Minneapolis, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 12 § 244.620
Vacant dwelling units (Minneapolis Housing Code)
Operative Text
No owner shall occupy or permit any other person to occupy any vacant dwelling unit, rooming unit or hotel unit, unless it is clean, sanitary and complies with all provisions of the housing maintenance code. The owner of any dwelling shall be responsible for the removal of all garbage, rubbish and other discarded debris left on the premises where the dwelling unit is vacant. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 72.130)
Minneapolis Code § 244.620 establishes that a dwelling unit, rooming unit, or hotel unit that has been vacated cannot be re-occupied until it meets cleanliness, sanitary, and full housing-maintenance-code standards. The rule also places responsibility on the property owner—not the incoming or outgoing occupant—to remove garbage, rubbish, and discarded debris from the premises while the unit sits vacant. Together, these requirements set a baseline condition that must be met before any new occupancy begins.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Minneapolis Code § 244.620, compliant property operators generally ensure that every vacant unit is thoroughly cleaned, free of debris, and brought into full compliance with the housing maintenance code before allowing any new occupant to move in. Owners are also responsible for actively removing garbage, rubbish, and other discarded materials left on the premises during the vacancy period—this obligation does not transfer to the departing or arriving tenant. Keeping dated inspection records, cleaning logs, and move-in checklists can help document that a unit met the required standard before occupancy resumed.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Minneapolis Code § 244.620 gives incoming occupants a basis to expect that any unit they are permitted to move into has already been cleaned, made sanitary, and brought into compliance with the city's housing maintenance code before they arrive. If a unit appears to have been occupied in violation of these conditions—for example, if it contained garbage or failed to meet code at move-in—tenants may have grounds to raise that violation with the city or as a defense in related proceedings. Tenant-rights organizations in Minneapolis can help residents understand what documentation to gather and what complaint or enforcement options may be available under this provision.
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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