Jackson, Minn., Mun. Code Ch. 97 (2026) § 97.07
EXTERIOR STRUCTURE
Operative Text
(A) Accessory structures shall be maintained according to divisions (C), (E), (F), (J), (K), (M) and (N) of this section. (B) Chimneys shall be structurally sound and in good working order. (C) Doors, storm doors, sliding glass doors and garage doors shall be structurally sound, reasonably water and air tight, free of broken panes of glass and equipped with a locking system and latch in good working condition that is capable of keeping the door closed at all times. (D) Exterior lighting; owner shall provide effective lighting near all exterior doors and in all exterior parking lots unless City or commercial lighting effectively makes it unnecessary. (E) Exterior stairs, sidewalks, retaining walls, porches, decks, railings and hand guardrails shall be structurally sound and free of broken, rotting or missing sections. Four or more consecutive stair risers must have a well-anchored hand railing. (F) Foundation and basement shall be reasonably watertight and shall adequately support the building at all points. (G) Lawn care. Owner shall be responsible for lawn care and for the removal of ice and snow. (H) Location of numbers. The owner shall provide address numbers that are readily apparent from the street in accordance with City Code. The unit numbers of each multi-family dwelling unit shall be displayed on the unit’s main entrance door or within six inches of the units door frame. (I) Mailboxes/mail slots. The owner shall provide mail boxes or slots in accordance with postal regulations. (J) Roof. The owner shall maintain the roof in good, structurally sound and water tight condition. (K) Gutters if any, must be properly installed and maintained to be functional. (L) Utility meters (multi-family dwelling units). The owner shall provide a separate meter for each utility service for which the tenant is responsible. (M) Walls shall be kept by the owner: (1) Structurally sound, water tight, free of holes, breaks, loose or rotting boards; and (2) Properly surfaced with siding, brick or paint, with chipping and flaking paint not to exceed 20% of the total surface area. (N) Windows: (1) Shall be kept structurally sound, water tight, have unbroken glass and be rally functional to their design if required for ventilation or egress; (2) Required for ventilation, including those in the basement, shall be supplied with a functional screen; (3) Required for egress shall not be barred; and (4) That are covered over shall be covered with material that matches the exterior of the unit and shall be weatherproof and watertight. (Ord. 19, 6 th Series, passed 4-3-2007)
Jackson Ch. 97 Rental Housing Minimum Maintenance § 97.07 establishes a comprehensive set of exterior maintenance standards that rental property owners must meet. The rule covers a wide range of structural and functional elements—including chimneys, doors, stairs, roofs, walls, windows, gutters, lighting, and accessory structures—requiring each to be kept structurally sound, weathertight, and safe. Specific details, such as requiring hand railings on four or more consecutive stair risers and limiting chipping or flaking paint to no more than 20% of a wall's surface area, reflect the level of specificity built into this provision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating rental housing in Jackson are generally expected to conduct regular inspections of all exterior components covered under § 97.07 to ensure ongoing compliance. A compliant operator typically keeps doors lockable and weathertight, maintains roofs and foundations in watertight condition, ensures stairs with four or more consecutive risers have anchored hand railings, provides exterior lighting near all entry doors and parking areas, and addresses lawn care and snow and ice removal. Operators of multi-family properties also attend to unit-specific requirements under § 97.07, such as displaying unit numbers at each entrance and providing separate utility meters for tenant-billed services.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants renting in Jackson have an interest in knowing that § 97.07 sets legally enforceable exterior maintenance standards their landlord is required to meet. If exterior elements such as doors, windows, stairs, roofs, or walls fall into disrepair—broken glass, missing railings, leaking roofs, or inadequate exterior lighting—those conditions may constitute violations of this provision. Tenants who observe such conditions can document them, notify their landlord in writing, and explore options such as filing a complaint with the appropriate local code enforcement authority or consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with Jackson's rental housing ordinances.
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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