Rochester, MN Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum temperature
- 68°F (20°C) in habitable rooms
- Trigger
- Outside temp below 50°F at Rochester airport
- Prohibited heat source
- Cooking appliances, unvented portable heaters
- Measurement method
- 3 ft above floor, 2 ft from exterior wall
- Enforcement
- Code official; misdemeanor/civil infraction
- Citation
- RCO § 7-7-5
Summary
Rochester landlords who rent, lease or let a dwelling unit or sleeping unit must supply heat once the outside temperature at the Rochester International Airport drops below 50°F, keeping every habitable room, bathroom and toilet room at a minimum of 68°F. Sec. 7-7-5 of the Housing Code sets the trigger and the floor; Sec. 7-7-4 blocks owners from meeting it with cooking appliances or portable unvented heaters.
Every owner and operator of any building who rents, leases or lets one or more dwelling units or sleeping units on terms, either expressed or implied, to furnish heat to the occupants thereof shall supply heat during any date where the outside air temperature, as measured at the Rochester International Airport, falls below 50 degrees Fahrenheit to maintain a minimum temperature of 68°F (20°C) in all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 8 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Rochester's Housing Code (RCO Title 7) requires that any owner or operator who rents, leases or lets a dwelling unit or sleeping unit supply heat to occupants whenever the outside air temperature, measured at the Rochester International Airport, drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Sec. 7-7-5 obligates the landlord to maintain a minimum indoor temperature of 68°F (20°C) in every habitable room, bathroom and toilet room for as long as the cold snap lasts, not just overnight. The same 68°F floor applies to all dwellings under Sec.
7-7-4, which bars owners from relying on cooking appliances or portable unvented fuel-burning space heaters to satisfy the requirement; only a properly installed heating system counts toward compliance. Inspectors verify compliance using the method set out in Sec. 7-7-6: room temperature is measured three feet above the floor near the center of the room and two feet inward from the center of each exterior wall, so a single cold spot near a drafty window does not by itself prove a violation. A rental unit that goes without adequate heat can also be cited as unfit for human occupancy under Sec.
7-3-35 if the lack of heat makes the structure unsanitary or hazardous, which triggers the condemnation and closure procedures in Chapter 7-3. Enforcement runs through the community development department's code official, who serves a notice of violation under Sec. 7-3-22 and may pursue prosecution under Sec. 7-3-23 if the owner does not comply.
Violations & Fines
Failing to supply heat that keeps habitable rooms at 68°F once outside temperatures fall below 50°F is a misdemeanor or civil infraction under Sec. 7-3-24, and it is treated as a strict-liability offense under Sec. 7-3-23, meaning intent is not a defense. Each day the violation continues after the code official serves a notice of violation counts as a separate offense, and the city can also file a civil action to restrain or abate the violation under Sec. 7-3-25.
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature must my Rochester landlord maintain?
Can my landlord use a portable space heater instead of central heat?
What happens if my landlord won't fix a heating problem?
How does the city measure room temperature in a dispute?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rochester
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