Excelsior, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 8, art. IV § 8-158
Unfit for human habitation
Operative Text
(a) Any rental dwelling, rental dwelling unit, or its portion which: (1) Is inadequately maintained, damaged, decayed, dilapidated, unsanitary, unsafe, vermin-infested, or rodent-infested; (2) Lacks provision for basic illumination, ventilation, or sanitary facilities; (3) Lacks equipment required by this article or the Uniform Building Code or Uniform Fire Code, as adopted by the city; or (4) Violates residential storage standards. To the extent that such conditions create a hazard to the health, safety, or welfare of the occupants or of the public may be declared unfit for human habitation and condemned. The building official or designee or other governmental official with jurisdiction shall order the same vacated within 30 days unless, in the opinion of the governmental official based on the severity of the hazard, a shorter time period should apply. The official shall post a placard on the rental dwelling or rental dwelling unit stating that it is unfit for human habitation and is condemned, and any operating license previously issued for such dwelling shall be immediately revoked. (b) It shall be unlawful for any rental dwelling, rental dwelling unit, or its portion that has been declared unfit for human habitation under subsection (a) of this section to be used for human habitation until the defective conditions have been corrected and written approval has been issued by the building official or designee or other governmental official with jurisdiction. It shall be unlawful for any person to deface or remove the declaration placard from any such rental dwelling or rental dwelling unit.
Under Excelsior Code of Ordinances ch. 8, art. IV § 8-158, a rental dwelling or unit that poses a hazard to the health, safety, or welfare of occupants or the public — due to conditions such as dilapidation, lack of basic utilities, vermin infestation, or code-equipment deficiencies — may be officially declared unfit for human habitation and condemned. When that declaration is made, the responsible governmental official must order the property vacated within 30 days (or sooner if the hazard is severe), post a condemnation placard on the property, and immediately revoke any operating license. The unit cannot legally be reoccupied until all defective conditions are corrected and a governmental official issues written approval; removing or defacing the posted placard is also unlawful.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Excelsior Code of Ordinances ch. 8, art. IV § 8-158 places the burden of maintaining habitable conditions squarely on rental property operators — compliant operators routinely inspect for and promptly remediate issues such as structural decay, pest infestations, inadequate ventilation or lighting, and missing code-required equipment before conditions escalate to a condemnation threshold. If a condemnation order is issued, operators generally act quickly to correct every cited deficiency and obtain written approval from the building official or designee before allowing any reoccupancy, since reoccupying a condemned unit is itself a violation. Operators also take care never to disturb or remove a posted condemnation 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.
Excelsior Code of Ordinances ch. 8, art. IV § 8-158 establishes that tenants have a right to live in a dwelling that is not condemned as unfit for human habitation, and that a landlord cannot lawfully allow reoccupancy of a condemned unit until defects are corrected and written governmental approval is issued. Tenants who believe their unit meets condemnation-level conditions — such as severe disrepair, vermin infestation, or absence of basic sanitation — may report those conditions to the building official or other governmental official with jurisdiction over the property. Consulting a local tenant-rights organization can help tenants understand how a condemnation declaration under this section might affect lease obligations, relocation rights, or the ability to raise habitability as a defense in other proceedings.
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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