Northfield, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 14, art. III § 14-78

(a) Purpose. The city recognizes the need for an organized, systematic inspection program of residential housing within the city to ensure rental housing meet city and state housing safety, health, fire, building, and zoning codes, and to provide a more effective system for compelling the correction of code violations and the proper maintenance of rental property within the city. Further, the most effective system to provide for rental inspections is the creation of a program requiring the licensing of all residential rental housing within the city to ensure properties meet applicable requirements and to facilitate an orderly inspection schedule. This rental licensing program is intended to protect and promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the entire community.
(b) Scope; application to existing rental properties.
(1) Except as otherwise specifically provided, the provisions of this article shall apply to all buildings or portions thereof used, designed, or intended to be let for human habitation.
(2) Exceptions. The provisions of this article do not apply to the following:
a. Licensed in-home residential care facilities.
b. Hotels and motels.
c. College owned dormitories.
d. Residential college-related facilities in a College Development Zone (CDZ).
e. Dwelling units which are occupied by the owner as the owner's primary residence and by one or more other persons who are not owners of the dwelling unit.
(3) Residential college-related facilities other than those located in a CDZ shall be subject to the provisions of this article, except as follows:
a. Residential college-related facilities, which came into existence before and were licensed prior to October 22, 2007, shall be allowed to maintain the occupancy numbers of the applicable facility as of October 22, 2007.
b. If any residential college-related facilities, which came into existence before October 22, 2007, and did not have rental licenses as of October 17, 2007, but licenses were applied for by November 22, 2007, such licenses shall continue to be granted regardless of the density limitations of section 14-97 .
(4) All rental properties are subject to the following:
a. Compliance required. All rental properties shall comply with the requirements of this article, as it may be amended from time to time, within 90 days from the latest effective date of this article.
b. Immediate action. Nothing in this section shall prevent the building official, law enforcement officer, or other authorized city employee or agent from taking any immediate enforcement or corrective action allowed by this article in the event a condition exists which causes a risk of serious harm to the public health or safety.
(c) Inconsistency with other regulations. If any standard of this article is inconsistent with any other applicable state or federal law, rule, or regulation, the most stringent requirement shall apply. However, this article preempts any apparently inconsistent provisions of chapter 14 of this Code as they may pertain to rental properties.