Hopkins, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 20, art. III § 20-149
Required; exceptions
Operative Text
(a) No person shall operate, let or cause to be let, a rental dwelling unit, which has not been properly licensed by the city in the manner required by this article. A license must be obtained for each residential dwelling unit, except that two or more residential dwelling units located within a single building and having a common owner and a common property identification number shall require only a single license. All rental dwelling units shall be licensed before being let, in whole or in part. (b) Rental dwelling units must be licensed as a sleeping room, a single-family dwelling, a two-family dwelling, or an apartment building. Any unlicensed rental dwelling units are subject to penalties. (c) Rental licenses are not required for dwelling units that an immediate relative occupies. The term "relative" means individuals with legal, financial or shared caregiving responsibilities for each other's welfare including: spouse, domestic partners, parent (including in-laws), child (including biological, step-child, foster child, adopted child, adult child or in-laws), sibling, grandchild (including biological, step-child, foster child, adopted child or adult child), grandparent, any adult with legal guardianship status, custody or those serving loco parentis and other persons operating in a caretaker roles relative to the owner of the property. (d) Rental dwelling units owned or under the control of the city must be licensed but are exempt from paying license fees.
Hopkins Code of Ordinances ch. 20, art. III § 20-149 establishes that every rental dwelling unit in Hopkins must hold a valid city-issued license before it can be rented out, in whole or in part. Multiple units in a single building that share an owner and a common property identification number may be covered under one license rather than requiring separate licenses for each unit. Certain units are exempt from the licensing requirement entirely — specifically those occupied by an immediate relative of the owner, as that term is broadly defined in the provision — while city-owned units must be licensed but are not charged a fee.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Hopkins Code of Ordinances ch. 20, art. III § 20-149, compliant rental operators secure the appropriate city license — categorized as a sleeping room, single-family dwelling, two-family dwelling, or apartment building — before placing any unit into service. Operators with multiple units in one building under a shared property identification number generally need only a single license, which can simplify the administrative process. Operators who rent to immediate relatives as defined in § 20-149(c) should document that relationship carefully, since that exemption is the basis for forgoing a license in those situations.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Hopkins Code of Ordinances ch. 20, art. III § 20-149 requires that any unit being rented to you must be properly licensed by the city before you move in; an unlicensed unit is explicitly subject to penalties under the ordinance. If you have reason to believe your unit is not licensed as required, you may contact the City of Hopkins to inquire about the unit's licensing status or file a complaint through the city's code enforcement process. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Hopkins municipal code can help you understand what options are generally available when a landlord has not complied with § 20-149's licensing requirements.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.