South St. Paul, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 106, art. VII § 106-241
Maintenance standards
Operative Text
(a) Tenant responsibilities. Tenants are responsible for the condition of the rental dwelling units that they occupy. The licensee is responsible for the maintenance of the rental dwelling units, the rental property, the buildings and the lot. It is ultimately the responsibility of the licensee to assure that every licensed rental property is maintained in compliance with all city ordinances and state laws. A violation of any of the following laws and ordinances is a violation of the rental license and constitutes a public nuisance: (1) Building code ( chapter 106 ). (2) Animal ordinance ( chapter 15 ). (3) Fire prevention code ( chapter 30 ). (4) Parked or stored motor vehicles ( chapter 58 ). (5) Public nuisance ordinance ( chapter 34 ). (6) Solid waste ordinance ( chapter 46 ). (7) Exterior storage ( section 118-240 ). (8) Weeds ( section 66-49 ). (9) Snow and ice removal ( section 54-1 ). (10) Other property maintenance violations. (b) Interior inspections of rental dwellings. The building official, building inspector, fire department personnel, police officers and their respective representatives are authorized inspectors who may enter rental property and rental dwelling units for purposes of making inspections reasonably necessary to enforce this section. The tenant and owner shall be given notice of the inspection by personal service, electronic communication, telephone contact or postmarked letter at least 72 hours prior to the time the inspection is made. All authorized inspectors noted in this section have the authority to enter any rental property or rental dwelling unit at all reasonable times. Each tenant of a rental property or rental dwelling unit shall give the owner, the owner's agent or authorized city official access to any part of such rental property or rental dwelling unit at reasonable times for the purpose of inspection, maintenance, repairs or alterations as are necessary to comply with the provisions of this article. An owner or tenant may refuse to permit entry to a rental property or rental dwelling unit for an inspection pursuant to this article, in which case, the inspector may seek an administrative search warrant authorizing such inspection.
Under South St. Paul Code of Ordinances ch. 106, art. VII § 106-241, rental property licensees bear ultimate responsibility for ensuring their properties comply with a broad range of city ordinances and state laws — covering everything from building codes and fire prevention to weed control and snow removal — and any violation of those standards also constitutes a violation of the rental license and a public nuisance. Tenants share responsibility for the condition of the specific unit they occupy. Authorized city officials, including building inspectors, fire personnel, and police officers, may enter rental properties to conduct inspections, provided at least 72 hours' advance notice is given by personal service, electronic communication, phone, or postmarked letter; if entry is refused, inspectors may seek an administrative search warrant.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 106-241, a compliant licensee treats every applicable city ordinance — including the building code (ch. 106), fire prevention code (ch. 30), solid waste ordinance (ch. 46), and others enumerated in the provision — as a condition of maintaining a valid rental license, since any violation simultaneously constitutes a public nuisance and a license violation. Operators generally maintain documented inspection schedules, promptly address code deficiencies across the entire property and lot, and ensure tenants are informed of their unit-condition responsibilities. When an authorized inspector requests access, compliant operators facilitate entry at reasonable times and ensure the required 72-hour notice protocol under § 106-241(b) is observed on both sides of the transaction.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 106-241 establishes that tenants have a responsibility for the condition of their own unit and are also required to provide the owner, the owner's agent, or authorized city officials access to the unit at reasonable times for inspection, maintenance, or repairs needed to comply with the article. Importantly, the provision guarantees tenants at least 72 hours' advance notice before any authorized inspection takes place, and tenants retain the right to refuse entry — though doing so may result in the inspector seeking an administrative search warrant. Tenants who believe a landlord is failing to maintain the property in compliance with the ordinances listed in § 106-241 may consider contacting the South St. Paul building or code enforcement office, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
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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