on file with the City Administrator.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 151.18 of the Gaylord Housing Code gives tenants the assurance that a landlord is legally prohibited from allowing occupancy of a unit until a valid housing certificate has been issued by the Occupancy Inspector. Tenants can inquire whether a current, valid certificate exists for their unit, since a certificate must be renewed every three years following re-inspection and can be revoked if the property falls out of compliance. Those who believe their unit is being rented without a valid certificate or in violation of this section may contact the Occupancy Inspector (Metro West Inspections) or a local tenant-rights organization 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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