St. Cloud, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 445 § 445:80
Enforcement
Operative Text
Subd. 1. In order to compel the compliance with the licensing requirements, the health director or designated staff will have the authority to enter any building, at reasonable times and upon five days' notice to the property owner(s). The health director or designated staff will have the authority to enter any building at any time by the request of the St. Cloud Police Department or the St. Cloud Fire Department to enforce any provisions of this ordinance. Subd. 2. Rental dwelling licensees and their employees or agents who are found to be in violation of fair housing audits will be required to attend a minimum of two hours of fair housing training as approved by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. The names and addresses of persons found in violation of fair housing laws will be provided to the St. Cloud City Council during a regularly scheduled meeting. Subd. 3. Background checks. The St. Cloud City Council has determined that the preservation of city neighborhoods is essential to the public health, safety and welfare of its citizens. Rental properties provide housing for approximately 50 percent of the citizens of St. Cloud. Rental housing is the most densely populated of the city's neighborhoods. Consequently, persons residing in rental properties and engaging in criminal activity and disorderly conduct create a hostile environment for law-abiding residents of rental properties and adjacent neighborhoods. Therefore, it is strongly encouraged that landlords and property managers conduct reference checks and criminal history checks for prospective residents of rental property. Criminal history checks may be conducted using the processes established by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Minnesota Justice Information Services.
St. Cloud Code of Ordinances § 445:80 establishes several enforcement mechanisms for the city's rental licensing program. Authorized health department staff may enter rental buildings at reasonable times with five days' advance notice to the property owner, or at any time when requested by the St. Cloud Police or Fire Department. Landlords found violating fair housing laws through audits must complete at least two hours of approved fair housing training, and their names and addresses are reported to the City Council. The ordinance also notes that background and criminal history checks on prospective tenants are strongly encouraged, though not mandated.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 445:80, compliant rental operators in St. Cloud generally maintain readiness for inspections by health department staff, understanding that five days' notice is standard but that police or fire department requests can trigger immediate entry. Operators found out of compliance with fair housing audit requirements should be prepared to complete a minimum of two hours of Minnesota Department of Human Rights–approved fair housing training, and to have their names and addresses disclosed publicly to the City Council. While § 445:80 stops short of requiring it, operators who conduct reference and criminal history checks through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Minnesota Justice Information Services are acting in line with the city's stated policy goals for neighborhood preservation.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 445:80 of the St. Cloud Code of Ordinances gives tenants some assurance that the city actively monitors rental properties for compliance, including through fair housing audits that can result in required training for landlords found in violation. Tenants who believe a landlord has violated fair housing laws may find it useful to know that violators' names and addresses are reported to the St. Cloud City Council at a regularly scheduled public meeting. Tenants seeking to understand their fair housing rights or explore enforcement options can consult the Minnesota Department of Human Rights or a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
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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