Cambridge, Minn., City Code ch. 97 (2026) § 97.14
Designation of Unfit Dwelling and Order Requiring Vacation
Operative Text
§ 97.14 DESIGNATION OF UNFIT DWELLING AND ORDER REQUIRING VACATION (A) Designation. Whenever the Building Inspector finds any dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit which does not conform to the standards established by this chapter and which by reason of such nonconformity presents an imminent hazard to public health or to the physical or mental health of the occupants therein, the Building Inspector may, without prior notice or hearing, designate the dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit as unfit for human habitation. (B) Placarding; order to vacate. Any dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit designated as unfit for human habitation by the Building Inspector shall be appropriately placarded as such and shall be vacated by the occupants thereof within the time specified in such placard. The placard shall be deemed an order directing vacating and shall permit not less than 10 days from the date of the placarding for the vacating of the dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit unless a lesser time is stated in the order in view of the facts of the situation and the hazard involved as in the judgment of the Building Inspector is reasonable and proper. (C) Correction of defects. No dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit which has been designated as unfit for human habitation and placarded as such shall again be used for human habitation until written approval is secured from and such placarding is removed by the Building Inspector. The Building Inspector shall remove the placard whenever the defect or defects upon which the designation and placarding action were based have been eliminated and the dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit has been made to conform to the standards established by this chapter. (D) Unlawful to deface placard. It shall be unlawful for any person to deface, remove or obscure any placard affixed under the provisions of this chapter. (E) Appeal to Council. Any person aggrieved by the designation of any dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit as unfit for human habitation who believes the designation to be factually or legally contrary to the ordinances of the city may appeal from the same to the Council, in the same manner as appeal may be taken from a notice of violation under § 97.06. The procedure prescribed in this section may be used concurrently with, or separate from, the procedures in cases of violation set forth in § 97.06.
Under Cambridge, MN City Code § 97.14, the Building Inspector has authority to declare a dwelling, dwelling unit, or rooming unit unfit for human habitation—without advance notice or a hearing—when conditions pose an imminent hazard to public health or occupant well-being. Once designated, the unit must be posted with a placard and vacated within a timeframe set by the Inspector, with a default minimum of 10 days unless the hazard warrants a shorter period. The unit cannot be reoccupied until the Inspector confirms that deficiencies have been corrected and removes the placard; tampering with or removing the placard is itself a violation of the code.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 97.14, a compliant property owner or manager keeps all dwelling units maintained to the standards set out in Cambridge City Code Ch. 97 so that an imminent-hazard designation never arises. When a placard is posted, operators generally cooperate with the Building Inspector's timeline, address the cited deficiencies promptly, and obtain written approval before allowing any reoccupancy. Operators also take care never to remove, deface, or obscure a posted placard, as doing so is independently unlawful under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 97.14 gives occupants the right to receive a placard notice specifying how much time they have to vacate—at least 10 days in most circumstances—before a unit designated as unfit for human habitation must be cleared. Tenants who believe the unfit designation is factually or legally incorrect have a formal appeal path to the Cambridge City Council, following the same procedure described in § 97.06, and that appeal can be pursued alongside or separately from other violation procedures. Tenant-rights organizations or legal aid services familiar with Minnesota housing law can help occupants understand the appeal process and what documentation may be relevant.
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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