New Brighton, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 18, art. III § 18-311
No retaliation
Operative Text
No licensee shall evict, threaten to evict, or take any other punitive action against any tenant by reason of good faith calls made by such tenant to law enforcement agencies relating to criminal activity, suspected criminal activity, suspicious occurrences, or public safety concerns. This section shall not prohibit the eviction of tenants from a dwelling unit for unlawful conduct of a tenant or invitee or violation of any rules, regulations, or lease terms other than a prohibition against contacting law enforcement agencies.
New Brighton Code of Ordinances ch. 18, art. III § 18-311 establishes an anti-retaliation rule that protects tenants who contact law enforcement in good faith about criminal activity, suspected criminal activity, suspicious occurrences, or public safety concerns. Landlords (referred to in the ordinance as licensees) are prohibited from evicting, threatening to evict, or taking other punitive actions against a tenant because of such calls. The provision does not, however, shield tenants from eviction based on their own unlawful conduct or violations of lease terms unrelated to contacting law enforcement.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under New Brighton Code of Ordinances ch. 18, art. III § 18-311, compliant rental operators take care to ensure that no eviction notice, rent increase, or other adverse action is initiated in response to a tenant's good-faith call to law enforcement. Operators generally document the independent, non-retaliatory basis for any adverse action taken against a tenant — such as a lease violation or unlawful conduct — so that the action is clearly distinguishable from a response to law enforcement contact. Maintaining clear, contemporaneous records of lease violations and the timeline of any enforcement decisions helps demonstrate that actions were taken for permissible reasons.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 18-311 of the New Brighton Code of Ordinances gives tenants the right to contact law enforcement about criminal activity, suspicious occurrences, or public safety concerns without facing eviction or other punitive action from their landlord as a result. If a tenant believes an eviction or other adverse action was taken in retaliation for a good-faith call to law enforcement, that belief may be relevant as a defense in eviction proceedings or as the basis for a complaint with local authorities. Tenants who believe their rights under this provision have been violated may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand the options available to them.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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