Minneapolis, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 12 § 244.280
Tenant to be given copy of lease (Minneapolis Housing Code)
Operative Text
Any person who lets for rent any dwelling, dwelling unit or other structure for the purpose of living, sleeping, cooking or eating, pursuant to a written lease, shall furnish a copy of the written lease to the tenant or lessee within five (5) days after it is signed by both parties. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 70.010; Ord. of 7-26-74, § 1; 82-Or-106, § 8, 6-11-82)
Under Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.280, whenever a residential dwelling, dwelling unit, or other living space is rented under a written lease, the landlord is required to provide the tenant with a copy of that signed lease within five days of both parties signing it. The rule applies broadly to any space used for living, sleeping, cooking, or eating. This ensures tenants have timely access to the written terms of their tenancy.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators covered by Minneapolis Code § 244.280 generally maintain a practice of preparing duplicate originals or copies of every written lease at the time of signing, so that the tenant's copy can be delivered within the five-day window. Keeping a dated record of when the copy was provided — such as a delivery receipt or email confirmation — supports documentation of compliance. Consistent lease-copy procedures across all units help property managers meet this obligation regardless of staff turnover or portfolio size.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Minneapolis Code § 244.280, tenants who sign a written lease have a right to receive their own copy of that lease within five days of both parties signing. If a copy is not provided within that timeframe, tenants may raise the landlord's noncompliance as a relevant fact in disputes about lease terms or conditions. Tenant-rights organizations in Minneapolis can help renters understand what options are generally available when a landlord has not fulfilled this obligation.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.