White Bear Township, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 6, art. IV § 6-156
Premises unfit for human habitation
Operative Text
(a) What constitutes. Any dwelling, dwelling unit, or rooming unit which is damaged, decayed, dilapidated, unsanitary, unsafe, vermin or rodent infested, or other which lacks provision for basic illumination, ventilation or sanitary facilities to the extent that the defects create a hazard to the health, safety or welfare of the occupants or of the public may be declared unfit for human habitation. (b) Order to vacate; placarding. When any dwelling, dwelling unit, or rooming unit has been declared unfit for human habitation, the code enforcement officer shall order same vacated within a reasonable time and shall post a placard on same indicating that it is unfit for human habitation, and any operating license previously issued for such dwelling shall be revoked. (c) Prohibited acts. It is unlawful for such dwelling, dwelling unit, or rooming unit to be used for human habitation until the defective conditions have been corrected and written approval has been issued by the code enforcement officer. It shall be unlawful for any person to deface or remove the declaration placard from any such dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit. (d) Certificate of occupancy required for reoccupancy. Buildings determined to be vacant, unfit for human habitation, or declared a dangerous structure must obtain a certificate of occupancy prior to such building being reoccupied. (e) Failure of owner to remedy defects. If a dwelling has been declared unfit for human habitation and the owner has not remedied the defects within a prescribed reasonable time, the dwelling may be declared a hazardous building subject to remedies as provided in state law.
White Bear Township Code of Ordinances ch. 6, art. IV § 6-156 establishes the conditions under which a dwelling, dwelling unit, or rooming unit may be officially declared unfit for human habitation — including damage, decay, dilapidation, unsanitary conditions, pest infestation, or the absence of basic lighting, ventilation, or sanitary facilities. Once such a declaration is made, the unit must be vacated, posted with a placard, and its operating license revoked. The unit cannot legally be reoccupied until all defects are corrected, written approval is issued by the code enforcement officer, and a certificate of occupancy is obtained. If an owner fails to remedy the defects within a reasonable time, the property may be escalated to hazardous building status under state law.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under White Bear Township Code of Ordinances ch. 6, art. IV § 6-156, property owners and managers generally maintain dwellings in a condition that avoids the triggers for an unfit-for-human-habitation declaration — addressing structural damage, pest infestations, and deficiencies in lighting, ventilation, and sanitation promptly. When a unit is declared unfit, a compliant operator cooperates with the code enforcement officer's vacate order, refrains from allowing reoccupancy, and works to correct all cited defects within the prescribed timeframe. Before allowing any tenant to return, operators obtain written approval from the code enforcement officer and secure the required certificate of occupancy, since failure to remedy defects within a reasonable time can result in the property being designated a hazardous building subject to additional state-law remedies.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 6-156 of White Bear Township Code of Ordinances ch. 6, art. IV gives tenants a framework for understanding when housing conditions may rise to the level of being officially declared unfit for human habitation — covering issues such as pest infestation, structural decay, and the lack of basic ventilation or sanitation. If a unit is posted with an unfit-for-human-habitation placard, it is unlawful for anyone to remove or deface that placard, and the unit cannot legally be reoccupied until the code enforcement officer issues written approval and a certificate of occupancy is obtained. Tenants who believe their dwelling meets the conditions described in this provision may consider contacting White Bear Township's code enforcement office to request an inspection, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand the range of 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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