Cottage Grove, Minn., Mun. Code Ch. 15 (2026) § 3-15-5

A. Background Reports: In order to protect the general welfare of the public for all applications, criminal history background reports from the BCA must be submitted with the application for any owner who has or would have the means to enter rental dwelling units or any manager who has or would have the means within the scope of the individual’s duties, to enter rental dwelling units. To satisfy this requirement:


1. An owner who has or would have the means to enter rental dwelling units must provide a copy of a BCA public criminal conviction history report, which must be dated within twenty-four (24) months of the date of the application.


2. A manager must provide a BCA public criminal conviction history report and a response from the Superintendent of the BCA required by Minnesota Statutes Section 299C.68, both of which must be dated within twenty-four (24) months of the application.


If not a Minnesota resident, a criminal conviction history report from the appropriate government agency in the state of residency is also required.


B. Authorization: At the time of making an initial or renewal license application, the applicant must provide written authorization to the City to investigate all facts set out in the application. The information obtained from the investigation shall be used to assist the City Council in making a decision as to whether the applicant should be granted a license. The decision may be based on any of the following criteria:


1. Whether the owner or manager subject to the investigation required in this Section was convicted of a crime or offense in the last five (5) years involving or directly relating to the business for which a license is sought; or


2. Whether the owner or manager was convicted of a “background check crime” as defined by Minnesota Statutes Section 299C.67, subdivision 2, within the last ten (10) years; or


3. Whether there is a material misrepresentation in the application.