Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7 § 7-3-23

Prosecution of violation (Rochester Housing Code)

In Force
Verified 10/12/2026 · Next check 11/11/2026
RochesterInspections, Registration & Licensing

Operative Text

Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7 § 7-3-23
Any person failing to comply with a notice of violation or order served in accordance with sections 1-3-26 through 7-3-31 shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor or civil infraction as determined by the local municipality, and the violation shall be deemed a strict liability offense. If the notice of violation is not complied with, the code official shall institute the appropriate proceeding at law or in equity to restrain, correct or abate such violation, or to require the removal or termination of the unlawful occupancy of the structure in violation of the provisions of this Code or of the order or direction made pursuant thereto.
Any action taken by the authority having jurisdiction on such premises shall be charged against the real estate upon which the structure is located and shall be a lien upon such real estate.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7-3-23 establishes that failing to comply with an official notice of violation or order is treated as a misdemeanor or civil infraction, and no proof of intent is required to establish the offense — it is a strict liability matter. When a notice goes unaddressed, the code official is authorized to pursue legal or equitable action to stop, correct, or eliminate the violation, including requiring removal of unlawful occupants. Additionally, any costs the municipality incurs in taking action on a property become a lien attached to the real estate itself.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on September 15, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7-3-23, operators who receive a notice of violation or official order are expected to act promptly to bring the property into compliance before the stated deadline. Because the provision treats noncompliance as a strict liability offense, a compliant operator documents all remediation steps and retains records showing the violation was addressed. Operators should also be aware that municipal enforcement costs can attach as a lien to the property, which can affect title and financing.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7-3-23 gives tenants context for understanding what happens when a landlord ignores an official notice of violation: the code official can pursue court action to correct the problem or even require termination of unlawful occupancy. Tenants who believe a violation exists and has gone unaddressed may consider contacting the local code enforcement office to inquire about the status of any outstanding orders. Tenant-rights organizations in the Rochester area can help residents understand how this provision interacts with their housing situation and what general options may be available.

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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