Bemidji, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 10, art. II § 10-59
No retaliation
Operative Text
No license holder or manager may evict, threaten or evict or take any other punitive action against any tenant by reason of good faith calls made by such tenant to enforcement agencies and/or city officials relating to criminal activity, suspected criminal activity, suspicious occurrences, public safety concerns or property maintenance concerns. This section will not prohibit the eviction of tenants from a rental unit for unlawful conduct of a tenant or invitee or violation of any rules, regulations or lease terms other than a prohibition against contacting enforcement agencies.
Bemidji Code of Ordinances ch. 10, art. II § 10-59 establishes an anti-retaliation rule protecting tenants who contact enforcement agencies or city officials in good faith about criminal activity, public safety, or property maintenance concerns. License holders and managers are prohibited from evicting, threatening to evict, or taking other punitive actions against a tenant because of such contacts. The rule does not, however, shield a tenant from eviction or other action taken for genuinely unlawful conduct or legitimate lease violations unrelated to the prohibition on contacting authorities.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Bemidji Code of Ordinances ch. 10, art. II § 10-59, compliant rental operators take care to ensure that any eviction or punitive action against a tenant is grounded in documented lease violations, unlawful conduct, or other legitimate grounds — not in the tenant's history of contacting enforcement agencies or city officials. Operators generally maintain clear records distinguishing the basis for any adverse action from a tenant's protected reporting activity. Lease terms or rules that explicitly or implicitly discourage tenants from reaching out to authorities would conflict with this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Bemidji Code of Ordinances ch. 10, art. II § 10-59 gives tenants the right to contact enforcement agencies and city officials about criminal activity, public safety, or property maintenance concerns without facing eviction or other retaliation from their landlord or property manager. If a tenant believes an eviction or punitive action was taken because of such a good-faith contact, that connection may be relevant as a defense in eviction proceedings or as the basis for a complaint with city officials. Tenants who believe their rights under this section have been violated may consider reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization or consulting with a legal aid provider to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.