Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7 § 7-3-4
Liability (Rochester Housing Code)
Operative Text
The code official, member of the board of appeals or employee charged with the enforcement of this Code, while acting for the jurisdiction, in good faith and without malice in the discharge of the duties required by this Code or other pertinent law or ordinance, shall not thereby be rendered civilly or criminally liable personally, and is hereby relieved from all personal liability for any damage accruing to persons or property as a result of an act or by reason of an act or omission in the discharge of official duties.
Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7-3-4 establishes a liability shield for city officials and employees who enforce the local property maintenance code. When a code official, board of appeals member, or enforcement employee acts in good faith and without malice while carrying out their official duties, they are protected from personal civil or criminal liability. This provision does not eliminate accountability for the jurisdiction itself, nor does it protect officials who act in bad faith or with malice.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7-3-4, property owners and managers should understand that enforcement personnel—such as code inspectors and board of appeals members—carry out their duties with personal legal protection when acting in good faith. This means that challenging an enforcement action on the basis of personal liability against an individual inspector is generally not a viable avenue. Operators who believe an enforcement decision was improper typically pursue remedies through the formal appeals process rather than personal-liability claims against staff.
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 § 7-3-4 clarifies that individual code enforcement officials are shielded from personal lawsuits when they act in good faith while performing their duties. Tenants should be aware that this provision does not prevent them from filing complaints about code violations or pursuing remedies through the city's enforcement and appeals processes. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid resources can help explain what avenues remain available when enforcement actions—or inactions—affect housing conditions.
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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