Minneapolis, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 12 § 244.1730
Easement agreements (Minneapolis Housing Code)
Operative Text
(a) No utility company may seek to enter a multi-unit dwelling in order to maintain, repair, replace, or remove any of its facilities without providing to the owner of the building not less than four (4) hours advance notice during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) except: (1) In case of emergency; (2) Meter reading, monitoring, adjustments, connecting or reconnecting; (3) At the request of a tenant; (4) To protect the health and safety of tenants; or (5) When the activity does not require the company to access the building through the security doors. (b) No utility company may require as a condition of its services that direct sales to the tenants of a multi-unit dwelling with exterior security doors be allowed except during limited periods of time negotiated with the owners of the building and upon adequate notice to the tenants so as not to compromise the security of the building. ( 95-Or-091 , § 1, 6-9-95)
Minneapolis Code § 244.1730 governs how utility companies interact with multi-unit residential buildings. Under this provision, a utility company must give the building owner at least four hours of advance notice during normal business hours (8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday through Friday) before entering to maintain, repair, replace, or remove its facilities, with specific exceptions such as emergencies, meter reading, tenant requests, and health-and-safety situations. Additionally, a utility company cannot make direct sales access to tenants a condition of providing service, unless the building owner has negotiated a limited time window and tenants have received adequate notice to preserve building security.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 244.1730, building owners of multi-unit dwellings with exterior security doors hold meaningful rights regarding utility company access. A compliant operator generally keeps records of advance-notice communications from utility companies, understands which exceptions—such as emergencies or meter reading—allow entry without the four-hour notice, and negotiates any agreed-upon windows for direct tenant sales in writing. Owners also typically ensure that any negotiated sales-access periods come with adequate tenant notification so that building security is not compromised.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 244.1730 provides tenants in Minneapolis multi-unit dwellings with indirect protections around utility company access and sales practices. Tenants should be aware that a utility company's entry without proper owner notice—outside the listed exceptions—may constitute a violation of this ordinance, and that a utility company cannot condition its services on unrestricted direct-sales access to tenants. Tenants who believe this provision has been violated may raise the issue with their building owner, contact the City of Minneapolis for guidance, or reach out to 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 September 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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