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Woodbury, MN Rental Inspections: Inspection Programs (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

License required
Before letting any dwelling as a rental
Multiple dwelling threshold
Over 50% of units rented, common ownership
Existing rentals deadline
Applications and fees due Jan. 1, 2024
License term
Annual, expires December 31
Fire code inspection
Required annually for rental complexes
Appeal window
20 days to request impartial examiner hearing

Summary

Woodbury requires every rental dwelling unit and multiple dwelling to hold a city license under City Code Sec. 6-208 before it is let, backed by annual fire code reviews for rental complexes and complaint-based inspections enforcing the housing and property maintenance code citywide.

(b)License. No person shall let as a rental a residential building without first having obtained a license to do so from the city.(1)License types. There shall be two types of rental licenses.a.A multiple dwelling rental license shall be required for multiple dwelling(s) when more than 50 percent of the units (dwelling or sleeping) within a shared building are let as rentals and are under common ownership.b.A single dwelling rental license shall be required for all other dwelling units that are let as a rental unless otherwise exempted per ordinance....(4)License period and renewal. A license issued under this chapter shall be an annual license, expiring on December 31 of each year.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 48).

Full Breakdown

Under Sec. 6-208(b), no person may let a residential building as a rental without a license from the code official; there are two license types, a multiple dwelling rental license (required when more than 50 percent of units in a shared building are rented under common ownership) and a single dwelling rental license for all other rentals. Existing rentals as of the ordinance's effective date had to file applications and fees by January 1, 2024. Licenses are annual, expiring December 31, and single-unit applicants must submit a signed property maintenance checklist while multiple-dwelling applicants must verify general liability insurance and a fire code inspection completed within the past year.

Rental complex common areas, fire suppression systems and alarms get an annual fire code inspection, and the code official may enter rental units at reasonable times to check compliance. Property managers residing within 100 miles of the city are required when the owner is an entity or lives farther away, and owners must comply with the Kari Koskinen Manager Background Check Act (Minn. Stats. 71). A license can be denied, suspended, revoked or not renewed for outstanding code violations, delinquent taxes, or an ineligible property manager, and owners may appeal a denial or revocation to the city's selected impartial examiner within 20 days.

Violations & Fines

Letting a dwelling unit or multiple dwelling as a rental without the Sec. 6-208 license, renting to transient guests, letting a hazardous or uninhabitable unit, or failing to correct deficiencies in the time set by a notice of violation are each a violation under Sec. 6-208(d). The code official may issue an administrative citation under chapter 26, article III, or the city may pursue misdemeanor prosecution; a license may also be suspended or revoked, and each day a violation continues is a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Woodbury require a license to rent out a house?
Yes. Section 6-208(b) prohibits letting any residential building as a rental without first obtaining a license from the city's code official, whether it is a single home or a unit in a larger complex.
What's the difference between a single and multiple dwelling rental license?
A multiple dwelling rental license applies when more than 50 percent of the units in a shared building are rented under common ownership; every other rented unit needs a single dwelling rental license under Sec. 6-208(b)(1).
What happens if I rent without a license in Woodbury?
It is a violation under Sec. 6-208(d)(1), enforceable by an administrative citation under chapter 26 or misdemeanor prosecution, and each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense.
How often does Woodbury inspect rental properties?
Rental complexes get an annual fire code inspection of common areas and life-safety systems; single rental units are self-inspected yearly by the owner using a city checklist, with city inspections triggered by complaints under Sec. 6-208(c).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Woodbury

All Woodbury rules

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