Alexandria, Minn., City Code ch. 5 § 5.08 (2026) § 5.08

Section 5.08.      Rental Unit Registration and Inspection.
Subd. 1.   Purpose And Findings.

               1. The Council Members of the City of Alexandria
find that there is a need for periodic inspection of residential
rental units in the City to ensure that such units meet City,
County and State safety, health, fire, and zoning codes and to
promote the public health, safety, and welfare of the community
at large and the residents of rental units within the City.

               2.   The Council members find that a registration
program is appropriate to effectively identify residential rental
units.

          Subd. 2. Definitions. For purposes of this Ordinance,
the following definitions shall apply:

               A.   “Rental Unit” or “Residential Rental Unit”
means any house, apartment, condominium, townhouse, room or group
of rooms, constituting or located within, a dwelling and forming
a single habitable unit which is leased or rented for occupancy
for a period of not less than thirty (30) days, but not including
private/vacation home rental, bed and breakfast, resort, hotel or
motel.

                                         Source: Ord. 793-2nd Series
                                         Effective Date: 01-14-19

               B.   “City” means         the   City   of   Alexandria,   its
Council, staff, and contractors.

                                         Source: Ord. 892-2nd Series
                                         Effective Date: 09-25-2023
               C.   “Dwelling” means any building or other
permanent or temporary structure, including a manufactured or
mobile home which is wholly or partly used, or intended to be
used, for living or sleeping by human occupants.

               D.   “Premises” means a dwelling unit and the
grounds on which the structure containing the dwelling unit is
located, or in the case of a multiple dwelling unit structure,
the dwelling units and any common areas including those both
inside and outside of the building and the grounds on which the
dwelling units and/or common areas are located.

               E.   “Rent”, “Lease”, “Let” or “Sublet” means the
leasing or a rental unit to a non-owner for a fixed or non-fixed
period of time, and shall include other similar arrangements

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whereby nonpayment of a periodic payment means the occupants may
be evicted without the necessity of either a statutory mortgage
foreclosure procedure, a statutory termination of contract for
deed procedure, or a statutory repossession procedure.

               F.   “Shall” and “must” as used in the Ordinance
are each mandatory. “Should” and “may” as used in this ordinance
are each permissive or directory.

                G. “Registration Holder” means a person or
entity to whom registration for a rental unit is issued under
this ordinance.

               H.   “Local Property Manager” means a natural
person residing within 50 miles of the City of Alexandria who is
authorized by the rental unit owner to make decisions for the
owner about rental, occupancy and maintenance of the rental unit,
or a licensed, or bonded, and/or insured company engaged
primarily in providing such services for hire.

               I.   “Private/vacation home rental” – Any home,
cabin, condominium, bedroom(s) or similar building that is
advertised as, or held out to be a place where sleeping
accommodations are furnished to the public on a nightly, weekly,
or for less than a 30-day time period, and is not a bed and
breakfast, resort, hotel or motel.

               J.   “Resort” – An establishment that includes
buildings, campgrounds, lodges, structures, dwelling units/sites,
homes, enclosures or any part thereof kept, used, maintained or
advertised as or held out to the public to be, a place where
sleeping accommodations are furnished to the public and primarily
to those seeking recreation, for periods of one (1) day, one (1)
week, or longer, and having for rent two (2) or more homes,
cabins, units, campsites or enclosures.       All cabins, rooms,
dwellings units/sites or enclosures must be included in the
resort rental business.      The entire parcel(s), lot(s), or
tract(s) of land must be controlled and managed by the licensee.

                                         Source: Ord. 793-2nd Series
                                         Effective Date: 01-14-19

             Subd. 3.   Registration Requirements.

               1. It shall be unlawful for any owner to rent or
cause to be rented, leased or let within the City, any Rental
Unit for other than short-term occupancy (of not less than thirty
[30] days) unless that Rental Unit is registered for occupancy
pursuant to a valid and current rental registration issued by the
City of Alexandria.

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                                       Source: Ord. 793-2nd Series
                                       Effective Date: 01-14-19

               2. Each rental unit must have an owner, or Local
Property Manager designated by the owner, who resides within 50
miles of the City of Alexandria, as specified in Section 5.08,
Subd. 2.H.

               3.   Any person or entity desiring to rent, let,
lease or sublet any rental unit shall apply for registration by
using forms furnished by the City for that purpose.         The
application must provide the following information:

                    A. Name, address, telephone number, and email
address, if any of the property owner.
                    B. Name, address, telephone number, and email
address, if any of the Local Property Manager.

                    C. The street address of the rental property.

                    D. The   number    of   units   within   the   rental
property.

                    E. The name, telephone number, address and
email address, if any of the person authorized to make, or order
make, repairs or services for the property if in violation of
City or State codes, if the person is different from the owner or
Local Property Manager.

                    F. The name, telephone number, address and
email address, if any, of the waste collection company serving
the rental property, or any alternative method of waste disposal
as authorized by City Code Section 2.70, Subd. 8.

          Subd. 4. Exemptions. This Ordinance does not apply to
campus dormitories and campus residence units owned, operated or
managed by a governmental entity or agency, hospital units or
rooms, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, retirement
homes or other similar rental space which is registered by the
State of Minnesota, or to a house, townhouse or condominium which
is being “rented back” to its immediate prior owner.

           Subd. 5. Manner Of Registration Renewal. Registration
shall be required each calendar year and may be issued on a
calendar year basis prior to January 1 of each successive year.
The City will annually remind rental unit owners (or their
designated    Local  Property  Managers)  of   this  requirement.
Registration renewal forms must be delivered to the City no later
than the 15th day of December each year. Failure of the City to

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issue reminder notice and/or failure of an owner (or Local
Property Manager) to receive a reminder notice, does not excuse
or waive the registration required by this Ordinance.

          Subd. 6. Transfer Of Property.    Every new owner of a
rental unit, whether fee owner or contract purchaser, shall
furnish to the City the new owner’s name, address, telephone
number and fax number (and the name, address, telephone number
and fax number of the new owner’s designated Local Property
Manager) before taking possession of the rental property upon
closing the transaction. No new registration fee is required of
the new owner during the year in which such possession takes
place, provided that the previous owner has paid all registration
fees and has complied with all requirements of this Ordinance and
any violations of health, zoning, fire or safety codes of the
City.   If any change in the type of occupancy as originally
registered is contemplated by the new owner, a new registration
application will be required.

          Subd. 7. Posting Of Registration.    Each rental unit
registration holder must provide the currently value rental unit
certification to the tenant/renter of each unit in building with
fewer than four (4) units. Buildings with four or more units and
a common entry shall have the certification posted near the
common entry.   Buildings with four or more units and no common
entry shall post the certification in a conspicuous location on
the premises.

          Subd. 8. Fees. The fees for rental unit registration,
registration renewal, late fees and inspection may be set by
resolution of the Alexandria City Council adopted from time to
time.

          Subd. 9. Maintenance Of Records.   All records, files
and documents pertaining to rental unit registration and rental
unit inspections will be maintained by the City and will be
available to the public as allowed, permitted or required by
State Law and City Ordinance.

          Subd. 10. Maintenance Standards.     Every rental unit
shall be maintained in a safe, sanitary, and habitable condition
and in compliance with any standards or requirements imposed by
state or local statutes, codes, ordinances, or other laws
applicable to rental housing. In addition, the Minimum Housing
Quality Standards (or successor standards) of the Department of
Housing   and  Urban   Development   (hereinafter   “HUD  Housing
Standards”) shall be used as a guideline to govern use,
occupancy, construction and maintenance of rental units.       An
alleged violation of the HUD Housing Standards shall create a
rebuttable presumption of a violation of this section. This

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presumption may be rebutted by evidence and findings that the
alleged violation does not relate to housing safety, sanitation,
or habitability.    In addition, for basement living units, or
sleeping rooms below the ground floor, an egress window meeting
the requirements of the Uniform Building Code, or another
acceptable means of exit must be provided.    Additionally, site
conditions constituting a nuisance as described in Section 9.55
or elsewhere in the City Code shall be considered a violation of
the Maintenance Standards of this Ordinance.

             Subd. 11. Inspections And Investigations.

               1.   Fire Department personnel, police officers,
building    department    officials    and    their    respective
designees/representatives or “contractors” hired by the City, are
hereby authorized to make inspections reasonably necessary to the
enforcement of this Ordinance.

               2. All persons authorized herein to inspect shall
have the authority to enter, at reasonable times, and following
48 hours written notice to the property owner or designated Local
Property Manager, any rental unit or structure containing a
rental unit registered or required to be registered, for the
purpose of enforcing this Ordinance.          Property owner or
designated Local Property Manager may be present while the
inspection is being performed.

               3.    Written notice of a violation of this
Ordinance may be given to the Registration Holder by certified
mail directed to the address of the Registration Holder as shown
by the City’s registration application file.     Said notice may
contain a Compliance Order stating that compliance with this
Ordinance shall be made immediately and, in that case, the notice
shall advise the Registration Holder that the property may be re-
inspected in not less than fifteen (15) days, unless extended by
the City based on good cause.

               4. A Registration Holder may appeal to the City
Council the requirements of any Compliance Order by filing a
written appeal with the City no later than ten (10) days after
the date of issuance of the Compliance Order. Enforcement of the
Compliance Order shall be stayed pending the decision of the City
Council on the appeal.

          Subd. 12. Failure to Grant Registration,       Revocation,
Suspension or Failure to Renew Registration.

              1. The City reserves the right to not register a
rental unit unless it complies with the requirements of this
Ordinance.

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               2.   Any registration issued under this Ordinance
is subject to the right, which is hereby expressly reserved by
the City, to deny, suspend, revoke or not renew the same should
the   Registration    Holder   or   their    agents,   employees,
representatives or lessees directly or indirectly operate or
maintain the rental dwellings contrary to the provisions of this
Ordinance or any other ordinance of the City or any special
permit issued by the City, or the laws of the State of Minnesota.
Provided, however, registration shall not be denied, suspended,
revoked, or not renewed if the Registration Holder complies with
a compliance order or orders in a reasonably timely manner as
determined by the City.

                                     Source: Ord. 793-2nd Series
                                     Effective Date: 01-14-19
               3.    The City shall notify the applicant that
registration has been denied, or the Registration Holder that
registration is being suspended, revoked or not renewed.   The
suspension, revocation or non-renewal shall occur thirty-five
(35) days after the date of the notification order, or at such
later date as set out in the notification.

               4. A determination by the City to deny, suspend,
revoke or not renew registration of a rental unit may be appealed
to the City Council of Alexandria by filing with the City
Administrator a written notice of appeal within fifteen (15) days
of the date on which the City mails such determination to the
applicant or Registration Holder. In that event, the appeal will
be heard by the Council at its next meeting occurring at least
fifteen (15) days after the filing of the Notice of Appeal.

               5. At any appeal of a determination by the City
under this Ordinance, the Registration Holder or applicant,
(Local   Property  Manager   for  the   Registration  Holder   or
applicant), or an attorney representing said party, may appear
and make a presentation to the City Council.      The City shall
present to the City Council the basis for the determination being
appealed. After the hearing, the Council may uphold, reverse or
modify the decision of the City based upon the provision of this
Ordinance and upon the protection of the public health,
sanitation safety or general welfare of the residents of rental
units within the City.     The City Council shall issue written
findings and determination within thirty-one (31) days of the
hearing, unless the Council extends that time for good cause.

               6.    A decision of the City Council made as
provided in this section may be appealed by Writ of Certiorari to
the Court of Appeals of the State of Minnesota pursuant to its
Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure and Minnesota Statutes.

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            Subd. 13. Summary Action.

               1.    As a condition of receiving rental unit
registration, each Registration Holder agrees and consents that
when the conduct of any Registration Holder or Registration
Holder’s agent, representative, employee or lessee, or the
condition of their rental unit or the property in or on which it
is located, is detrimental to the public health, sanitation,
safety and general welfare of the residents of the rental units
so as to constitute a fire hazard or other unsafe or dangerous
condition and thus give rise to an emergency, the City shall have
the authority to summarily condemn or close individual rental
units or such areas of the rental dwelling as the City deems
necessary. Notice of summary condemnation shall be posted at the
units or areas affected and shall describe the units or areas
affected. No person shall remove the posted notice, other than
the Fire Marshal, building official or their designated
representative. Any person aggrieved by the decision or action
of said building official or Fire Marshal set out in this
Ordinance, may appeal the decision following the procedures set
out in this Ordinance.    The hearing shall be conducted in the
same manner as provided in this Ordinance, however, the date of
the hearing may be expedited with the consent of the Registration
Holder.

               2.   The decision of the City set forth in this
Subdivision is not voided by the filing of such appeal.   Only
after the hearing by the City Council has been held will the
decision or action of the City be affected.

          Subd. 14. Applicable Laws.    Registration Holders are
subject to all of the ordinances and/or laws of the City and
State of Minnesota relating to rental dwellings, and this
Ordinance shall not be construed or interpreted to supersede or
limit any other applicable ordinance or law.

          Subd. 15. Violations, Injunctive Relief.
               1. Nothing in this Ordinance prevents the City
from taking enforcement action under any of its fire, housing,
zoning, health, safety or other codes, ordinances and State laws
for violations thereof, or to seek injunctive relief and criminal
prosecution for violations of any ordinance, code or law.
Nothing contained in this Ordinance prevents the City from
seeking injunctive relief against a property owner or designated
property manager who fails to comply with the terms and
conditions of this Ordinance or to obtain an order closing such
rental units until violations of this particular Ordinance have
been remedied by the property owner or designated property
manager.

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               2. Violation of this Ordinance is a misdemeanor.
Violations include operation of a rental unit without proper
registration and/or operation of a rental unit after revocation
or suspension of registration.     Each separate day on which a
continuing violation occurs is a separate violation. Any written
or oral agreement to rent or cause to be rented, leased or let,
any Rental Unit that is in violation of this Ordinance is illegal
as a matter of law.
                                    Source: Ord. 753-2nd Series
                                    Effective Date: 10/10/16

               3.   This  chapter   may  also  be   enforced  by
injunction, abatement, mandamus, or any other appropriate remedy
in any court of competent jurisdiction.

                                     Source: Ord. 793-2nd Series
                                     Effective Date: 01/14/19

          Subd. 16. Written Notices.    Notices from the City
required by this Ordinance shall be effective if personally
delivered or if mailed to the addressee to the address shown in
the City file pertaining to the rental unit involved in the
notice.

          Subd. 17. Severability   Clause.     If  any section,
subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance is for
any reason held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect
validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance.

                                     Source: Ord. 753-2nd Series
                                     Effective Date: 10/10/16

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