Minneapolis, MN Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Winter heat minimum
- 68F, Oct 1 to Apr 30
- Shoulder-season minimum
- 65F, May 1-15 and Sep 15-30
- Natural light/ventilation minimum
- 8% of floor area, min 8 sq ft
- Furnace inspection
- Every 2 years if over 10 years old
- Enforcement
- Regulatory Services rental license inspections
Summary
Minneapolis landlords must maintain habitable rooms at 68F from October through April (65F in the May and September shoulder periods) and meet minimum light, ventilation, and electrical standards under Code of Ordinances Chapter 244, enforced through the rental dwelling license inspection program.
The owner of every building containing habitable rooms shall provide heating facilities ... to a minimum temperature as established herein... Between October first and April thirtieth the minimum temperature that the required heating facilities must be capable of safely and adequately maintaining shall be at least sixty-eight (68) degrees Fahrenheit and between May first and fifteenth and between September fifteenth and thirtieth the minimum temperature shall be at least sixty-five (65) degrees Fahrenheit.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).
Full Breakdown
Habitable rooms need natural light and ventilation equal to at least 8 percent of floor area (min. 8 square feet) under section 244.410, or an approved mechanical system instead. Section 244.430 requires every rental building's heating plant to maintain 68F from October 1 through April 30, and 65F in the May and September shoulder periods; section 244.460 extends that duty to any landlord who supplies heat under the lease. Combustion furnaces over ten years old need a licensed contractor's performance inspection every two years under section 244.435. Regulatory Services enforces through the rental dwelling license inspection program, and these sections carry no advance-notice requirement before a citation issues.
Violations & Fines
Violating heating, light, or ventilation standards is a misdemeanor under section 1.30, punishable by the maximum fine or jail term Minnesota law allows; each day of noncompliance is a separate offense, and citations for these sections require no advance notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the minimum indoor temperature a Minneapolis landlord must maintain?
Does a Minneapolis landlord have to get the furnace inspected?
What if my apartment doesn't have enough natural light?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Minneapolis
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