Hennepin County, MN Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Junk/rubbish
- Nuisance if dangerous to health
- Dangerous structures
- Sanitary defects = nuisance
- Enforced by
- County Health Authority
- City opt-out
- If city ordinance is as strict
Summary
Hennepin County declares junk or rubbish accumulations and structures made dangerous by sanitary defects to be public health nuisances subject to abatement.
Accumulations of rubbish or junk as to become dangerous or injurious to the health and safety of any individual or to the public. Any structure that has become dangerous for further occupancy because of sanitary defects. Infestations of flies, fleas, cockroaches, lice, rats, mice, fly larvae, or hookworm larvae. Unnatural breeding grounds which support mosquito larvae and mosquitoes capable of carrying West Nile Virus, La Crosse Encephalitis Virus, or any other disease causing microorganism.
Full Breakdown
Section 2.01 of the Public Health Nuisance Ordinance (Ordinance 25) lists accumulations of rubbish or junk that become dangerous or injurious to health, and any structure that has become dangerous for further occupancy because of sanitary defects, among the conditions expressly declared public health nuisances. The ordinance covers every statutory or home rule charter city in the county unless that city has its own ordinance at least as strict, with the Health Authority handling investigation and abatement.
Violations & Fines
A property owner who receives a nuisance notice must remedy it or propose a remediation plan within the county-set timeframe; failing to do so is a separate violation subject to further enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Hennepin County make me clean up a junk pile on my property?
What about a building that's falling apart?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hennepin County
Compare Hennepin County to another location·View the Minnesota property maintenance overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.