Cloquet, Minn., City Code ch. 10 §§ 10.3, 10.7 (2026) § 10.3.09
Violations. Notice of violation shall be served upon the owner of record; provided that such notice shall be
Operative Text
10.3.09 Violations. Notice of violation shall be served upon the owner of record; provided that such notice shall be
deemed to be properly served upon such owner if a copy thereof is delivered to him/her personally, or if not found,
by leaving a copy thereof at his/her usual place of abode with a person of suitable age and discretion who shall be
informed of the contents thereof, or by sending a copy thereof by mail to his/her last known address, or if the letter
with the copy is returned showing it has not been delivered to him/her by posting a copy thereof in a conspicuous
place in or about the dwelling affected by the notice.
Subd. 1. Service of Notice. Whenever the building official determines that there has been or is a
violation, or that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there has been or is a violation of any
provision of this code, he/she shall give notice of such violation or alleged violation to the person or
persons responsible therefor. Such notice shall:
A. Be in writing;
B. Include a description of the real estate sufficient for identification;
C. Specify the violation which exists and the remedial action required;
D. Allow a reasonable time for the performance of any act it requires.
Subd. 2. Prosecution of Violation. In case any violation order is not promptly complied with the building
official may request the legal representative to institute an appropriate action or proceeding at law or in
equity against the person responsible for the violation, ordering him/her:
A. To restrain, correct or remove the violation or refrain from any further
execution of work;
B. To restrain or correct the erection, installation, or alteration of such
building;
C. To require the removal of work in violation;
D. To prevent the occupation or use of the building, structure, or part
thereof erected, constructed, installed or altered in violation of, or not in compliance with
the provisions of this code, or in violation of a plan or specification under which an
approval, permit or certificate was issued; or
E. To enforce the penalty provisions of this code.
Subd. 3. Penalty for Violations. Every person or corporation who shall violate any provision of this code
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served in
accordance with the terms and provisions hereof, shall be deemed a separate offense.
Subd. 4. Right to Appeal. Any owner or person who is aggrieved with the ruling or decision of the
enforcing officer in any matter relative to the interpretation or enforcement of any of the provisions of the
Housing Code may appeal the decision in accordance with the provisions as set forth in Chapter 15 of the
Code, Administrative Hearing Process.
Section 10.4: Pipeline Safety Setback
10.4.01 Purpose. The purpose of this Section shall be to increase public safety by requiring that any new
development be safely set back from pipeline locations.
10.4.02 Applicability. This Section applies to new residential and other development. It shall not apply to
development that has occurred or for which development permits have been issued before the effective date of this
Code.
10.4.03 Setback. Buildings and places of public assembly subject to this Section shall not be constructed closer to
the pipeline than the boundary of the pipeline easement.
10.4.04 Variances. Variance procedures adopted by the City under Minnesota Statutes shall apply.
Section 10.4 Pipeline Safety Setback 20
Section 10.5: Hazardous And Unsafe Structures
10.5.01 Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly
indicates or requires a different meaning.
Subd. 1. Building shall include any structure or part of a structure, including without limitation,
residential structures, commercial structures, agricultural outbuildings (such as barns) and structures
supporting signs.
Subd. 2. Building Official shall mean a state certified building official appointed by the City Council as
the Building Official of the City.
Subd. 3. Hazardous Building shall mean any building which because of inadequate maintenance,
dilapidation, physical damage, unsanitary condition or abandonment constitutes a fire hazard or a hazard to
public safety or health. In addition, Ahazardous building@ includes any building or structure which would
be deemed Aunsafe@ under the provisions of this chapter.
Subd. 4. Owner shall mean those shown to be such on the records of the County Auditor.
10.5.02 General Provisions.
Subd. 1. When the existence of a hazardous building comes to the attention of the Building Official, the
Building Official shall make an inspection of the building.
Subd. 2. Following the inspection the Building Official shall make an appropriate order for the elimination
of the hazard created by the building. The order shall be in writing; recite the grounds upon which the
Building Official concluded it was a hazardous building; specify the actions required to be taken to
eliminate the hazard and provide a reasonable time for compliance with the order, which shall be no more
than 30 days from the date of the order.
The order shall be mailed to the owner of the property on which the hazardous building is located by
certified or registered mail.
Subd. 3. Following the expiration of the time specified in the order for compliance the Building Official
shall re-inspect the building to determine whether the hazard has been eliminated.
Subd. 4. Should the order of the Building Official not be complied with within the time allowed, unless an
appeal provided for in 10.05.04, hereof, is taken, the Building Official shall communicate such information
to the City Council in writing.
10.5.03 Failure to Comply with Order. Should the order of the Building Official not be complied with within the
time allowed, unless appeal provided for in 10.5.04, hereof, is taken, the City Council shall determine whether to
proceed in accordance with the provisions of M.S. Sections 463.15 et seq, to prosecute the owner of the property on
which the hazardous building is located for violating the provisions of this section hereof, to proceed in any other
manner authorized by law or to proceed in any combination of the foregoing.
10.5.04 Appeals.
Subd. 1. Any person affected by any decision of the Building Official which is related to or made pursuant
to this section may appeal therefrom to the Fire Code Appeal Board. An appeal may be taken by the
affected party by serving the Building Official with written notice of intention to appeal the Building
Official's decision within ten days after the affected party received knowledge or notice of the decision.
Section 10.5 Hazardous and Unsafe Structures 21
Subd. 2. The notice of appeal shall contain a complete statement of the matter in controversy, and, if from
a refusal of to make ordered repairs, shall contain a guarantee of payment of all expenses of any tests made
or ordered by the Fire Code Appeal Board. The notice shall be accompanied by a fee of which shall be
established by resolution as adopted from time to time by the City Council and will be retained by the City.
Subd. 3. Any such appeal shall be subject to and shall be conducted in accordance with the appeal
provisions as set forth.
10.5.05 Limitation on Liability. The City, the Building Official and/or any employee charged with the enforcement
of this section shall not be liable for any damage that may occur to persons or property as a result of any act required
of the Building Official or any employee of the City or by reason of any act or omission of the Building Official or
any such employee.
10.5.06 Violations and Penalties. Any person who fails to comply with an order of the Building Official within the
time allowed made pursuant to this Section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Each day or portion thereof during
which such violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.
Section 10.5 Hazardous and Unsafe Structures 22
10.6: International Property Maintenance Code Adopted
10.6.1 This document is on file in the office of the city clerk, being marked and designated as the International Property
Maintenance Code, 2021 edition, as published by the International Code Council, be and is hereby adopted as the
Property Maintenance Code of the City of Cloquet, in the State of Minnesota for regulating and governing the
conditions and maintenance of all property, buildings and structures; by providing the standards for supplied utilities
and facilities and other physical things and conditions essential to ensure that structures are safe, sanitary and fit for
occupation and use; and the condemnation of buildings and structures unfit for human occupancy and use, and the
demolition of such existing structures as herein provided; providing for the issuance of notices and collection of fees
therefore; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of said Property Maintenance
Code on file in the office of the city are hereby referred to, adopted, and made a part hereof, as if fully set out in this
article, with the additions, insertions, deletions and changes,
10.6.2 Amendments To The International Property Maintenance Code
Section 101.1. Insert: "City of Cloquet."
Section 101.3. Replace "International Existing Building Code" with "Minnesota State Building Codes."
Section 101.3. Insert: "Any references to any other code shall be assumed to reference the Minnesota State Building
Codes as adopted by the City of Cloquet."
Section 103.1. Replace entire section with: "This code shall be administered and enforced by the City of Cloquet
Building Official's Office and the Cloquet Building Official is hereby appointed as the code official."
Section 103.2. Repealed.
Section 103.5. Insert: "Fees shall be charged to the owner of record of violating properties based on the City’s fee
schedule. Fee collection shall be commensurate with services provided."
Section 302.4. Repealed.
Section 304.14. Insert: "May 15 - Sept. 15."
Section 602.3. Insert: "Sept. 15 - May 15."
Section 602.4. Insert: "Sept. 15 - May 15."
Section 603.2. Delete "Exception: Fuel burning equipment and appliances which are labeled for un-vented operation."
10.6.3 Enforcement of the International Property Maintenance Code
Violations of the International Property Maintenance Code may be enforced under the provisions of the International
Property Maintenance Code or under the enforcement provisions found in Chapter 10.
(Ord. No. 513A 2024)
Section 10.6 City Fire Code 23Cloquet City Code § 10.3.09 establishes the process by which the city's building official notifies property owners of housing code violations and pursues enforcement when those violations go uncorrected. Written notices must describe the property, identify the specific violation, and allow a reasonable time for correction. If a violation order is not promptly followed, the city may pursue legal action, and under Subd. 3, each day a violation continues after proper notice counts as a separate misdemeanor offense.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 10.3.09, compliant property owners in Cloquet generally respond promptly to any written violation notice from the building official, which will specify the property, the nature of the violation, and the required corrective action within a stated timeframe. Operators who address violations within the allowed period reduce exposure to the escalating penalties described in Subd. 3, where each day of continued noncompliance constitutes a separate misdemeanor offense. Owners who disagree with a ruling have the right under Subd. 4 to appeal through the Administrative Hearing Process set out in Chapter 15 of the City Code.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 10.3.09 of the Cloquet City Code gives tenants an indirect but meaningful protection: when a building official identifies a housing code violation, the owner of record must receive written notice and is given a reasonable time to correct it, with escalating legal consequences for failure to comply. Tenants who believe their rental property has a code violation may consider contacting the Cloquet building official's office to request an inspection, which can trigger the formal notice-and-enforcement process described in this section. If enforcement action is taken and a tenant is affected by the outcome, Subd. 4 outlines an appeal pathway through Chapter 15, and consulting a local tenant-rights organization can help clarify 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.