Minneapolis, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 12 § 244.510
Interior (Minneapolis Housing Code)
Operative Text
(a) Every interior partition, wall, floor, door, window, trim surface, radiator and ceiling shall be kept in a professional state of repair. In other than owner-occupied dwellings such interior partitions, walls and ceilings shall be provided with an interior finish material specifically manufactured for, and intended to be used as, an interior finished surface. Walls, floors and ceilings that are required to be fire rated by new construction regulations shall be maintained and repaired to prevent a lowering of the resistance to fire or the spread of fire. In addition, maintenance and repairs to walls, floors and ceilings separating dwelling units, or dwelling units from public corridors or stairways shall be done in a manner which will not reduce the sound transmission class of such walls, floors or ceilings. Dwelling unit doors leading to communal, shared or public areas, when replaced, shall be replaced with an approved solid core door not less than one and three-eighths (1 ⅜ ) inches in thickness. For the purposes of this section, professional state of repair shall apply to the repair and application of interior finishes. Interior finishes shall meet the flame spread classification set forth in Chapter 42 of the Building Code when such interior finishes are hereafter altered, refinished, repaired or replaced. Bathroom and toilet room floor surfaces shall be reasonably impervious to moisture. (b) No person shall apply any paint on the interior surface of any dwelling or dwelling unit, unless such paint contains less than 0.06 percent lead. (c) No interior wall of any dwelling or building accessory thereto shall have paint which is blistered, cracked, flaked, scaled or chalked away. (d) Interior surfaces and surface coverings, such as but not limited to carpet, wood, cellulose insulation, and paper, paint, and other wall coverings, including paper-faced gypsum board, shall have no signs of visible mold growth or chronic or persistent excessive dampness or moisture. Building material that is discolored or deteriorated by mold or mildew or causes a moldy or earthy odor shall be cleaned, dried, and repaired. Structurally unsound material shall be removed and replaced. The underlying cause of excessive dampness or moisture, or moldy or earthy odor, shall be investigated and corrected. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 72.030; Ord. of 6-13-75, § 1; 78-Or-244, § 19 , 11-22-78; 82-Or-106 , §§ 2, 17, 6-11-82; 89-Or-151 , § 1, 8-11-89; 94-Or-087 , § 3, 7-1-94; Ord. No. 2023-045 , § 2, 6-15-23)
Minneapolis Code § 244.510 establishes comprehensive interior maintenance standards for dwellings. Every interior surface — including walls, floors, ceilings, doors, windows, and radiators — must be kept in a professional state of repair, with fire-rated and sound-transmission assemblies maintained to preserve their rated performance. The provision also prohibits paint containing 0.06 percent or more lead, bans visibly deteriorated paint, and requires that any signs of mold growth, chronic dampness, or moisture damage be investigated, corrected, and repaired at the source.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rental properties subject to Minneapolis Code § 244.510 generally maintain all interior surfaces with finish materials designed for interior use, promptly address any peeling, cracking, or chalking paint, and verify that replacement paint contains less than 0.06 percent lead. Compliant operators also preserve the fire-resistance and sound-transmission ratings of walls, floors, and ceilings when making repairs, and replace dwelling-unit doors to communal areas with approved solid-core doors of at least 1⅜ inches thickness when replacement is needed. When mold, mildew, or persistent moisture is discovered, operators under this section are expected to identify and correct the underlying cause, not merely treat the visible symptom.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in Minneapolis rentals are protected by § 244.510, which entitles them to interior spaces free from deteriorating paint, mold, chronic dampness, and surfaces that fail to meet professional repair standards. If conditions such as peeling paint, visible mold, or persistent moisture are present, tenants may document the issues and report them to the City of Minneapolis's housing inspection services, which enforces this provision. Tenant-rights organizations in Minneapolis can also help residents understand available options, including raising a code violation as a defense in relevant housing proceedings.
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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