Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7 § 7-4-36
Doors (Rochester Housing Code)
Operative Text
All building exit doors must be operable from the inside without the use of a key, or special knowledge or effort. Exit doors must not be locked, chained, bolted, barred, latched or otherwise rendered unusable. All locking devices must be of an approved type. Notwithstanding anything in sections 7-8-3 through 7-8-7 to the contrary, exit doors from individual dwelling units having an occupant load of ten or less may be provided with a night latch, dead bolt or security chain, provided such devices are operable from the inside without the use of a key or tool, and mounted at a height not to exceed 48 inches above the finished floor.
Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7-4-36 establishes that all building exit doors must be openable from the inside without a key, special knowledge, or unusual effort, and may not be locked, chained, bolted, or otherwise blocked. Locking hardware must be of an approved type. An exception applies to individual dwelling units with ten or fewer occupants, where night latches, dead bolts, or security chains are permitted as long as they can be operated from the inside without a key or tool and are mounted no higher than 48 inches above the finished floor.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of residential properties subject to Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7-4-36 generally ensure that every exit door in the building can be opened from the inside at all times without requiring a key, special knowledge, or unusual effort. For individual dwelling units housing ten or fewer occupants, compliant operators may install night latches, dead bolts, or security chains, provided those devices operate from the inside without a key or tool and are mounted at or below 48 inches from the finished floor. All locking hardware should be of an approved type, and periodic inspections help confirm that no door has been rendered unusable through chaining, barring, or other means.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7-4-36, tenants have a right to exit doors that can be opened from the inside without a key or special effort, and landlords are not permitted to chain, bolt, bar, or otherwise block those exits. In a dwelling unit with ten or fewer occupants, a landlord may install a night latch, dead bolt, or security chain, but only if it operates from the inside without a key or tool and sits no higher than 48 inches above the floor. Tenants who believe an exit door in their building does not meet these requirements may contact Rochester's local code enforcement or housing inspection office, or reach out to a tenant-rights organization for general information about 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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.