Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7 § 7-3-13
Modifications (Rochester Housing Code)
Operative Text
Whenever there are practical difficulties involved in carrying out the provisions of this Code, the code official shall have the authority to grant modifications for individual cases upon application of the owner or owner's authorized agent, provided the code official shall first find that special individual reason makes the strict letter of this Code impractical, the modification is in compliance with the intent and purpose of this Code and that such modification does not lessen health, life and fire safety requirements. The details of action granting modifications shall be recorded and entered in the department files.
Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7 § 7-3-13 establishes a process by which the code official may grant case-by-case relief from strict compliance with the property maintenance code when practical difficulties arise. A modification can only be approved if the code official determines that the strict application of the code is impractical for that specific situation, the modification still aligns with the code's overall intent and purpose, and health, life, and fire safety standards are not reduced. Every approved modification must be formally documented and kept on file with the department.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners or their authorized agents operating under Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7 § 7-3-13 who encounter genuine practical difficulties in meeting a specific code requirement may submit a formal application to the code official requesting a modification. Compliant operators typically document the nature of the practical difficulty, demonstrate how the proposed alternative still meets the code's underlying intent, and confirm that no health, life, or fire safety protections are diminished. Keeping copies of any approved modification and the department's recorded decision is a standard practice for maintaining clear compliance records.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7 § 7-3-13 gives tenants an interest in how modification decisions are made, since any approved deviation from the code must still uphold health, life, and fire safety standards and align with the code's overall purpose. Because all granted modifications must be recorded in department files, tenants can generally request to review those records through the city's code enforcement department to understand what, if any, modifications apply to their building. Tenants who believe a modification has resulted in unsafe or substandard conditions may consider contacting Rochester's code enforcement office or a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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