St. Francis, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 4, § 6 § 4-6-9

General requirements

In Force
Verified 11/13/2026 · Next check 2/11/2027
St. FrancisHabitability & Repair

Operative Text

St. Francis, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 4, § 6 § 4-6-9
No person shall occupy, as owner/occupant, or let to another occupy, any rental building or rental dwelling unit which does not comply with the following requirements, unless specifically exempt: A.
Access through Sleeping Rooms and Bathrooms. No dwelling unit containing two (2) or more sleeping rooms shall have a room arrangement such that access to a bathroom or water closet compartment intended for use by occupants of more than one sleeping room can be gained only by going through another sleeping room. A bathroom or water closet compartment shall not be used as the only passageway to any habitable room, hall, basement or cellar of any dwelling unit.
B. Foundations, Exterior Walls and Roofs.
1. The foundation, exterior walls, and exterior roof shall be substantially watertight and protected against vermin and rodents and shall be kept in sound condition and repair. The foundation element shall adequately support the building at all points.
2. Every exterior wall shall be free of deterioration, holes, breaks, lose or rotting boards or timbers, and any other condition which might admit rain or dampness to the interior portion of the walls or to the interior spaces of the building.
3. The roof shall be tight and have no defects which admit rain, and roof drainage shall be adequate to prevent rainwater from causing dampness in the walls.
C. Windows, Doors and Screens. Every window, exterior door, and other exterior openings shall be substantially tight and shall be kept in sound condition and repair. Every window, door and frame shall be constructed and maintained in such relation to the adjacent wall construction as to completely exclude rain, wind, vermin and rodents from entering the building. Every openable window shall be supplied with mesh screens, and shall be equipped with an approved lock if located less than six (6) feet above adjacent grade.
D. Floors, Interior Walls and Ceilings. Every floor, interior wall and ceiling shall be adequately protected against the passage and harborage of vermin and rodents, and shall be kept in sound condition and good repair. Every floor shall be free of loose, warped, protruding or rotted flooring materials. Every interior wall and ceiling shall be free of holes and large cracks and loose plaster and shall be maintained in a tight, weatherproof condition. Toxic paint and materials with a lasting toxic effect shall not be used. The floor of every toilet room, bathroom, and kitchen shall have a smooth, hard, nonabsorbent surface and shall be capable of being easily maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.
E. Rodent proof. Every structure and the premises upon which it is located shall be maintained in a rodent free and rodent proof condition. All openings in the exterior walls, foundations, basements, ground or first floors, and roofs, which have a one-half inch (½") diameter or larger opening, shall be rodent proofed in an approved manner. Interior floors or basements, cellars, and other areas in contact with the soil shall be paved with concrete or other rodent impervious material.
F. Fences. All fences shall be maintained in good condition both in appearance and in structure. All fences shall be subject to the provision of Section 10-20 of the St. Francis Zoning Ordinance.
G. Grading and Drainage. During the period of May through October, every yard, court, passageway, and other portions of the premises on which a building stands shall be graded and drained so as to be free of standing water that constitutes a detriment to health and safety.
H Landscaping. Every yard of a premises on which a building stands shall be provided with lawn or combined ground cover of vegetation, garden, hedges, shrubbery, and related decorative materials, and such yard shall be maintained consistent with community standards and meet erosion control requirements.
I. Screening. In multiple family dwelling sites, all outside trash disposal facilities, recycling containers, and outside or rooftop mechanical equipment shall be screened from view by an opaque fence or wall high enough to completely screen the equipment.
J. Safe Building Elements. Every foundation, roof, floor, exterior and interior wall, ceilings, inside and outside stair, every porch and balcony, and every appurtenance thereto, shall be safe to use and capable of supporting loads required by the occupancy.
K. Facilities to Function. Every supplied facility, piece of equipment or utility required under city ordinances and every chimney and flue shall be installed and maintained and shall function effectively in a safe, sound, and working condition.
L. Discontinuance of Service or Facilities. No owner, operator, or occupant shall cause any service, facility, equipment, or utility, which is required under this Ordinance, to be removed, shut off or discontinued from any occupied building or portion thereof, except for such temporary interruptions as may be necessary while actual repairs or alterations are in process, or during temporary emergencies.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

St. Francis Code of Ordinances ch. 4, § 4-6-9 establishes a comprehensive set of physical and operational standards that all rental buildings and dwelling units must meet before anyone may occupy or rent them. The rule covers a wide range of conditions—from structural soundness of foundations, walls, and roofs, to rodent-proofing, drainage, landscaping, and the continuous functioning of required utilities and facilities. No owner or occupant may remove or shut off any required service except during actual repairs or genuine temporary emergencies.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on November 13, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under St. Francis Code of Ordinances ch. 4, § 4-6-9, compliant rental operators generally maintain all structural elements—foundations, exterior walls, roofs, windows, doors, floors, and ceilings—in sound, watertight, and vermin-resistant condition at all times. They also ensure that required utilities and facilities remain operational throughout a tenancy, arrange sleeping rooms so that bathrooms are accessible without passing through another sleeping room, and keep outdoor areas properly graded, landscaped, and screened in accordance with the ordinance's specific requirements. Operators typically document inspection and maintenance activities to demonstrate ongoing compliance with each subsection of this provision.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

St. Francis Code of Ordinances ch. 4, § 4-6-9 gives tenants a basis to raise concerns when a rental unit or building fails to meet the structural, sanitation, rodent-proofing, drainage, or utility-continuity standards described in the provision. Tenants who observe conditions such as deteriorating walls, pest infestations, standing water, or interrupted utilities may have grounds to report those conditions to the appropriate St. Francis municipal code enforcement authority. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services can help renters understand how a violation of § 4-6-9 might be raised as a defense or used to pursue remedies under local law.

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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Related Rules

§ 244.260
Compliance required
§ 14.567
ADOPTED BY REFERENCE
§ 244.340
Sewer and water connections

Source Information

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Fetched:Nov 13, 2026, 01:35 PM UTC