Minnesota landlord and tenant rules

Seayora publishes 13 Minnesota rules, covering security deposits, notice periods, late fees, evictions, rent regulation, fair housing, tenant protections, contractor sales tax. Every one is composed from the statute it cites and links to that statute on the state’s own code site.

Minnesota at a glance

RuleMinnesota
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Minnesota?1 % simple interest per year.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Minnesota?21 days
How many days does a tenant get to pay late rent in Minnesota?14 days
How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent in Minnesota?30 days
How much notice must a landlord give to end a tenancy in Minnesota?30 days
How much can a landlord charge for a late rent fee in Minnesota?8% of the overdue rent payment
Can a landlord change the locks to force a tenant out in Minnesota?An unlawful ouster or utility shut-off entitles the tenant to recover possession, treble damages or $500 (whichever is greater) and attorney fees.
How long does a tenant have to respond to an eviction case in Minnesota?The hearing is held seven to fourteen days after the summons issues; the tenant appears rather than filing a written answer.
What are the steps to evict a tenant for unpaid rent in Minnesota?Serve the 14-day notice of nonpayment
Is there rent control in Minnesota?Prohibited unless voters approve it
Can a landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher in Minnesota?Limited by a 2010 court decision
Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Minnesota?Presumed within 90 days
Do contractors charge sales tax in Minnesota?Consumer of materials

Security deposits in Minnesota

Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Minnesota?

Yes. Minnesota requires a landlord to pay the tenant interest on a security deposit. 1 % simple interest per year. The deposit itself must be returned within 21 days of the end of the tenancy. This is Minn. Stat. § 504B.178.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, a landlord has 21 days after the tenancy ends to return the security deposit, together with an itemised statement of any deductions. Minnesota also requires interest to be paid on the deposit: 1 % simple interest per year. This is Minn. Stat. § 504B.178.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Notice periods in Minnesota

How many days does a tenant get to pay late rent in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, a landlord must give 14 days written notice before starting a nonpayment case. This is Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.135, 504B.211, 504B.321.

One rental period. Entry: the statute requires reasonable notice rather than a fixed period — 24 hours is customary. Late rent: 14-day written notice (2023).

Full answer and the checkable figures.

How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, a landlord must give 30 days written notice before raising the rent. This is Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.135, 504B.211, 504B.321.

One rental period. Entry: the statute requires reasonable notice rather than a fixed period — 24 hours is customary. Late rent: 14-day written notice (2023).

Full answer and the checkable figures.

How much notice must a landlord give to end a tenancy in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, a landlord must give 30 days written notice to end a tenancy or decline to renew it. This is Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.135, 504B.211, 504B.321.

One rental period. Entry: the statute requires reasonable notice rather than a fixed period — 24 hours is customary. Late rent: 14-day written notice (2023).

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Late fees in Minnesota

How much can a landlord charge for a late rent fee in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, a late fee may not exceed 8% of the overdue rent payment. A late fee may be charged only where the tenant and landlord agreed in writing that one may be imposed, and the agreement must say when. This is Minn. Stat. § 504B.177(a).

A late fee may be charged only where the tenant and landlord agreed in writing that one may be imposed, and the agreement must say when.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Evictions in Minnesota

Can a landlord change the locks to force a tenant out in Minnesota?

No. An unlawful ouster or utility shut-off entitles the tenant to recover possession, treble damages or $500 (whichever is greater) and attorney fees. Minn. Stat. § 504B.231, 504B.375. In Minnesota a tenant may be removed only through the court process, which is set by Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.135, 504B.291, 504B.321, 504B.345, 504B.231.

Minnesota introduced a mandatory 14-day pre-eviction notice for nonpayment in 2024. A tenant may redeem by paying the rent and costs at any point before the writ is executed.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

How long does a tenant have to respond to an eviction case in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, the time a tenant has to respond to an eviction case is governed by Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.135, 504B.291, 504B.321, 504B.345, 504B.231. The hearing is held seven to fourteen days after the summons issues; the tenant appears rather than filing a written answer.

Minnesota introduced a mandatory 14-day pre-eviction notice for nonpayment in 2024. A tenant may redeem by paying the rent and costs at any point before the writ is executed.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

What are the steps to evict a tenant for unpaid rent in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, an eviction for unpaid rent runs through 5 steps, each set by the statute or court rule beside it: (1) Serve the 14-day notice of nonpayment — Minn. Stat. § 504B.321 subd. 1a; (2) File an eviction action complaint — Minn. Stat. § 504B.321; (3) Hearing, 7 to 14 days out — Minn. Stat. § 504B.321; (4) The tenant’s right to redeem — Minn. Stat. § 504B.291; (5) Writ of recovery, executed by the sheriff after 24 hours’ notice — Minn. Stat. § 504B.365. Minnesota introduced a mandatory 14-day pre-eviction notice for nonpayment in 2024. A tenant may redeem by paying the rent and costs at any point before the writ is executed. The procedure as a whole is set by Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.135, 504B.291, 504B.321, 504B.345, 504B.231.

Minnesota introduced a mandatory 14-day pre-eviction notice for nonpayment in 2024. A tenant may redeem by paying the rent and costs at any point before the writ is executed.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Rent regulation in Minnesota

Is there rent control in Minnesota?

No. Minnesota has no statewide rent control, and its cities and counties cannot simply adopt their own: a city, county or town may not adopt or renew rent control on private residential property unless the ordinance or charter amendment is approved by voters in a general election. Because of the voter-approval exception, a city whose voters approve rent control may adopt it. This is Minn. Stat. § 471.9996.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Fair housing in Minnesota

Can a landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher in Minnesota?

Often, yes. In Minnesota, a landlord may not refuse to rent to anyone, or set different terms, because of status with regard to public assistance. But in Edwards v. Hopkins Plaza Ltd. Partnership (2010), the Minnesota Court of Appeals held that a landlord’s business decision not to take part in the voluntary Section 8 program is not discrimination based on that status. Federal law leaves the voucher program voluntary for most landlords, but a property financed with Low-Income Housing Tax Credits may not refuse a tenant because they hold a voucher. This is Minn. Stat. § 363A.09.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Tenant protections in Minnesota

Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Minnesota?

No. In Minnesota, a landlord may not evict, raise a tenant’s obligations or cut services as a penalty for a good-faith complaint or attempt to enforce rights, and if the landlord acts within 90 days after the complaint the landlord must prove it was not retaliation. After 90 days the burden of proof is on the tenant. Separately, the federal Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to threaten or interfere with anyone for exercising fair housing rights. This is Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.285, 504B.441.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Contractor sales tax in Minnesota

Do contractors charge sales tax in Minnesota?

In Minnesota a contractor is treated as the CONSUMER of the materials they build into real property. That means the contractor pays sales tax when they buy the materials, and does not add sales tax to the customer's invoice for that work — the tax is already inside the price. Minnesota also has county, city or special-district rates on top of the state rate, so the rate depends on where the job site is, not where the contractor is based. Source: Minn. Stat. §297A.61 subd. 3(g) (taxable services); contractors improving real property are the end users of the materials.

Minnesota taxes building CLEANING and maintenance as an enumerated service while leaving construction repair labor untaxed. The line between "building maintenance" and "repair of a building" is the one that gets audited.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Sources

  • Minn. Stat. § 363A.09
  • Minn. Stat. § 471.9996
  • Minn. Stat. § 504B.177(a)
  • Minn. Stat. § 504B.178
  • Minn. Stat. §297A.61 subd. 3(g) (taxable services); contractors improving real property are the end users of the materials.
  • Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.135, 504B.211, 504B.321
  • Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.135, 504B.291, 504B.321, 504B.345, 504B.231
  • Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.285, 504B.441

This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.

This is a summary of the published procedure, not legal advice. Courts, local rules and the facts of a tenancy change what applies, and a defect in a notice or a filing can end a case. Have a lawyer review anything before it is served or filed.

This is a summary of a state’s published guidance, not tax or legal advice. Rates and rules change, local jurisdictions add their own, and the treatment of a specific job depends on the contract and the work. Check the citation and speak to a CPA or a state tax adviser before relying on it.

How Seayora uses these rules

Security deposits. Seayora computes the deadline this rule sets from the tenancy’s own dates, shows it on the deposit statement, and reminds the landlord before it falls due — so the answer above is not reference material sitting beside the product, it is the rule the product enforces.

Notice periods. Seayora computes the notice this rule requires from the tenancy’s own dates — for a renewal offer, a rent increase or a served notice — and will not serve one that is short unless the owner records a reason. The answer above is the rule the product enforces.

Late fees. Seayora charges only the late fee written into the lease, after the grace period the lease sets, and adds no late fee of its own. This page states the statutory ceiling and waiting period so the terms of a lease can be checked against them before it is signed.

Evictions. Seayora does not file, serve or appear in an eviction, and is not anybody’s lawyer. When a tenant has stopped paying, it lays out these steps for the property’s own state and city with the statute beside each one, holds back any step that would come too early, keeps an append-only record of the case — and shows the resident what would end it, legal-aid links included.

Rent regulation. This page states whether the state lets its cities control rent, and any statewide limit on an increase, so a renewal can be checked before it is offered. In New York City, Seayora’s rent-increase advisor goes further: it computes the highest increase the Rent Guidelines Board order and the Good Cause standard allow for each apartment, with the law cited, and gives no number where the law is not verified.

Fair housing. This page states whether the state protects renters who pay with a housing voucher, so a listing and its screening rules can be checked against it before they are published. Seayora’s rental search assistant never filters homes by how a renter will pay the rent.

Tenant protections. When an owner prepares an eviction in Seayora, it lists any repair request opened on the unit in the last 180 days that is still open, not to stop the case but because the tenant will raise retaliation and the owner should have an answer. Every repair request keeps the date it was filed.

Contractor sales tax. Seayora resolves this rule on every invoice a contractor raises — per line, from the job site’s own address — and prints the rate, the jurisdiction and this citation on the document itself, so the estimate a customer accepts is the invoice they are billed. Where the rule is more nuanced than a single answer, Seayora refuses to guess a total rather than quoting a confident wrong one.

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