Willmar, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 6.5, art. II § 6.5-46

Responsibilities of owners and occupants

In Force
Verified 11/13/2026 · Next check 2/11/2027
WillmarInspections, Registration & Licensing

Operative Text

Willmar, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 6.5, art. II § 6.5-46
(a) No owner or other person shall occupy or let to another person any rental unit unless it and the premises are clean, sanitary, fit for human occupancy, and comply with all applicable legal requirements of the state and the city.
(b) Every owner of a rental unit containing two or more dwelling units shall maintain in a clean and sanitary condition the shared or public area of the dwelling and premises thereof.
(c) Every occupant of a rental unit shall maintain in a clean and sanitary condition that part or those parts of the rental unit and premises thereof that he occupies and controls.
(d) Every occupant of a rental unit shall store and dispose of all his rubbish in a clean, sanitary and safe manner.
(e) Every occupant of a rental unit shall store and dispose of all his garbage, refuse and any other organic waste which might provide food for insects and/or rodents, in a clean, sanitary, safe manner. All garbage cans and refuse containers shall be ratproof, insectproof watertight, structurally strong to withstand handling stress, easily filled, emptied and cleaned; shall be provided with tightfitting covers or similar closures; and shall be maintained at all times in a clean sanitary condition. Plastic bags may be used as garbage and refuse container liners, but shall not be used without the container for onsite storage of garbage or refuse.
(f) The total capacity of all provided garbage and/or refuse cans and bulk storage containers shall be sufficient to meet the needs of the occupants of the dwelling.
(g) Every owner of rental housing shall supply facilities or refuse containers for the sanitary and safe storage and/or disposal of rubbish and garbage. The owner shall ensure that such facilities and containers are emptied and the contents thereof removed as often as they become full or the contents thereof cause a noxious odor or otherwise become offensive to the senses, but under no circumstances less frequently than once every week for any rental unit located in the central business zoning district (CBD), any multiple dwelling located in any zoning district, or any premises containing a rental unit and a commercial or industrial use in any zoning district.
(h) The owner of a rental unit shall be responsible for providing and hanging all screens and double or storm doors and windows whenever the same are required under the provisions of this article or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, except where there is a written agreement between the owner and occupant. In the absence of such an agreement, maintenance or replacement of screens, storm doors and windows, once installed in any one season, becomes the responsibility of the occupant. The occupant's responsibility shall be exclusive to his or her dwelling unit.
(i) Every occupant of a dwelling containing a single dwelling unit shall be responsible for the extermination of insects and/or rats on the premises; and every occupant of a dwelling unit in a dwelling containing more than one dwelling unit shall be responsible for such extermination whenever his dwelling unit is the only one infested. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection, whenever infestation is caused by failure of the owner to maintain a dwelling in a ratproof or reasonable insect proof condition, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner. Whenever infestation exists in two or more of the dwelling units in any dwelling or in the shared or public parts of any dwelling containing two or more dwelling units, extermination thereof shall be the responsibility of the owner.
(j) No occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall accumulate rubbish, boxes, lumber, scrap metal or any other materials in such a manner that may provide a rat harborage in or about any dwelling or dwelling unit.
(k) No owner of a dwelling containing three or more dwelling units shall accumulate or permit the accumulation of rubbish, boxes, lumber, scrap metal or any other materials in such a manner that may provide a rat harborage in or about the shared or public areas of a dwelling or its premises.
(l) No owner or occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall store, place or allow to accumulate any materials which may serve as food for rats in a site accessible to rats.
(m) Every occupant of a dwelling unit shall keep all supplied fixtures and facilities therein in a clean, sanitary and operable condition and shall be responsible for the exercise of reasonable care in the proper use and operation thereof.
(n) In every dwelling unit and/or rooming unit when the control of the supplied heat is the responsibility of a person other than the occupant, a temperature of at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit shall be maintained in all habitable rooms, bathroom and water closet compartments at a distance of 36 inches above the floor level.
(o) Every owner of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall provide and maintain the dwelling or dwelling unit free from hazards to health due to the presence of toxic substances, e.g., lead-based paint, as determined by the appropriate authority.
(p) No owner or occupant shall apply a lead-based paint to any surface in any dwelling, dwelling unit, roominghouse and/or rooming unit.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Willmar Code of Ordinances ch. 6.5, art. II § 6.5-46 establishes shared cleanliness and safety responsibilities for both rental property owners and their tenants. Owners must ensure units are fit for occupancy before renting, maintain common areas, supply adequate refuse containers, provide screens and storm windows, handle pest extermination in multi-unit buildings, and keep units free of toxic substances like lead-based paint. Tenants are responsible for keeping their own space sanitary, disposing of garbage properly, maintaining supplied fixtures, and handling pest control when infestation is limited to their unit.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on November 13, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under § 6.5-46, compliant rental operators generally ensure every unit meets state and city habitability standards before occupancy, keep shared areas clean, supply sufficient refuse containers that are emptied at least weekly where required, install screens and storm windows each season, address pest infestations affecting common areas or multiple units, and take steps to eliminate lead-based paint hazards. Owners of three or more units also avoid allowing material accumulations that could harbor rodents in shared spaces. Maintaining written agreements with tenants about screen and storm window maintenance can help clarify which party bears ongoing responsibility.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Section 6.5-46 gives tenants both responsibilities and protections: occupants are expected to keep their own unit sanitary, store garbage in proper containers, and handle pest control when infestation is confined to their unit, but owners bear responsibility for extermination when structural conditions cause the problem or when multiple units are affected. Tenants who believe an owner is failing to meet habitability, pest control, or lead-paint obligations under this provision may contact Willmar's local code enforcement office to report a violation. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents 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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Related Rules

§ 14.544
LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
§ 14.545
STANDARDS FOR HEALTH, SAFETY AND NUISANCE PREVENTION
§ 14.546
SANCTIONS AND PENALTIES

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