Plymouth, MN Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)

Plymouth adopted the International Property Maintenance Code, 2012 Edition, by reference in City Code § 405.01 and administers it through the Building Inspection Division under § 103.1. Section 602.2 sets the baseline: dwellings must have heating facilities capable of maintaining 68 degrees F in habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms based on the winter outdoor design temperature for the locality. Section 602.3 then places the duty on landlords: any owner or operator who rents, leases or lets a dwelling unit, rooming unit, dormitory or guest room, under a lease that expressly or impliedly promises heat, must actually supply heat from October 15 to May 15 to keep those rooms at 68 degrees F or above.

The Code carves out one exception: when the outdoor temperature drops below the winter design temperature set for Plymouth's locality, the landlord is excused from hitting the 68-degree minimum as long as the heating system is running at full design capacity. Other Property Maintenance Code provisions in the same chapter reinforce a rental owner's upkeep duties: § 302.3.1 requires snow and ice removal from rental parking lots, driveways, steps and walkways within 48 hours of a snowfall, § 302.3.2 requires paved, maintained parking areas for multifamily tenants, and § 302.3.3 requires functioning exterior lighting in rental parking areas and walkways. All of these standards are also incorporated into the rental licensing maintenance standard at § 410.40.