Newport, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 8, art. IV § 8-95

(a) Inspection criteria. The zoning administrator, or his designee, may inspect any rental dwelling unit if it falls within one or more of the following criteria:
(1) Such unit has been abandoned by the owner for more than 60 days, or the owner of such unit cannot be found;
(2) The rental dwelling unit registration certificate has been suspended, revoked or denied;
(3) The rental dwelling unit has had three exterior inspections within a one-year period or an excessive amount of exterior inspections, as determined by the zoning administrator, or his designee, during any given period;
(4) An excessive consumption of exterior inspection services fee, as determined by the zoning administrator, has been imposed or billed as a result of enforcement activity;
(5) Water, gas or electric service to such unit has been discontinued as a result of nonpayment for more than 30 continuous days;
(6) The unit is on a parcel of land which is on the list of delinquent taxes filed by the county auditor with the court administrator of the district court pursuant to M.S.A. § 279.05;
(7) The unit or the property within which the unit is located has, within the preceding three months, been the subject of a written petition filed with the office of city clerk by any district council, which petition requests that such unit be inspected and is signed by three or more persons having personal knowledge of the unit or property, stating one or more reasons why such unit should be inspected by the city;
(8) The zoning administrator, or his designee, has probable cause to believe that there exists within such unit one or more violations of safety codes which constitute a serious danger to the health, safety and welfare of persons living in such unit, or which would make the unit or structure in which the unit was located a dangerous structure or unfit for human habitation; or
(9) The unit or the property within which the unit is located has, within the preceding six months, received a renewal certificate based upon a suspension or revocation.
(b) Safety and health criteria to be used in rental inspections. In addition to any other criteria expressly authorized by law, the zoning administrator or his designee shall be permitted to establish such additional rules or safety criteria as may be in the interest of the health and safety of the citizens in rental housing located within the city. A list of the specific criteria to be utilized in such rental inspections as are not otherwise expressly required by the laws of the state or ordinances of the city shall be published and furnished on request to any person at city hall during normal business hours, or with any application for a rental license or rental license renewal with the city.
(c) Authority of zoning administrator. The zoning administrator, or his designee, is authorized, in conformity with this section, to inspect all rental dwelling units to enforce this section and all applicable safety codes, whether having a registration certificate hereunder or not. The inspection may include the building or structure containing the rental dwelling unit, the land upon which it is located and accessory uses or structures related to the rental dwelling unit. All inspections authorized by this section shall be limited to those which are done for the purpose of seeking compliance with applicable safety codes, and shall take place only at reasonable hours or as may otherwise be agreed upon by the owner and the zoning administrator, or his designee.
(d) Notice of violations. The zoning administrator, or his designee, shall give notice to the owner of any violations of the applicable safety codes, which are discovered during any inspection.