Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7 § 7-9-1

(a) Except as permitted in subsection (b) or (c) of this section, no owner shall allow another person to occupy, nor shall any person rent or offer to rent to another for occupancy, any dwelling, or any apartment or rooming unit in any dwelling, without first obtaining a registration certificate as provided in this chapter. This registration certificate is also referred to within this chapter as a rental license or license. Any registration certificate obtained pursuant to this section shall be issued in the name of the owner. In the case of a multiple unit dwelling, a registration certificate issued pursuant to this section includes and applies to both the entire dwelling as well as each individual rental unit within the dwelling. Any suspension or revocation of the registration certificate or the right to receive a registration certificate may involve the entire dwelling or an individual unit within the dwelling.
(b) The offer to rent to another may be extended prior to issuance of a registration certificate provided an application for a registration certificate has been properly filed with the director. An application may be classified as pending for up to 90 days without payment of all fees. All applicable fees must be paid before an inspection can be scheduled.
(c) The property is confirmed as a homestead property through tax records, is documented under a trust, or is a recorded contract for deed through property tax records.
(d) The occupancy or rental of any dwelling, or any apartment or rooming unit in any dwelling for which a registration certificate is required, need not be interrupted or suspended for lack of a registration certificate if the same is due to the inability of the director to process the application in a timely manner, or if the owner is in the process of complying with a notice of deficiencies from the director within the period of time authorized by the director.
(e) For purposes of this chapter, the term "director" means the director of the community development department or the director's designee.
(f) When the owner of the dwelling is not a resident or does not maintain a corporate office in the state, the owner must appoint a resident agent residing in the state to accept service of process or any other document in any action or proceeding related to the dwelling. In addition, when the owner of the dwelling is not a resident of Houston, Winona, Fillmore, Olmsted, Goodhue, Dodge, Mower or Wabasha County, the owner must appoint a property manager residing in one of the above counties to act as the owner's agent in managing and supervising the dwelling. The resident agent and the property manager may be the same person. The resident agent and the property manager must sign the application for the registration certificate. The owner may not change the identity or the location of the resident agent or property manager without first obtaining an amended registration certificate reflecting the changed information.
(g) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, an owner who allows a person to occupy a vacant dwelling that is on the real estate market for sale in order to provide property maintenance services is not required to obtain a registration certificate. The term "property maintenance services" means dwelling caretaking and maintenance duties, including, but not limited to, yard maintenance, snow removal, turning on necessary utility services, turning off unnecessary utility services, and the prevention of intruders, vandals and trespassers.
(h) An owner seeking to rely on subsection (f) of this section in order to be exempted from the registration certificate requirement must comply with all of the following conditions:
(1) The owner must list the vacant dwelling for sale in the multiple listing service real estate market.
(2) The owner must contract with a licensed real estate company registered to do business in the state that performs property maintenance services for dwellings listed for sale.
(3) The owner and the real estate company performing property maintenance services must register with, and obtain an exemption from registration from, the community development department. The registration and exemption is valid for six months and may be renewed.
(4) The dwelling must be a single-family dwelling, or a single unit of condominium or townhouse.
(5) An owner, other than a lending institution selling foreclosed properties, is permitted one exemption.