Minneapolis, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 12 § 244.495
Defacement of property (Minneapolis Housing Code)
Operative Text
(a) No person shall willfully or wantonly damage, mutilate or deface any exterior surface of any structure or building on any private or public property by placing thereon any marking, carving, or graffiti. (b) It shall be the responsibility of the owner to restore said surface to an approved professional state of maintenance and repair. (c) The parent or guardian of the person of a minor, who is under the age of eighteen (18) that is living with the parent or guardian, and which minor violates the provisions of paragraph (a) of this section in regard to any property in the city, is liable for the payment of a civil fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each offense based on the conduct of such minor. The civil fine provided for in this subparagraph is in addition to and not in lieu of any compensatory or other liability which may exist at law, by statute or pursuant to ordinance. ( 82-Or-106 , § 15 , 6-11-82; 2000-Or-076 , § 1, 7-28-00)
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.495 prohibits anyone from intentionally damaging, mutilating, or defacing the exterior surface of any structure—public or private—through markings, carvings, or graffiti. When such defacement occurs, the property owner bears responsibility for restoring the surface to a professionally maintained condition. Additionally, when the offender is a minor living with a parent or guardian, that adult can be held civilly liable for up to $100 per offense, on top of any other legal liability that may apply.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Minneapolis Code § 244.495, compliant property owners generally document any graffiti or exterior defacement promptly and arrange for professional-grade restoration of the affected surface. Keeping records of remediation efforts—including dates, contractor invoices, and before-and-after photographs—supports a clear maintenance history. Owners may also explore whether civil remedies against a responsible party or their guardian are available to offset restoration costs.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Minneapolis Code § 244.495 establishes that no resident or occupant may deface exterior surfaces of any building, and tenants should be aware that this obligation applies to private property as well as public spaces. If a tenant believes a landlord is improperly attributing defacement damage to them or using it as a pretext for charges, they may raise the circumstances of the damage as a relevant factor in any dispute. Tenants seeking to understand their rights in such situations can consult a local tenant-rights organization or the City of Minneapolis for guidance on how § 244.495 applies.
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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