Winona, Minn., City Code ch. 33A (2026) § 33A.10
Miscellaneous Requirements.
Operative Text
33A.10 - MISCELLANEOUS REQUIREMENTS.
All dwellings, dwelling units, roominghouses, rooming units, residential retreat centers, bed and
breakfasts, and tourist homes let for occupancy to another shall comply with the following
requirements:
(a) Building Identification. Every building shall have the assigned street numbers
displayed on the building in such a position as to be plainly visible and legible
from the street or road fronting the property. Said numbers shall be no less than
4 inches in height and shall contrast with the background on which they are
displayed.
Every building shall have the owner’s name and phone number posted on a sign
or plaque in a plainly visible place on the exterior of the building adjacent to the
main building entrance or on the main entrance door. If there is a building
manager, the manager’s name and phone number may be posted in lieu of the
owner’s name and phone number. Such sign or plaque shall be of durable
weather and fade resistant material permanently affixed to the building and shall
not exceed 1 square foot in size. The wording shall be printed in letters a
minimum of ½” in height and shall be worded as follows:
BUILDING OWNER OR BUILDING MANAGER
NAME NAME
PHONE NUMBER PHONE NUMBER
(b) Handrails. Stairways shall have a continuous full-length handrail on both sides.
The handrail shall be mounted no less than 34 inches nor more than 38 inches
above the nosing of the stair tread. The handgrip portion of the handrail shall not
be less than 1 ¼” nor more than 2” in cross-sectional dimension. The ends of the
handrails shall be returned to the walls.
EXCEPTIONS:
1. Stairways serving one dwelling unit or stairways less than 44” in width may
have one handrail.
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2. Stairways with 4 or more risers and serving a one or two-family dwelling unit
must have a handrail on at least one side.
Existing handrails that are not deemed to be hazardous by the Building Official or
Building Inspector are allowed to remain as they are.
(c) Guardrails. Unenclosed floor and roof openings, open sides of stairways,
landings, decks, balconies, porches or occupied roofs which are more than 30
inches above the grade or floor below shall be protected by a guardrail.
Guardrails shall be a minimum of 42 inches high, except that guardrails serving
one and two-family dwelling unit may be 36 inches high. Open railings shall have
intermediate rails, spindles or an ornamental pattern such that a 4-inch sphere
cannot pass through.
Existing guardrails that are not deemed to be hazardous by the Building Official
or Building Inspector are allowed to remain as they are.
(d) Parking. Required off street parking shall at all times be available to the
occupants of the property. Required parking spaces shall not be rented or
leased to persons that are not occupants of the property. If the required parking
is in a garage, the space shall not be used for storage. The number and location
of off street parking spaces required for the particular building or structure is set
forth in the Winona Unified Development Code.
(e) Recyclables. The property owner shall provide recyclable materials containers
for the property and shall inform the tenants about the recycling requirements in
the City of Winona. It shall be the responsibility of the tenants and the owner to
place recyclables curbside on designated pick-up days. Recyclables shall be
stored in an inconspicuous place and shall not be stored in the front yard.
(f) Refuse. The property owner or property manager shall provide an adequate
number of refuse containers to contain the amount of refuse produced on the
property. Containers shall be rodent and animal proof plastic, fiberglass or rust
resistant metal with a tight fitting cover. Containers shall have a maximum
capacity of 35 gallons with two handles or a container of any size supplied by the
waste removal company that can be mechanically lifted. It shall be the tenant’s
responsibility to place their garbage and refuse in the approved refuse containers
provided by the owner. The owner or manager shall be responsible for ensuring
that the garbage and refuse is removed from the property at least once every
seven days. Refuse containers shall not be stored in a front yard, boulevard, or
public way. Containers with a capacity of 1.5 cubic yards or more shall not be
stored in a building or within 5 feet of combustible walls, opening or combustible
roof eaves.
(g) Unused or Discarded Items. Discarded, unused and junk appliances, furniture,
mattresses and other items shall be immediately removed from the property.
(h) Storage of Items. Large amounts of combustible items and materials shall not be
stored in attics or basements. Storage shall be maintained 2 feet or more below
ceilings and floor joists. Combustible materials and items shall not be stored
within 1 foot of any fuel burning appliances. Storage of items shall be orderly and
shall not block or obstruct exits. A minimum 3-foot aisle shall be maintained to all
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exits, furnaces, water heaters, water meters, gas meters or other building service
equipment.
(i) Fuel Storage. LP tanks, gasoline containers and fueled equipment, including but
not limited to motorcycles, mopeds, lawn-care equipment and portable cooking
equipment, shall not be stored or repaired in an apartment building or dwelling
unit.
(j) Barbecues and Open Flames. In any structure containing two or more dwelling
units, no person shall kindle, maintain, or cause any fire or open flame on any
balcony above ground level, on any roof, or on any ground floor patio within 15
feet of the structure. No person shall store or use any fuel, barbecue, torch, or
similar heating or lighting chemicals or device in such locations.
(k) Energy Conservation. Doors and windows shall be maintained in tight and draft
free condition. Holes and cracks in foundations and exterior walls shall be filled.
A minimum of 75 percent of the lamps in permanently installed lighting fixtures
shall be high-efficacy lamps or a minimum of 75 percent of the permanently
installed light fixtures shall contain only high-efficacy lamps.
Ord. No. 3791 04/20/2009
Ord. No. 3978 11/03/2014
Ord. No. 4063 12/18/2017
Ord. No. 4151 06/07/21Winona City Code Ch. 33A § 33A.10 sets out a broad range of physical and operational standards that apply to all rental dwellings in the city. These requirements cover building identification signage, stairway handrails and guardrails, off-street parking availability, recycling and refuse management, removal of discarded items, safe storage practices, fuel and barbecue restrictions, and energy-conservation measures. The section establishes minimum specifications for each requirement, such as sign letter height, handrail mounting dimensions, guardrail heights, and lighting-efficiency thresholds.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rental properties subject to § 33A.10 generally maintain street numbers at least 4 inches tall that are clearly visible from the street, and post a durable exterior sign no larger than one square foot displaying the owner's or manager's name and phone number near the main entrance. Compliant operators keep required off-street parking available exclusively to occupants, provide adequate rodent-proof refuse containers, and ensure garbage is removed at least once every seven days. They also enforce storage rules—keeping combustible materials clear of appliances and exits, prohibiting LP tanks and fueled equipment inside units, and ensuring that at least 75 percent of permanently installed lighting uses high-efficacy lamps as required by § 33A.10(k).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 33A.10, tenants in Winona rental properties have a right to live in buildings that meet these baseline safety and habitability standards, including properly installed handrails and guardrails, accessible parking, and adequate refuse containers. Tenants share responsibility for placing recyclables and garbage in approved containers on designated pickup days, and are prohibited from kindling open flames or storing fueled equipment in ways that violate § 33A.10(i)–(j). Tenants who believe their building does not meet these standards may contact the City of Winona's code enforcement or licensing authority, or reach out to 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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