White Bear Township, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 6, art. IV § 6-153
Thermal standards
Operative Text
(a) 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 have heating facilities which are properly installed, and maintained in safe working condition. (b) Heating facilities shall be capable of safely and adequately heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms and water closet compartments in every dwelling unit located therein to a temperature of at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit at a distance of three feet above floor level and three feet from exterior walls at an outside temperature of negative 25 degrees Fahrenheit. (c) Gas or electric appliances designed primarily for cooking or water heating purposes shall not be considered as heating facilities within the meaning of this section. (d) Portable heating equipment employing flame and the use of liquid fuel does not meet the requirements of this section and is prohibited. (e) No owner or occupant shall install, operate or use a space heater employing a flame that is not vented outside the structure in an approved manner.
White Bear Township Code of Ordinances ch. 6, art. IV § 6-153 establishes minimum thermal standards for all occupied dwellings. Every dwelling unit must have permanently installed, properly maintained heating equipment capable of reaching at least 68°F in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and water closet compartments, even when outdoor temperatures drop to -25°F. Cooking appliances and water heaters do not count toward this requirement, and portable flame-based liquid-fuel heaters, as well as unvented space heaters, are expressly prohibited.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under White Bear Township Code of Ordinances ch. 6, art. IV § 6-153, compliant property operators ensure that every rental dwelling unit is equipped with a permanently installed heating system that is kept in safe working order throughout the tenancy. Operators generally verify that the system can maintain 68°F at the standard measurement points—three feet above the floor and three feet from exterior walls—even during extreme cold. Compliant operators also confirm that no prohibited equipment, such as portable liquid-fuel heaters or unvented flame space heaters, is present in any unit.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 6-153 of the White Bear Township Code of Ordinances gives occupants the right to live in a dwelling with a properly installed, maintained heating system capable of reaching 68°F under the coldest conditions the ordinance contemplates. If a unit's heating system is inadequate, broken, or replaced with prohibited equipment like an unvented space heater, that may constitute a code violation that tenants can report to the relevant local code enforcement or housing authority. Tenants who believe their rights under § 6-153 are not being met may also wish to consult a tenant-rights organization to understand the options available to them.
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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