Minneapolis, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 12 § 244.1810
License required (Minneapolis Housing Code)
Operative Text
(a) No person shall allow any dwelling unit to be occupied, or let or offer to let to another any dwelling unit for occupancy, or charge, accept or retain rent for any dwelling unit unless the owner has a valid license, administrative registration, short term rental registration or provisional license under the terms of this article. The practice of pre-leasing new rental construction shall be exempt from the provisions of this section. (b) During the pendency of any adverse license proceeding instituted against any rental dwelling license, no such license may be renewed. Whenever such a rental dwelling license is due for renewal, the director may issue, in lieu of a rental dwelling license, a rental dwelling administrative registration. Such administrative registration shall allow for the continued occupancy and operation of the rental dwelling pending the completion or cessation of the pending adverse license action, subject to all valid court orders and to any requirements imposed by this article or other applicable law, ordinance, statute, rule or requirement. The fee for any such administrative registration shall be equal to the amount that would be authorized for the issuance of a rental dwelling license pursuant to section 244.1890 . Should the pending adverse license action result in a full and final revocation, withdrawal, or denial of the subject rental dwelling license after the administrative registration fee has been paid, a refund of any prorated quarter-annual portions shall be provided if more than three (3) months remain in the annual registration period. ( 90-Or-235 , § 6, 9-14-90; 96-Or-129 , § 1, 12-13-96; 2008-Or-016 , § 1, 2-29-08; 2012-Or-059 , § 1, 8-17-12; Ord. No. 2017-054 , § 2, 10-20-17; Ord. No. 2017-069 , § 1, 11-17-17)
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.1810 requires that any dwelling unit offered for rent, occupied by a tenant, or generating rental income must be covered by a valid city-issued license, administrative registration, short-term rental registration, or provisional license held by the owner. Pre-leasing newly constructed rental units is the one explicit exemption from this requirement. When a license faces an adverse proceeding and cannot be renewed, the city may issue a temporary administrative registration that keeps the property legally operable while the proceeding is resolved, with partial fee refunds available if the license is ultimately revoked and significant registration time remains.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 244.1810, compliant rental property owners in Minneapolis maintain a current license, administrative registration, short-term rental registration, or provisional license before collecting rent or allowing occupancy of any dwelling unit. Operators generally track renewal deadlines carefully, since a license under adverse proceedings cannot be renewed in the ordinary course and the city may substitute an administrative registration instead. Owners who receive notice of an adverse license action should be aware that fee structures and potential prorated refunds are governed by this section and § 244.1890, making timely record-keeping and communication with the licensing authority a standard part of operations.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Minneapolis Code § 244.1810 establishes that a landlord must hold a valid license or registration before renting or collecting rent on any dwelling unit, giving tenants a basis to inquire about their landlord's current licensing status. Tenants can check whether a property has a valid license through the city's licensing records, and an unlicensed rental may be raised as a relevant issue in housing court proceedings or complaints to city authorities. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Minneapolis housing law can help residents understand what options exist when a property appears to be operating without the required license or registration under this provision.
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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