Burnsville, Minn., Mun. Code ch. 3-15 (2026) § 3-15-19
No Retaliation
Operative Text
No licensee shall evict, threaten to evict, or take any other punitive action against any tenant by reason of good faith calls made by such tenant to: The City Manager or designee regarding a licensee's compliance with this article; or Law enforcement agencies relating to criminal activity, suspected criminal activity, suspicious occurrences, or public safety concerns. This section shall not prohibit the eviction of tenants for unlawful conduct of a tenant or invitee of the tenant or violation of any rules, regulations, or lawful lease terms. HISTORY Adopted by Ord. 1585 on 4/28/2023
Burnsville Ch. 3-15 § 3-15-19 prohibits rental licensees from evicting, threatening to evict, or taking any other punitive action against a tenant because that tenant made good-faith complaints to the City Manager or law enforcement about compliance, criminal activity, or public safety concerns. The rule does not shield tenants from eviction when the basis is the tenant's own unlawful conduct or a genuine lease violation. In effect, the provision draws a clear line between protected reporting activity and legitimate grounds for eviction.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Burnsville Ch. 3-15 § 3-15-19, compliant rental licensees take care to ensure that no adverse action—including eviction proceedings, threats, or other punitive measures—is initiated against a tenant in response to that tenant's good-faith contacts with the City Manager or law enforcement. Operators generally document the independent, non-retaliatory basis for any eviction or disciplinary action so that the timing of a tenant's complaint does not create the appearance of retaliation. The provision does preserve the right to pursue eviction when it is grounded in a tenant's own unlawful conduct or a verifiable lease violation.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Burnsville Ch. 3-15 § 3-15-19 gives tenants the right to contact the City Manager or law enforcement about safety, criminal activity, or a landlord's compliance with the rental licensing article without facing eviction or other punitive responses as a result. If a tenant believes an adverse action was taken in retaliation for such a good-faith report, general enforcement paths include raising the retaliation as a defense in any eviction proceeding, filing a complaint with the City of Burnsville, or consulting a local tenant-rights organization for guidance. Tenants should be aware that this protection does not extend to situations where an eviction is based on the tenant's own conduct or a legitimate lease violation.
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.
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