Park Rapids, Minn., Mun. Code Ch. 152 (2026) § 152.018
MINIMUM SPACE, USE, AND LOCATION REQUIREMENTS
Operative Text
No person shall occupy or let to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit for the purpose of living therein, which does not comply with the following requirements: (A) Living space. Every dwelling unit shall contain for use as living space at least 150 square feet of floor space of habitable room floor space for the first occupant thereof and at least 100 additional square feet of habitable room floor space for every additional occupant thereof. Sleeping space to be contained within a dwelling unit shall be a separate requirement in accordance within this section and shall not be counted in the calculation of living space to be contained in the unit under this section. (B) Sleeping space. In every dwelling unit of 2 or more rooms, every room occupied for sleeping purposes by 1 occupant shall contain at least 70 square feet of habitable room floor space, and every room occupied for sleeping purposes by more than 1 occupant shall contain at least 40 square feet of habitable room floor space for each occupant thereof. (C) Access to toilet facilities. No dwelling or dwelling unit used for rental purposes containing 2 or more sleeping rooms shall have such room arrangements that access to a bathroom or water closet compartment intended for use by occupants of more than 1 sleeping room can be had only by going through another sleeping room, nor shall room arrangements be such that access to a sleeping room can be had only by going through another sleeping room or a bathroom or water closet compartment. (D) Ceiling height. The floor area of that part of any room where the ceiling height is less than 5 feet shall not be considered as part of the floor area in computing the total floor area of the room for the purpose of determining the maximum permissible occupancy thereof. (E) Basements. No basement space shall be used as a habitable room or dwelling unit unless: (1) It shall comply with this chapter. (2) The floor and walls must be constructed so as to reasonably prevent leakage of underground and surface runoff water. Proper drainage must be provided away from the building, and floors and walls must be protected against dampness. (Am. Ord. 473, passed 12-12-2006)
Park Rapids Ch. 152 § 152.018 establishes minimum space and layout standards that every dwelling unit must meet before it can be occupied or rented. These standards set specific square-footage floors for living areas and sleeping rooms based on the number of occupants, require that bathrooms and sleeping rooms be accessible without passing through another sleeping room, and restrict the use of basement spaces as habitable areas unless certain construction and drainage conditions are satisfied. Ceiling areas lower than five feet do not count toward the floor area used to calculate occupancy limits.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rental housing in Park Rapids must ensure every unit they offer for occupancy meets the space thresholds set out in § 152.018 before a tenant moves in. In practice, this means calculating habitable floor area per occupant for both living and sleeping spaces separately, verifying that bathroom access does not require passage through a sleeping room, and confirming that any basement unit meets the chapter's construction, drainage, and dampness-prevention standards. Ceiling sections below five feet must be excluded from floor-area calculations when determining whether a unit meets its occupancy limits.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Park Rapids Ch. 152 § 152.018, tenants have a right to occupy a dwelling that meets minimum square-footage requirements for both living and sleeping areas, provides accessible bathroom access without routing through another sleeping room, and—if located in a basement—meets construction and drainage standards. If a unit appears to fall short of these requirements, tenants may consider documenting the conditions and reaching out to the Park Rapids city offices or a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options. Noncompliance with § 152.018 may be raised as a relevant factor in housing complaints or code-enforcement proceedings.
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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