St. Francis, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 4, § 6 § 4-6-7
Site capacity
Operative Text
A. Maximum Density. No person shall occupy nor permit or let to be occupied any rental dwelling unit for the purpose of living therein, which does not comply with the following requirements. The maximum permissible occupancy of any dwelling unit shall be determined as follows: 1. For the first occupant, one hundred fifty (150) square feet of habitable room floor space and for every additional occupant thereof, at least one hundred (100) square feet of habitable room floor space. 2. In no event shall the total number of occupants exceed two (2) times the number of habitable rooms, less kitchen, in the dwelling unit. B. Property Conversion. 1. Rental conversion of a duplex or multiple family dwelling into a single family home shall be permitted. 2. Rental conversion of a single-family home to a duplex or multiple family dwelling unit shall be prohibited unless specifically permitted by the underlying zoning district, meets State Fire and State Building code requirements and all applicable permits to facilitate such a change have been approved.
St. Francis Code of Ordinances ch. 4, § 6 § 4-6-7 establishes two types of limits on rental dwelling units. First, it sets occupancy maximums based on square footage—150 square feet of habitable space for the first occupant and 100 square feet for each additional occupant—and caps total occupants at twice the number of non-kitchen habitable rooms. Second, it governs property conversions: converting a duplex or multi-family rental into a single-family home is allowed, but converting a single-family home into a duplex or multi-family dwelling is prohibited unless the underlying zoning permits it, state fire and building codes are met, and all required permits are obtained.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rental properties in St. Francis subject to ch. 4, § 6 § 4-6-7 generally calculate the maximum allowable occupancy for each unit before leasing, using both the square-footage formula and the habitable-room cap, and apply whichever limit is more restrictive. Compliant landlords do not permit or lease units to a number of occupants that would exceed either threshold. Those considering converting a single-family rental to a duplex or multi-family use typically confirm zoning eligibility, verify compliance with state fire and building codes, and secure all applicable permits before proceeding with any such change.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under St. Francis Code of Ordinances ch. 4, § 6 § 4-6-7, tenants have a right to occupy a unit that meets minimum habitable space standards—at least 150 square feet for the first resident and 100 square feet for each additional resident—and landlords cannot lawfully rent or permit occupancy of units that fall below these thresholds. If a tenant believes a unit is being rented in violation of these occupancy or conversion standards, they may consider raising the violation with local code enforcement authorities or contacting a tenant-rights organization for general guidance. Keeping records of unit size, the number of occupants, and any communications with the landlord can be useful when pursuing any available complaint process.
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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