Maple Grove, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 10, art. XII § 10-426
Criminal background check
Operative Text
(a) The city recommends that the owner or operator conduct criminal background checks on all prospective tenants. A criminal background check if conducted should include the following: (1) A statewide criminal history check of all prospective tenants covering the last five years. Any check should be done utilizing the most recent update of the state criminal history files; (2) A statewide criminal and civil court records check of all prospective tenants covering at least the last five years including all misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, and felony convictions related to property offenses, fraud, violence against persons, or sex offenses; (3) A statewide criminal history check of any prospective tenant in their previous states of residence, if available, covering the last five years if they have not resided in the state for five years or longer. (b) The owner or operator must maintain a current register of tenants and other persons who have a lawful right to occupancy of a rental unit. The register of tenants must include the full name, date of birth, and the most current telephone number available for each tenant or other lawful occupants. The tenant register along with any background checks must be available for review by the city upon request. (c) If the owner undertakes a background check as recommended by this section, review of the results should focus especially on felony convictions related to property offenses, fraud, violence against persons, and sex offenses. If the owner intends to rely on a background check to deny prospective tenancy, the owner must conduct an individualized assessment of the application after allowing the applicant a reasonable opportunity to supply additional information. It is not the intention of the city to intrude into the decision-making of the owner or operator of a rental unit as to prospective tenants, but rather to assure that all applicants receive a fair opportunity to secure housing.
Maple Grove Code of Ordinances ch. 10, art. XII § 10-426 establishes a framework for criminal background checks in the rental context that blends recommendations with firm requirements. While the city encourages—but does not mandate—that owners conduct background checks covering statewide criminal and civil court records for the past five years, it does require owners to maintain a current tenant register with each occupant's full name, date of birth, and most recent phone number, and to make that register (along with any background checks) available to the city upon request. When a background check is conducted and used as a basis to deny tenancy, the owner must perform an individualized assessment of the applicant and give that applicant a reasonable opportunity to provide additional information before a final decision is made.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 10-426, compliant rental operators in Maple Grove keep an up-to-date tenant register—including full names, dates of birth, and current phone numbers for all lawful occupants—and have it ready for city review at any time. Operators who choose to run background checks generally follow the section's recommended scope (statewide criminal history and civil court records covering at least the last five years) and focus review on felony convictions related to property offenses, fraud, violence, and sex offenses. Critically, if a background check result is used to deny an application, the operator must conduct an individualized assessment and give the applicant a meaningful chance to submit additional information before the decision is finalized.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 10-426 of the Maple Grove Code of Ordinances gives prospective tenants an important procedural protection: if a landlord intends to deny an application based on a background check, the landlord is required to conduct an individualized assessment and must first give the applicant a reasonable opportunity to provide additional context or information. Tenants who believe this individualized-assessment requirement was not followed may consider raising that as a concern with the city, which has the authority to review tenant registers and associated background check records. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Maple Grove's ordinances can help applicants understand what this process should look like and what options may be available if it was not observed.
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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