Cambridge, Minn., City Code ch. 97 (2026) § 97.13
Rooming Houses
Operative Text
§ 97.13 ROOMING HOUSES (A) No person shall operate a rooming house or shall occupy or let to another for occupancy any rooming unit, except in compliance with all the provisions set forth in the subdivisions which follow. (B) There shall be supplied at least one flush water closet, lavatory basin and bathtub or shower properly connected to a water and sewer system in an approved manner and maintained in good working condition for each eight persons, or fraction thereof, including the operator’s family wherever they share the use of the facilities. However, in a rooming house where rooms are let only to males, flush urinals may be substituted for not more than one-half the required number of flush water closets. All such facilities shall be so located within the dwelling as to be reasonably accessible from a common hall or passageway to all persons sharing such facilities. Every lavatory basin and bathtub or shower shall be supplied with hot water at all times. (C) The operator of every rooming house shall supply and change bed linen and towels therein at least once each week and prior to the letting of any room to an occupant. The operator shall be responsible for the maintenance of all supplied bedding in a clean and sanitary manner. (D) Every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one person shall contain at least 70 square feet of floor space and every room occupied for sleeping purposes by more than one person shall contain at least 50 square feet of floor space for each occupant thereof. (E) Every room unit shall have approved, safe, unobstructed means of egress leading to safe and open space at ground level. (F) The operator of every rooming house shall be responsible for the sanitary maintenance of all walls, floors and ceilings and for maintenance of a sanitary condition in every other part of the rooming house and the premises thereof. (G) Every provision of this chapter which applies to rooming houses shall also apply to hotels, and in addition, every hotel where both sexes are accommodated shall be provided with separate rooms with toilets located in the building which shall be conspicuously marked for each sex.
Cambridge, MN City Code § 97.13 establishes minimum operating standards for rooming houses, covering sanitation facilities, linen service, sleeping room sizes, egress, and general maintenance. The rule sets specific ratios for shared bathrooms (one toilet, basin, and tub or shower per eight occupants), requires hot water at all times, and mandates that sleeping rooms meet defined square-footage minimums. Hotels are subject to the same requirements and must additionally provide sex-designated restrooms when accommodating both sexes.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rooming houses subject to § 97.13 generally maintain at least one complete bathroom facility for every eight occupants, ensure hot water is continuously available, and change bed linen and towels at least weekly and before each new occupant moves in. Compliant operators keep sleeping rooms at or above the required floor-space minimums—70 square feet for single occupancy and 50 square feet per person for multiple occupants—and maintain clear, approved egress from every room unit. Walls, floors, ceilings, and all common areas are kept in a sanitary condition, and hotel operators additionally provide clearly marked, sex-designated restroom facilities when housing both male and female guests.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Residents of rooming houses covered by § 97.13 are entitled to properly functioning shared bathroom facilities in the required ratio, continuously available hot water, clean linen and towels supplied at least weekly, and sleeping space that meets the code's square-footage minimums. If these conditions are not being met, tenants may document the deficiencies and report them to Cambridge's local code enforcement or housing authority, which has authority to inspect and act on violations of Chapter 97. Tenant-rights organizations can also help residents understand what remedies may be available when a rooming house operator is not complying with § 97.13.
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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