St. Francis, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 4, § 6 § 4-6-11
Minimum standards for light and ventilation
Operative Text
No person shall occupy, as owner/occupant, or let to another occupy, any rental building or rental dwelling unit, for the purpose of living therein, which does not comply with the following requirements: A. Habitable Room Light and Ventilation. Except where there is supplied some other device affording adequate ventilation and approved by the compliance officer, every habitable room shall have at least one window facing directly outdoors which can be opened easily meeting egress requirements if applicable. B. Uninhabitable Room Ventilation. Every bathroom and water closet compartment, and every laundry and utility room shall contain at least fifty (50) percent of the ventilation requirement for habitable rooms contained in Section 4-6-10.A; except, that no windows shall be required if such rooms are equipped with a ventilation system which is approved by the compliance officer. C. Electric Service, Outlets and Fixtures. Every rental dwelling unit and all public and common areas shall be supplied with electric service, functioning over current protection devices, electric outlets, and electric fixtures which are properly installed, which shall be maintained in good and safe working condition, and which shall be connected to a source of electric power in a manner prescribed by the ordinances, rules, and regulations of the City and by the laws of the State. The minimum capacity of such electric service and the minimum number of electric outlets and fixtures shall be as follows: 1. Rental dwellings containing one (1) or two (2) rental dwelling units shall have at least the equivalent of sixty (60) ampere, three-wire electric service per dwelling unit. 2. Rental dwelling units shall have at least one branch electric circuit for each six hundred (600) square feet of dwelling unit floor area. 3. Every habitable room shall have at least one floor or wall type electric convenience outlet for each sixty (60) square feet or fraction thereof of total floor area and, in no case, less than two (2) such electric outlets; provided, however, that one ceiling or wall type fixture may be supplied in lieu of one required electric outlet. 4. Every bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, and furnace room shall contain at least one (1) supplied ceiling or wall type electric light fixture, and every bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room shall contain at least one (1) electric convenience outlet. The electric convenience outlet in the bathroom shall be a GFCI outlet. 5. Every public corridor and stairway in every rental dwelling shall be adequately lighted by natural or electric light at all times so as to provide effective illumination in all parts thereof. Every public corridor and stairway in structures containing not more than two (2) dwelling units may be supplied with conveniently located light switches controlling an adequate lighting system which may be turned on when needed, instead of full time lighting. 6. A convenient switch or equivalent device for turning on a light in each rental dwelling unit shall be located near the point of entrance to such unit. D. Smoke and Carbon Dioxide Protection. Smoke and carbon dioxide alarms shall be provided in conformance with the current State Building and State Fire Codes.
St. Francis Code of Ordinances ch. 4, § 4-6-11 establishes minimum standards for light, ventilation, and electrical service in rental buildings and dwelling units. Every habitable room must have an openable window or an approved alternative ventilation device, while bathrooms and utility rooms must meet at least half the ventilation standard for habitable rooms. Electrical systems must be properly installed, safely maintained, and meet specific capacity and outlet requirements, and smoke and carbon dioxide alarms must conform to current state codes.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rental properties covered by St. Francis Code ch. 4, § 4-6-11 generally ensure that every habitable room has an openable window or a compliance-officer-approved ventilation alternative, and that bathrooms and utility rooms meet the required ventilation minimums. Compliant landlords also maintain electrical service at the specified amperage and circuit capacities, install the required number of outlets and fixtures in each room type (including GFCI outlets in bathrooms), and keep common corridors and stairways adequately lit. Smoke and carbon dioxide alarms are kept current with applicable state building and fire codes, and all systems are maintained in good and safe working condition.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in St. Francis rental units have a right to housing that meets the light, ventilation, and electrical standards set out in § 4-6-11, including properly functioning windows or approved ventilation, adequate electrical outlets and fixtures, and working smoke and carbon dioxide alarms. If a unit appears to fall short of these requirements — such as a room lacking any openable window or an outlet count below the stated minimums — tenants may document the conditions and report them to the St. Francis compliance officer or relevant municipal code enforcement office. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand what documentation to gather and what local complaint processes may be available.
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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