Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7 § 7-5-22
Efficiency unit (Rochester Housing Code)
Operative Text
Nothing in this section shall prohibit an efficiency living unit from meeting the following requirements: (1) A unit occupied by not more than one occupant shall have a minimum clear floor area of 120 square feet (11.2 m 2 ). A unit occupied by not more than two occupants shall have a minimum clear floor area of 220 square feet (20.4 m 2 ). A unit occupied by three occupants shall have a minimum clear floor area of 320 square feet (29.7 m 2 ). These required areas shall be exclusive of the areas required by items 2 and 3. (2) The unit shall be provided with a kitchen sink, cooking appliance and refrigeration facilities, each having a minimum clear working space of 30 inches (762 mm) in front. Light and ventilation conforming to this Code shall be provided. (3) The unit shall be provided with a separate bathroom containing a water closet, lavatory and bathtub or shower. (4) The maximum number of occupants shall be three.
Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7 § 7-5-22 establishes minimum standards for efficiency living units, setting floor area requirements that scale with the number of occupants: at least 120 square feet for one person, 220 square feet for two, and 320 square feet for three. These floor area minimums do not include the space required for the kitchen or bathroom areas. Each efficiency unit must also include a kitchen with a sink, cooking appliance, and refrigerator, plus a separate bathroom with a toilet, sink, and tub or shower. No more than three occupants may reside in any efficiency unit under this provision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of efficiency units in Rochester must ensure compliance with Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7 § 7-5-22 by verifying that each unit meets the occupancy-scaled floor area minimums—120, 220, or 320 square feet for one, two, or three occupants respectively—measured exclusive of kitchen and bathroom space. Compliant units include a fully equipped kitchen area with at least 30 inches of clear working space in front of each appliance, as well as a separate bathroom containing a toilet, lavatory, and tub or shower. Operators generally track occupancy levels to ensure the three-occupant maximum is not exceeded and that the corresponding floor area threshold is met for each unit.
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 § 7-5-22, tenants living in efficiency units are entitled to a minimum amount of living space based on how many people occupy the unit, along with a properly equipped kitchen and a separate bathroom. If a unit appears to fall short of these standards—such as lacking required appliances, adequate working space, or a proper bathroom—tenants may have grounds to raise a code violation with the appropriate Rochester housing or code enforcement authority. Tenant-rights organizations in the Rochester area can help residents understand what documentation to gather and what general options may be available when a unit does not appear to meet these requirements.
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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