Excelsior, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 8, art. IV § 8-131
Minimum thermal standards
Operative Text
No person shall occupy as owner or let for occupancy any rental dwelling, rental dwelling unit, or its portion, which does not have heating facilities which are properly installed, and which are maintained in safe and good working condition, and which are capable of safely and adequately heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and water closet compartments in every dwelling unit located therein to a temperature of at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit, or such lesser temperature required by government authority, at a distance of three feet above floor level and three feet from exterior walls. Gas or electric appliances designed primarily for cooking or water heating purposes shall not be considered as heating facilities within the meaning of this section. Portable heating equipment employing flame and the use of liquid fuel does not meet the requirements of this section and is prohibited. No owner or occupant shall install, operate, or use a space heater employing a flame that is not vented outside the structure in an approved manner.
Excelsior Code of Ordinances ch. 8, art. IV § 8-131 establishes minimum heating requirements for rental dwellings, specifying that all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and water closet compartments must be capable of reaching at least 68°F, measured three feet above the floor and three feet from exterior walls. The rule makes clear that cooking appliances and water heaters do not count as qualifying heating systems, and that portable flame-based heaters using liquid fuel are outright prohibited. Additionally, any space heater that uses an open flame must be properly vented to the outside of the structure; unvented flame heaters are not permitted under this provision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Excelsior Code of Ordinances ch. 8, art. IV § 8-131, compliant rental property operators ensure that every rental unit is equipped with permanently installed heating systems that are properly maintained, in safe working order, and capable of achieving the 68°F minimum throughout all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and water closet compartments. Operators do not rely on stoves, ovens, or water heaters to satisfy this requirement, and they ensure that no portable liquid-fuel flame heaters are present in their units. Any flame-based space heaters on the property are confirmed to be vented to the exterior in a code-approved manner before tenants occupy the space.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Excelsior Code of Ordinances ch. 8, art. IV § 8-131 gives tenants the right to occupy a rental unit with a properly installed, maintained heating system capable of reaching at least 68°F in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and water closet compartments — and tenants are not required to accept cooking appliances or portable liquid-fuel heaters as substitutes. If a unit's heating system fails to meet these standards, tenants may have grounds to raise the violation as a defense in certain legal proceedings or to file a complaint with the appropriate local housing or code enforcement authority. Consulting a local tenant-rights organization can help tenants understand which reporting or enforcement paths are available under this provision.
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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