Waconia, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 541 § 541.10
Appeal
Operative Text
Subd. 1. Right to appeal. Any person may appeal from any notice and order or any action of the code official under this ordinance by filing an appeal to the city administrator. A written appeal to the city administrator by making a brief statement in ordinary and concise language of that specific order or action protested, together with any material facts claimed to support the contentions of the appellant. Subd. 2. Time allotted for appeal. The appeal shall be filed within fourteen (14) days or within the time of correction as allowed by the code official, whichever is shorter, from the date of the service of such order or action of the code official. Subd. 3. Notice of hearing. Notice of a hearing will be served by first class mail to the appealing party no less than twenty (20) days in advance of the scheduled hearing, unless a shorter period of time is agreed upon. Service shall be deemed complete upon depositing the Notice of Hearing in the U.S. Mail, properly addressed to the last known address of the person requesting the hearing. Subd. 4. Hearing procedures. The hearing will be in front of the city council. At the hearing, the party appealing shall have the opportunity to present testimony and question any witnesses, but the strict rules of evidence shall not apply. The city council shall receive and give weight to evidence, including hearsay evidence, which possesses probative value commonly accepted by reasonable and prudent people in the conduct of their affairs. Subd. 5. Authority on appeal. The city council has the authority to determine that a violation did or did not occur, to dismiss a citation or impose the scheduled fine or to reduce, stay or waive a scheduled fine either unconditionally or upon compliance with appropriate conditions. Subd. 6. Decisions on appeal. The city council shall issue a decision in writing to the appealing party within ten (10) days of the hearing. Any fines or penalties imposed must be paid no later than thirty (30) days of the date of the order. The decision of the city council is final and may only be appealed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals by petitioning for a writ of certiorari pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 606.01.
Waconia Code of Ordinances ch. 541 § 541.10 establishes a formal appeal process for anyone who receives a notice, order, or other action from the code official under the city's housing ordinance. An appeal must be submitted in writing to the city administrator within 14 days of the order—or within the correction period allowed by the code official, whichever is shorter—and must briefly describe the specific action being contested. Hearings are conducted before the city council, which has broad authority to uphold, dismiss, reduce, stay, or waive any cited violation or fine, and must issue a written decision within 10 days of the hearing. That decision is final at the local level, with further review available only through the Minnesota Court of Appeals via a writ of certiorari under Minn. Stat. § 606.01.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Waconia Code of Ordinances ch. 541 § 541.10, property owners and managers who receive a code official's notice or order have a narrow window—14 days or the correction period, whichever is shorter—to file a written appeal with the city administrator. Compliant operators generally keep accurate records of all notices received and their service dates so that deadlines can be tracked precisely. If an appeal proceeds to a city council hearing, operators typically prepare documentation and any supporting evidence, keeping in mind that the council may reduce, stay, or waive fines based on the circumstances presented.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Waconia Code of Ordinances ch. 541 § 541.10 gives any person—including tenants—the right to appeal a code official's order or action by filing a written statement with the city administrator within 14 days of receiving the notice. At the city council hearing, tenants have the opportunity to present testimony and question witnesses in a relatively informal setting, as strict rules of evidence do not apply. If the council's decision is unfavorable, the provision notes that further review is available only through the Minnesota Court of Appeals, and tenant-rights organizations or legal aid services can help individuals understand what options may be available at each stage.
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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