White Bear Township, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 6, art. IV § 6-152
Light and ventilation
Operative Text
No person shall occupy as owner, occupant or let to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit, for the purpose of living therein, which does not comply with the following requirements: (1) Habitable room ventilation. Except where there is supplied some other device affording adequate ventilation and approved by the code enforcement officer, every habitable room shall have at least one window facing directly outdoors which can be opened easily with an area of not less than ten percent of the floor area with a minimum of ten square feet and not less than four percent of the floor area shall be openable. (2) Nonhabitable room ventilation. Every bathroom and water closet compartment, and every laundry and utility room shall contain at least the ventilation requirement for habitable rooms, except that no windows shall be required if such rooms are equipped with a ventilation system capable of providing five air changes per hour. (3) Electric service, outlets and fixtures. Every dwelling unit and all public and common areas shall be supplied with electric service, functioning over current protection devices, electric outlets, and electric fixtures which are properly installed, which shall be maintained in good and safe working condition and shall be connected to a source of electric power in a manner prescribed by this article and state law. The minimum electric outlets and fixtures shall be as follows: a. Dwelling containing one or two dwelling units shall have at least the equivalent of 60-ampere, three-wire electric service per dwelling unit as a condition of sale. b. Dwelling units shall have at least one branch electric circuit for each 600 square feet of dwelling unit floor space. c. Every habitable room shall have at least one floor or wall-type electric convenience outlet for each 60 square feet or fraction thereof of the total floor space, and in no case less than two such electric outlets; provided, however, that one ceiling or wall-type light fixture may be supplied in lieu of one required electric outlet. d. Every water closet compartment, bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, and furnace-room shall contain at least one supplied ceiling or wall-type electric light fixture and every bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room shall contain at least one electric convenience outlet. e. Every public hall and stairway in every multiple-family dwelling shall be adequately lighted by natural or electric light at all times, so as to provide effective illumination in all parts thereof. Every public hall and stairway in structures containing not more than two dwelling units may be supplied with conveniently located light switches controlling an adequate lighting system which may be turned on when needed, instead of full-time lighting. f. A convenient switch or equivalent device for turning on a light in each dwelling unit shall be located near the point of entrance to such unit.
White Bear Township Code of Ordinances ch. 6, art. IV § 6-152 establishes minimum standards for light, ventilation, and electrical service in dwellings. Habitable rooms must have openable windows meeting specific area thresholds, while bathrooms and utility rooms may substitute mechanical ventilation systems. Every dwelling unit must also be equipped with properly installed and maintained electrical service, outlets, and fixtures meeting defined minimums for amperage, circuits, and placement.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under White Bear Township Code of Ordinances ch. 6, art. IV § 6-152, compliant property operators ensure that every habitable room has an openable window of sufficient area—or an approved alternative ventilation device—and that non-habitable rooms like bathrooms meet ventilation requirements either through windows or a system providing five air changes per hour. On the electrical side, operators maintain adequate amperage service, sufficient branch circuits relative to floor area, and the required number of outlets and fixtures in each room type, including common areas and stairways in multi-family buildings. Keeping records of inspections and any code enforcement officer approvals for alternative ventilation devices is a practice commonly associated with maintaining compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 6-152 of White Bear Township Code of Ordinances ch. 6, art. IV gives occupants the right to live in a dwelling with adequate ventilation and safe, functioning electrical service meeting the standards described in the provision. If a habitable room lacks a proper openable window or an approved alternative, or if electrical outlets, fixtures, or service fall below the stated minimums, these conditions may constitute a violation of this section. Tenants who believe their unit does not meet these standards may contact the White Bear Township code enforcement office to report the concern, or consult a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
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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