Saint Paul, Minn., Legis. Code ch. 193 § 193.01
Definitions
Operative Text
For purposes of this Chapter, the following terms have the meaning ascribed to them in this section. Affordable housing or Affordable housing building means a residential building where at least twenty (20) percent of the units are affordable housing units. Affordable housing unit means a rental unit in an affordable housing building that Rents for an amount that is no more than one-third (⅓) of sixty (60%) percent or below of area median income, as area median income was most recently determined by HUD for the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minnesota-Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area, as adjusted for household size and number of bedrooms. City means the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Council means the Saint Paul City Council. The Code means the City Legislative Code. Fair Housing Act means Title 42 of the United States Code, Chapter 45, sec. 3601 et. seq. HUD means the United States Department of Housing & Urban Development. Inactive Case means any case which is inactive under the terms of Minn. Stat. § 13.82, subd. 7. Cause means the tenant or a member of the tenant's household materially violated a term of the rental agreement. Landlord has the same meaning as defined in Saint Paul Legislative Code Sec. 193A.02 . Rent has the same meaning as defined as Saint Paul Legislative Code Sec. 193A.02 . Rental agreement has the same meaning as defined at Saint Paul Legislative Code Sec. 193A.02 . Tenant has the same meaning as defined in Saint Paul Legislative Code Sec. 193A.03 . Tenant protection period means three (3) calendar months following the month in which written notice of a real estate transfer, sale, or closing is sent to each Affordable Housing Unit Tenant pursuant to Section 193.05 of this Chapter.
Saint Paul Legislative Code ch. 193 § 193.01 establishes the foundational vocabulary for the entire Chapter 193 framework governing affordable housing in Saint Paul. Key terms such as 'affordable housing unit,' 'tenant protection period,' and 'cause' are given precise, binding meanings here—for example, an affordable housing unit must rent at or below one-third of 60% of the HUD-determined area median income for the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metro area, adjusted for household size and bedrooms. These definitions shape how every other provision in the chapter is interpreted and applied, and several terms—including 'landlord,' 'rent,' 'rental agreement,' and 'tenant'—are cross-referenced to Saint Paul Legislative Code § 193A.02 and § 193A.03 for their meanings.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Saint Paul should familiarize themselves with the definitions set out in § 193.01, as these terms govern how the rest of Chapter 193 applies to their buildings and practices. Whether a building qualifies as 'affordable housing' under this section—requiring at least 20% of units to meet the income-based rent threshold tied to HUD's area median income figures—determines which obligations and tenant protections apply. Compliant operators generally track HUD's annual area median income updates for the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metro area and verify unit rent levels against the one-third-of-60%-AMI threshold to assess their building's status under this chapter.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants in Saint Paul benefit from understanding the definitions in § 193.01, because terms like 'affordable housing unit,' 'cause,' and 'tenant protection period' directly affect the protections available to them under Chapter 193. For instance, the 'tenant protection period'—three calendar months following written notice of a real estate transfer—is a defined window during which specific rights may apply to tenants in qualifying affordable housing buildings. Tenants who believe they live in an affordable housing building as defined by § 193.01 and have questions about their rights can consult a local tenant-rights organization or contact the City of Saint Paul for guidance on how these definitions apply to their situation.
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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