Minneapolis, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 12 § 244.660
Changing or altering locks (Minneapolis Housing Code)
Operative Text
No person shall change or alter any keyed lock, or place such a new lock on the entrance of a dwelling unit without first providing the tenant or owner of that dwelling unit with a suitable functional key to operate such a lock. A tenant shall obtain permission of the owner, in writing, before installing permanent locks. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 72.190; Ord. of 3-27-75, § 1; 78-Or-244, § 29 , 11-22-78; 82-Or-106, § 24 , 6-11-82)
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.660 governs the changing or altering of keyed locks on dwelling unit entrances. Under this rule, anyone who installs, changes, or replaces a lock on a dwelling unit entrance must simultaneously provide the occupant or owner with a working key for that lock before the change takes effect. Additionally, tenants who wish to install permanent locks must first obtain written permission from the property owner.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 244.660, a compliant property owner or manager ensures that any time a lock is changed or replaced on a dwelling unit entrance, a functional key is delivered to the tenant before or at the moment the new lock is put in place. Operators generally document key handoffs as part of their maintenance and turnover procedures. Owners who receive a written request from a tenant to install a permanent lock should respond in writing, as the ordinance requires written permission before any such installation.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 244.660 gives tenants the right to receive a working key whenever a lock on their dwelling unit entrance is changed or replaced — the key must be provided before or at the time of the change. If a landlord changes a lock without providing a key, this may constitute a violation of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances that can be reported to the City of Minneapolis. Tenants who want to install their own permanent locks should know that § 244.660 requires written permission from the owner first, and a local tenant-rights organization can help explain what options are generally available.
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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