Purpose

To ensure landlords have access to the official guidance about landlord-tenant rights and responsibilities by requiring local governments to share the Attorney General’s landlord-tenant guide when rental-related permits are issued or renewed.

Main Provisions

• Applies to home rule charter cities, statutory cities, and towns in Minnesota.
• When such a city or town issues or renews a rental license, a rental registration, or a certificate of occupancy (or a similar document that allows a dwelling unit to be occupied by a residential tenant), the city must provide the landlord with a physical copy of the Attorney General’s landlord-tenant guide (as defined in the statute 504B.275).
• If the document is renewed or issued electronically, the city must provide a link to the guide on the Attorney General’s website instead of a physical copy.
• The term “dwelling unit” and “landlord” are defined by existing Minnesota law (504B.001), and the guide is defined by the referenced section (504B.275).

What this changes in practice

• Local governments must actively share the official landlord-tenant guidance with landlords at key points when rental permissions are issued or renewed, improving access to information for landlords.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Establishes a new requirement under Minnesota law (chapter 471) to furnish or link to the AG’s landlord-tenant guide at the time of rental-license/registration issuance or renewal and certificate of occupancy issuance/renewal.
• Creates a distinction between providing a physical copy (for paper-issued documents) and a link (for electronically issued documents).

Scope and Definitions

• Applies to three types of local governments: home rule charter cities, statutory cities, and towns.
• References specific defined terms:
  • landlord-tenant guide (Attorney General’s guide)
  • landlord (as defined in 504B.001(7))
  • residential tenant (as defined in 504B.001(12))
  • guide definition (504B.275)

Relevant Terms

• landlord-tenant guide
• Attorney General’s landlord-tenant guide
• physical copy
• electronic link
• rental license
• rental registration
• certificate of occupancy
• dwelling unit
• residential tenant
• landlord
• home rule charter city
• statutory city
• town
• Minnesota Statutes chapter 471
• 504B.001
• 504B.275