Minneapolis, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 12 § 244.270
Liability for utility service payments (Minneapolis Housing Code)
Operative Text
No person shall let for rent any dwelling, dwelling unit, or other structure for the purpose of living, sleeping, cooking or eating without first giving to the tenant or lessee, written notice of who the bill payer is for all public utilities to be used by the tenant or lessee. In the absence of a separate utility meter which accurately measures the amount, quantity or extent of electricity, gas or water consumed on the premises leased by the tenants or lessee, the owner or lessor shall contract with the utility for utility services and shall be the bill payer and the customer of record of the utility. Nothing herein shall affect the validity of a written rental agreement, executed on or before the effective date of this section, requiring a tenant to contract directly with a utility for utility services. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 70.010; Ord. of 7-26-74, § 1; 78-Or-244, § 5, 11-22-78; 87-Or-058, § 1, 4-10-87; 87-Or-179, § 1, 10-9-87)
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.270 requires that before any dwelling or unit is rented for living purposes, the tenant must receive written notice identifying who is responsible for paying each public utility bill. When there is no separate meter accurately measuring a tenant's individual consumption of electricity, gas, or water, the property owner must hold the utility contract and serve as the bill-paying customer of record. Rental agreements already in place before this section took effect that required tenants to contract directly with a utility are not invalidated by this rule.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Minneapolis Code § 244.270, compliant operators provide every incoming tenant with written disclosure — before the tenancy begins — naming the bill payer for each public utility the tenant will use. Where individual sub-meters do not accurately track each tenant's consumption of electricity, gas, or water, the owner or lessor is required to hold the utility account and remain the customer of record with the utility provider. Operators generally document this disclosure in the lease or as a signed addendum to create a clear record that the requirement was met prior to occupancy.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Minneapolis Code § 244.270 gives tenants the right to receive written notice before move-in identifying who pays each utility bill for the unit. If your unit lacks a separate meter that accurately measures your individual electricity, gas, or water use, the law places responsibility for holding the utility contract on the owner — not the tenant. Tenants who believe this disclosure was not provided, or who were improperly required to establish a utility account in the absence of an individual meter, may consider raising the issue with a local tenant-rights organization or the City of Minneapolis for guidance on available remedies.
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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