Wayzata, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 815 § 815.17
Criminal Background Check
Operative Text
A license holder shall conduct criminal background checks on all prospective tenants of rental dwelling units. The criminal background check must include the following: A. A statewide (Minnesota) criminal history check of all prospective tenants covering at least the last three years; the check must be done utilizing the most recent update of the state criminal history files; B. A statewide criminal history check from the prospective tenant's previous state of residence, if available, if the tenant is moving directly from the state other than Minnesota; C. A criminal history check of any prospective tenant in the tenant's previous states of residence, if available, covering the last three years if they have not resided in Minnesota for three years or longer; and D. A criminal history check of all prospective tenants covering the seven counties in the metro Twin Cities area (Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Scott and Washington) covering at least the last three years, that includes any misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, and felony convictions.
Wayzata Code of Ordinances ch. 815 § 815.17 requires that anyone holding a rental dwelling license run a criminal background check on every prospective tenant before renting to them. The check must cover Minnesota statewide records, prior-state records when applicable, and a seven-county Twin Cities metro search — all reaching back at least three years, with the metro check capturing misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, and felony convictions. The rule sets out specific geographic and temporal scope requirements rather than leaving the depth of screening to the license holder's discretion.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Wayzata Code of Ordinances ch. 815 § 815.17, compliant rental license holders generally obtain a current Minnesota statewide criminal history report for every applicant, supplement it with out-of-state records when a prospective tenant is moving from another state or has not lived in Minnesota for three full years, and run a separate seven-county Twin Cities metro check covering misdemeanors through felonies for the past three years. Operators typically document each component of the check to demonstrate that all four required searches were completed. Maintaining consistent screening procedures applied uniformly to all applicants is a common practice for operators seeking to remain in compliance with this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Wayzata Code of Ordinances ch. 815 § 815.17 establishes that rental license holders are obligated to conduct multi-part criminal background checks on prospective tenants, meaning applicants can expect their Minnesota history, prior-state history, and Twin Cities metro records to be reviewed. Tenants who believe a screening was conducted improperly or inconsistently may wish to contact the City of Wayzata or consult a tenant-rights organization familiar with Minnesota rental law to understand available options. Reviewing your own background report before applying can help you identify and address any inaccuracies that might appear during the screening process described in § 815.17.
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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