Elk River, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 30, art. III § 30-204
No retaliation
Operative Text
No owner shall evict, threaten to evict, or take any other punitive action against any tenant who, by reason of good faith, calls city officials related to public safety or property maintenance concerns. This section shall not prohibit the eviction of tenants from a rental dwelling for unlawful conduct of a tenant or invitee for violations of any rules, regulations, or lease terms other than a prohibition against contacting city officials.
Elk River Code of Ordinances ch. 30, art. III § 30-204 establishes an anti-retaliation rule that protects tenants who contact city officials in good faith about public safety or property maintenance concerns. Landlords are prohibited from evicting, threatening to evict, or taking other punitive actions against a tenant because of such contact. The rule does not, however, shield tenants from eviction or other consequences that arise from their own unlawful conduct or violations of lease terms unrelated to contacting city officials.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Elk River Code of Ordinances ch. 30, art. III § 30-204, compliant property owners and managers generally ensure that no adverse action—including eviction proceedings, threats, or other punitive measures—is taken against a tenant solely because that tenant reached out to city officials about safety or maintenance issues. Operators typically document the independent, legitimate basis for any eviction or disciplinary action to demonstrate it is grounded in lease violations or unlawful conduct rather than a tenant's protected communications with the city. Maintaining clear, contemporaneous records of lease enforcement decisions helps distinguish permissible actions from those that could be characterized as retaliatory.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 30-204 of the Elk River Code of Ordinances gives tenants the right to contact city officials about public safety or property maintenance concerns without fear of eviction, threats, or other punitive responses from their landlord. If a tenant believes an adverse action was taken in retaliation for such a good-faith complaint, that tenant may have grounds to raise the violation as a defense in eviction proceedings or to file a complaint with the relevant city department. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Elk River's ordinances can help explain the range of options available when a potential violation of § 30-204 is at issue.
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.