Minneapolis, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 12 § 244.540
Shades, drapes (Minneapolis Housing Code)
Operative Text
Every window of every room let to another for sleeping purposes and the windows of bath and toilet rooms used in conjunction with such sleeping rooms shall be supplied with shades, draw drapes, or other devices or materials which when properly used will afford privacy to the occupant of the room. However, upon written agreement of the owner and the occupant, separate from other lease agreement, said shades, drapes or devices need not be provided. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 72.055; Ord. of 8-10-73, § 1; 82-Or-106, § 18 , 6-11-82)
Under Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.540, every window in a room rented for sleeping and in any connected bathroom or toilet room must be fitted with shades, draw drapes, or similar coverings that provide privacy when used. This requirement can be waived only if the property owner and occupant enter into a separate written agreement—distinct from the main lease—explicitly agreeing that such coverings will not be provided. The rule is designed to ensure a baseline level of privacy for renters in sleeping and adjoining bathroom spaces.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rental units in Minneapolis should ensure that all sleeping-room windows and connected bath or toilet room windows are equipped with functional privacy coverings as required by § 244.540. Compliant operators typically install shades, draw drapes, or equivalent devices before a tenant takes occupancy. If an owner and occupant mutually agree to forgo these coverings, § 244.540 requires that agreement to be documented in a standalone written document separate from the lease itself.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 244.540 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances gives renters the right to have privacy coverings on sleeping-room windows and connected bathroom windows, unless they have separately and voluntarily agreed in writing to waive that right. If coverings are absent and no such separate written waiver exists, a tenant may have grounds to raise the missing coverings as a housing-code violation with the City of Minneapolis. Tenant-rights organizations in Minneapolis can help renters understand what options are generally available when a landlord has not met this standard.
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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