Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7 § 7-4-6
Exemptions (Rochester Housing Code)
Operative Text
(a) Fire damaged structures fee exemption. In order to encourage the prompt renovation of property, the owner of a fire damaged building may be exempt from paying vacant building fees required under the chapter; provided, that within 30 days from the date of the fire, the owner at the time of the fire, submits a request for an exemption in writing to the enforcement officer. This request shall include the following information supplied by the owner: (1) A description of the premises. (2) The names and address of the owner or owners. (3) A statement of intent to repair and reoccupy the building in an expedient manner. (4) An exemption granted under this section shall be valid for no more than six months. In the event that the owner of the property at the time of the fire who received an exemption under this section should, at any time after the fire, transfer to another person any ownership interest in the subject property, the exemption under this section is immediately void and any new owner(s) shall be responsible for paying any required vacant building fees. (b) Buildings owned by the Olmsted County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (OCHRA). Buildings owned by the HRA are regularly monitored and maintained by the county. Therefore, these buildings are exempt from the registration requirements outlined in section 7-4-5 .
Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7 § 7-4-6 establishes two categories of exemption from vacant building fees and registration requirements. First, owners of fire-damaged buildings can avoid those fees for up to six months if they submit a written exemption request to the enforcement officer within 30 days of the fire, along with a description of the property, owner contact information, and a stated intent to repair and reoccupy the building. Second, buildings owned by the Olmsted County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (OCHRA) are fully exempt from the registration requirements in § 7-4-5 because the county already monitors and maintains those properties. Notably, the fire-damage exemption is immediately voided if the property changes ownership at any point after the fire.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners dealing with fire damage in Rochester should be aware that Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7 § 7-4-6 provides a pathway to avoid vacant building fees for up to six months, but only if a written exemption request is submitted to the enforcement officer within 30 days of the fire. Compliant operators typically include all required details in that request — a property description, owner names and addresses, and a clear statement of intent to repair and reoccupy. Owners who receive this exemption and subsequently transfer any ownership interest in the property should understand that the exemption becomes void immediately upon that transfer, making the new owner(s) responsible for any applicable vacant building fees.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in or near fire-damaged buildings or OCHRA-owned properties in Rochester may find it useful to understand the exemption framework established under Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7 § 7-4-6. If a landlord claims a fire-damage exemption, that exemption is time-limited to six months and is voided if ownership of the property changes hands, which could affect how the property is regulated and maintained. Tenants who have questions about whether a property is properly registered or exempt can contact the local enforcement officer, consult Rochester's city housing offices, or reach out to a tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
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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