Richfield, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 407 § 407.03
Definitions
Operative Text
For the purposes of this Section the terms defined herein have the following meanings: (a)
"Apartment house" means a building containing three (3) or more dwelling units.
(b) "Dwelling unit" means a room or group of rooms located within a building and forming a single habitable unit with facilities which are used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking and eating by persons other than the owner of record regardless of familial relationship or whether rent or other compensation is paid to the owner.
(c) "Rental home" means a one- or two-family dwelling which is occupied by persons other than the owner of record, except a parent, sibling or child of the owner of record, regardless of whether rent or other compensation is paid to the owner.
(d) "Short-term rental" means a dwelling unit or accessory dwelling unit (as described in subsection 518.05) which is occupied for a term of less than one (1) month by persons other than the owner of record, except a parent, sibling or child of the owner of record, regardless of whether rent or other compensation is paid to the owner.(e) "Housing maintenance code" means a Subsections 405.01 through 405.19 of this code and also means all other codes and regulations of the City pertaining to the occupancy and habitability of the licensed premises. (Added Bill No. 2025-04 )
(e) "Housing maintenance code" means a Subsections 405.01 through 405.19 of this code and also means all other codes and regulations of the City pertaining to the occupancy and habitability of the licensed premises.
(f) Unless a different meaning is intended from the context, all other definitions contained in Subsection 405.05, subdivisions 1--19 are incorporated in this Section by reference and made a part hereof.
(g) "Owner" or "owner of record" shall have the meaning given in Subsection 105.01 Subd. 8, and shall also means, with respect to all matters involving the making of applications and the giving of notices, the individuals or entities holding legal and equitable title to the premises, or the legally constituted agent designated by the owner for such purposes.
(h) Director ("director") means the Director of community development and also includes any individual designated by the Director of community development to carry out the duties and responsibilities assigned to the Director under this Chapter.Richfield Code of Ordinances § 407.03 establishes the key vocabulary used throughout Section 407's rental licensing framework. It defines the types of residential properties covered — including apartment houses (three or more units), dwelling units, rental homes (one- or two-family properties occupied by non-owners, with narrow family exceptions), and short-term rentals (occupancies of less than one month) — and clarifies who counts as an "owner" and what constitutes the "housing maintenance code." These definitions set the boundaries of which properties and arrangements fall under the section's requirements, and they incorporate additional definitions from elsewhere in the city code by reference.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 407.03, how a property is classified — as an apartment house, rental home, or short-term rental — determines which licensing and maintenance obligations apply to it. Compliant operators generally confirm which category their property falls into before applying for licenses or responding to city notices, paying particular attention to the family-member exceptions that can affect whether a one- or two-family home qualifies as a "rental home." Because § 407.03 also defines "owner of record" to include legally designated agents, operators who use property managers should ensure those agents are formally authorized to act on their behalf for applications and notices.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
The definitions in § 407.03 are important for tenants because they determine whether a given living arrangement is covered by Richfield's rental regulations — for example, whether a unit qualifies as a "dwelling unit" or whether a property meets the definition of a "rental home" or "apartment house." Tenants who believe their housing situation falls within these definitions may have access to protections under the broader Section 407 framework, including housing maintenance code standards referenced in § 407.03(e). Those uncertain about whether their home is covered can consult a local tenant-rights organization or the City of Richfield's community development office for general information.
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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