Saint Bonifacius, Minn., Mun. Code Ch. 150 (2026) § 151.31
APPEAL
Operative Text
(A) Right to appeal. Any owner, manager or tenant may appeal from any notice and order or any action of the Code Official or Health Officer under this subchapter by filing an appeal to the City Administrator/Clerk/Treasurer. A written appeal to the City Administrator/Clerk/Treasurer shall consist of a brief statement in ordinary and concise language regarding the specific order or action protested, together with any material facts claimed to support the contentions of the appellant. (B) Time allotted for appeal. The appeal shall be filed within 14 days or within the time of correction as allowed by the Code Official, whichever is shorter, from the date of the service of such order or action of the Code Official. (C) Notice of hearing. Notice of a hearing will be served by first class mail to the appealing party no less than 20 days in advance of the scheduled hearing, unless a shorter period of time is agreed upon. Service shall be deemed complete upon depositing the notice of hearing in the U.S. mail, properly addressed to the last known address of the person requesting the hearing. (D) Hearing procedures. The hearing will be in front of the City Council. At the hearing, the party appealing shall have the opportunity to present testimony and question any witnesses, but the strict rules of evidence shall not apply. The City Council shall receive and give weight to evidence, including hearsay evidence, which possesses probative value commonly accepted by reasonable and prudent people in the conduct of their affairs. (E) Authority on appeal. The City Council has the authority to determine that a violation did or did not occur, to dismiss a citation, to impose the scheduled fine or to reduce, stay or waive a scheduled fine either unconditionally or upon compliance with appropriate conditions. (F) Decisions on appeal. The City Council shall issue a decision in writing to the appealing party within ten days of the hearing. Any fines or penalties imposed must be paid no later than 30 days of the date of the order. The decision of the City Council is final and may only be appealed to the state’s Court of Appeals by petitioning for a writ of certiorari pursuant to M.S. § 606.01, as it may be amended from time to time. (Ord. 83C, passed 2-16-2011)
Saint Bonifacius Ch. 150 § 151.31 establishes a formal appeal process through which any owner, manager, or tenant can challenge a notice, order, or action issued by the Code Official or Health Officer under the rental housing subchapter. The appeal is heard by the City Council, which has broad authority to uphold, dismiss, reduce, or waive any cited violation or associated fine. A written decision is issued within ten days of the hearing, and that decision is final at the local level, with further review available only through the state Court of Appeals via a writ of certiorari.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 151.31, property owners and managers who receive a notice or order from the Code Official have the right to contest it by filing a written appeal with the City Administrator/Clerk/Treasurer within 14 days of service—or within the correction period allowed, whichever is shorter. A compliant operator generally submits a concise written statement identifying the specific order being challenged and any supporting facts, then participates in the City Council hearing by presenting testimony and questioning witnesses. Operators should be aware that any fines upheld by the City Council must be paid within 30 days of the written decision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 151.31 gives tenants the same right to appeal a Code Official or Health Officer action as owners and managers, by filing a written statement with the City Administrator/Clerk/Treasurer within the applicable 14-day window. At the City Council hearing, tenants have the opportunity to present testimony and question witnesses in a setting where formal rules of evidence do not strictly apply. Tenants who wish to explore this process further may benefit from contacting a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office for general guidance on how the appeal procedures under § 151.31 typically work.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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