Victoria, Minn., Mun. Code art. 103-V (2026) § 103-115
Responsibilities Defined
Operative Text
Owners remain liable for violations of duties imposed by this section even though an obligation is also imposed on the occupants of the building, and even though the owner has, by agreement, imposed on the occupant the duty of furnishing required equipment or of complying with this section. Buildings and structures and parts thereof shall be maintained in a safe and sanitary condition. The owner or the owner's designated agent shall be responsible for such maintenance. To determine compliance with this subsection, the building may be reinspected. Owners, in addition to being responsible for maintaining buildings in a sound structural condition, shall be responsible for keeping that part of the building or premises which the owner occupies or controls in a clean, sanitary and safe condition, including the shared or public areas in a building containing two or more dwelling units. Owners shall, when required by this section, health laws or the health officer, furnish and maintain such approved sanitary facilities as required, and shall furnish and maintain approved devices, equipment or facilities for the prevention of insect and rodent infestation, and when infestation has taken place, shall be responsible for any insects, rodents or other pests when such extermination is not specifically made the responsibility of the occupant by law or ruling. Occupants of a dwelling unit, in addition to being responsible for keeping in a clean, sanitary and safe condition that part of the dwelling or dwelling unit or premises which they occupy and control, shall properly dispose of their recyclables, rubbish, garbage and other organic waste. Occupants shall, when required by this section or city ordinance, furnish and maintain approved devices, equipment or facilities necessary to keep their premises safe and sanitary. (Code 1998, § 8-116; Ord. No. 349, 4-12-2007)
Victoria's Rental Housing Code § 103-115 establishes a layered system of maintenance responsibilities for rental properties. Owners bear primary liability for keeping buildings safe, sanitary, and structurally sound — including shared and public areas — and cannot transfer that liability to occupants through a lease agreement or other arrangement. Occupants, in turn, carry their own independent duty to keep the portions of the dwelling they occupy and control clean and safe, and to properly dispose of waste and recyclables.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 103-115, compliant property owners and managers maintain the structural integrity of their buildings, keep shared and public areas clean and sanitary, and ensure that approved sanitary facilities and pest-control equipment are in place and functioning. Critically, this section makes clear that delegating maintenance duties to tenants through a lease clause does not relieve the owner of legal liability for violations — owners remain on the hook even when a tenant has contractually agreed to handle certain upkeep. Operators generally document routine inspections, respond promptly to pest infestations, and keep records of maintenance activities, since the building may be reinspected at any time to assess compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 103-115 affirms that tenants have enforceable rights to a safe, sanitary, and structurally sound dwelling, and that an owner's attempt to shift maintenance responsibility through a lease agreement does not eliminate the owner's underlying legal obligations. Tenants who believe their building is not being maintained in compliance with this section may raise the violation as a defense in relevant proceedings, report conditions to the appropriate local housing or code enforcement authority, or seek guidance from a tenant-rights organization familiar with Victoria's Rental Housing Code. Occupants also carry their own responsibilities under this provision, including keeping their unit clean and disposing of garbage, recyclables, and organic waste properly.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.