Sartell, Minn., City Code title 4 ch. 8 (2026) § 4-8-11
Crime Free Multi-housing Program
Operative Text
4-8-11: CRIME FREE MULTI-HOUSING PROGRAM:
A. For multi-family rental housing licensees to qualify for a rental fee reduction, they must complete
Phases 1, 2 and 3 of the Sartell Crime Free Multi-Housing Program prior to October 1st in order to
receive the rental fee reduction for the subsequent license year. New multi-family rental housing
properties will receive the rental fee reduction for their initial rental license if they complete all
phases within 90 days of issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the property. If all
requirements are not completed within said 90 day period, the property will be ineligible for the
rental fee reduction for the subsequent licensing year, regardless of if/when such requirements
are completed, and property will then need to meet renewal license requirements as specified
hereafter to achieve rental fee reduction in future years.
B. The cost of attending the educational requirements under this section shall be paid by the
licensee in addition to any license and inspection fees. Licensees must maintain compliance with
all components of the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program and must complete all re-
certifications/renewals prior to October 1st of each year in order to maintain qualification for the
Crime Free Multi-Housing rental fee reduction for the following calendar year.
C. Certification: to obtain and maintain certification from the Sartell Police Department as a member
of the Crime Free Multi-Family Housing Program, a rental property owner and/or manager must
successfully complete and implement all of the components of the Crime Free Multi-Family
Housing Program. Those requirements are:
1. Phase One: Attendance at and successful completion of the Management Training
components which will be shown by demonstrating an understanding of each of the following
subject matter:
a. The Crime Free Multi-Housing Program and ordinance.
b. Rental applications and housing discrimination.
c. Screening and background checks.
d. Lease and lease addendums.
e. Unlawful detainer and eviction.
f. Manager/Owner policies and roles.
g. Data privacy.
h. Narcotics and gangs.
i. Rental housing.
2. Phase Two: Compliance with environmental crime prevention requirements by owners for their
rental properties that are located within the corporate limits of the City of Sartell or in the case
of a property manager, for all rental properties located within the corporate limits of the City of
Sartell that are managed by that property manager. Compliance will be indicated by
completion of the following requirements:
a. Single cylinder deadbolt locks installed in each entry door for each dwelling unit.
b. High security strike plate with 3-inch screws installed on each wooden entry door frame
for each dwelling unit.
c. Door viewer - 180˚ peephole installed in the primary entry door for each dwelling unit.
d. Anti-lift/slide device installed on all windows and sliding glass doors.
e. Security lighting adequate to illuminate exterior grounds.
f. Landscaping in a manner that provides for visual sight lines.
g. Visible address numbering installed.
h. Compliance with Property Maintenance Standards as provided in Section 4-9-5.
3. Phase Three: Include, implement and enforce, as part of all written leases, the Lease
Addendum for Crime Free/Drug Free Housing provided by the Sartell Police Department and
at least once every twelve (12) months make available, in cooperation with the Sartell Police
Department, training for tenants in respect to the following subject areas (with notification to
tenants and the Sartell Police Department of the meeting location to be approved in advance
by Sartell Police Department):
a. The Crime Free Multi-Housing program together with the concept of partnerships and
sharing responsibilities.
b. Crime concerns and prevention awareness techniques.
c. Application of Neighborhood Watch program/principles.
4. Following successful completion of the program components described in this Section, rental
property owners or property managers must maintain compliance with all program components,
including Sections D and E below.
5. Loss of Certification: Owners or property managers who do not maintain compliance with the
certification requirements above will lose their certification for the following license year.
Violations of rental housing regulations as set forth in this Chapter, resulting in suspension and/or
revocation of the rental license, will also result in loss of certification for the following license year.
D. Leases: As a condition of the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program, all signed crime free
addendums to leases for the rental property shall be available for review by the Sartell Police
Department upon request.
E. Criminal Background Checks and Register: As a condition of the Crime Free Multi-Housing
Program, the licensee shall conduct criminal background checks on all prospective tenants of
rental property in the City of Sartell. The licensee must maintain a current register of tenants and
other persons who have a lawful right to occupancy of a rental unit. The register must include full
names, dates of birth, and the most current phone number available. The register along with
proof of the criminal background check(s) must be available for review by the City upon request.
One failure to complete such required background check or to accurately maintain the register will
result in forfeiture of 50% of reduction received on rental license fee for Crime Free Multi-Housing
Program status in the subsequent license renewal year. A second failure will result in the entire
fee reduction being forfeited and loss of Crime Free Multi-Housing Program rental reduction rates
for the subsequent license year. Second failure will also result in immediate loss of other
courtesy benefits which Sartell Police Department may provide to Crime Free Multi-Housing
Program participants, such as courtesy report logs of activity and/or signage provided to Program
participants.Section 4-8-11 of the Sartell, MN Code establishes the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program, a voluntary certification pathway through which multi-family rental property owners and managers can qualify for a reduction in their rental licensing fees. To earn and keep that fee reduction, participants must complete three structured phases — management training, physical security upgrades, and a crime-free lease addendum with annual tenant training — and renew their compliance each year before October 1st. Failure to maintain any program component, including conducting required criminal background checks and keeping an accurate tenant register, can result in partial or total forfeiture of the fee reduction and loss of program certification for the following license year.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 4-8-11, compliant multi-family operators generally complete all three program phases before the October 1st annual deadline, ensure that physical security measures (such as deadbolt locks, high-security strike plates, and adequate exterior lighting) are installed and maintained at each unit, and attach the Sartell Police Department's crime-free lease addendum to every written lease. Operators also conduct criminal background checks on all prospective tenants, maintain a current register of occupants with full names, dates of birth, and phone numbers, and make both the register and background-check documentation available to the City upon request. Missing even one required background check under § 4-8-11(E) triggers a 50% forfeiture of the fee reduction for the next renewal year, and a second failure results in full forfeiture and loss of additional program benefits.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 4-8-11 requires that landlords participating in the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program attach a crime-free lease addendum — provided by the Sartell Police Department — to all written leases, and that they make annual tenant training sessions available in cooperation with the Police Department. Tenants have a right to know that their landlord is conducting criminal background checks as a condition of program participation, and that signed addendums may be reviewed by the Sartell Police Department upon request. Tenants who believe a landlord is misrepresenting their program status or improperly applying the addendum may wish to contact the City of Sartell or a local tenant-rights organization to understand what options are available under § 4-8-11.
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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