Fridley, Minn., Mun. Code ch. 507 (2026) § 507.10

1. License Requirement
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, no person may operate, let, or cause to be let, a rental dwelling or rental dwelling unit without first having obtained a rental license from the City. Upon receipt of a properly executed initial application for a rental license, the Compliance Official or their designee will inspect the property to determine whether the structure is in compliance with this Chapter, other chapters of the Code and the laws and rules of the State of Minnesota. Each rental license will be issued annually and expires 12 months from the date of issuance. Renewal applications must be filed at least 30 days prior to the license expiration date. Every rental dwelling, including all rental units, may be inspected after a renewal license application is filed to determine if the premises still conforms to all applicable codes.

(b) Any owner of a rental dwelling who does not reside within the eleven-county metro area comprising of Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright counties must appoint a designated agent residing within the eleven-county area. The designated agent must be listed on the application and empowered by the property owner to perform maintenance, upkeep, and emergency repairs for the rental dwelling. The Compliance Official must be notified in writing within 10 business days of any change in designated agent. 
2. Conformance. No rental license may be issued or renewed unless the rental dwelling conforms to the provisions of this Chapter, the Code, and the laws, rules, and regulations of the State of Minnesota.

3. Fees
(a) The annual license fee for a rental license, and for reinspection, is provided in the Fees Chapter of the Code.

(b) Any rental inspection requiring three or more inspections or attempts for an inspection will be assessed an additional inspection fee. This fee will be charged starting on the third inspection and will include prior inspections and subsequent inspections or attempted inspections. No license may be issued or renewed until all outstanding fees and fines pursuant to this Chapter have been paid, other than those which may be assessed against the property.

(c) In order to restore a license for a rental dwelling or individual dwelling unit which has had its license denied at the time of renewal or revoked or suspended, the license application must be accompanied by the license fee as provided in the Fees Chapter of the Code.

(d) Failure to obtain a rental license prior to letting or operating a rental dwelling or allowing a rental license to expire will result in a 25% addition to the rental license fee. Continued noncompliance with the licensing requirements may result in a criminal citation.
4. Application Requirements and Process
(a) Application Requirements. License application must be made by the owner of record of the property. Application forms may be acquired from and filed with the Compliance Official. The applicant must supply the following information as well as all other information requested on the rental license application: 
(1) Name, address, telephone number and email address of the property owner or managing agent. The City must be notified in writing within 10 days of any change of address or other requested information for the owner.

(2) Name, address, telephone number and email address of a designated agent or operator, if different from the owner. The City must be notified in writing within 10 days of any change of address or other requested information for the designated agent or operator.

(3) Name, address, and telephone number of vendee if dwelling is being purchased through a contract for deed or mortgage (name of lender or financial institution holding mortgage). Proof of recording the contract for deed in Anoka County must be provided with the application.

(4) Legal address of the property where the rental dwelling is located.

(5) Number of units in each rental dwelling and the types of units that exist within each of the rental dwellings.

(6) The number of paved off street parking spaces available to tenants, if requested.

(7) Description of procedure for tenant inquiries and complaints, if requested.
(b) Inspection Required. Licensed rental dwellings are subject to the Compliance Official’s right to inspect the rental dwelling and dwelling units to determine whether they are in compliance with the Code and state law. The Compliance Official will set up a schedule of periodic inspections to ensure City-wide compliance with this Chapter. The Compliance Official will provide reasonable notice to the owner or operator of the date and time of the inspection. Every occupant of a dwelling unit must give the owner or operator or their agent or employee, access to any part of the dwelling unit at reasonable times for the purposes of effecting inspection, maintenance, repairs, or alterations as necessary. If any owner, operator, occupant, or other person in charge of a dwelling or dwelling unit fails or refuses to permit access and entry to the premises under their control for an inspection pursuant to this Chapter, the Compliance Official may seek a court order authorizing an inspection. The submission of a rental license application or the possession of a rental license issued by the City will constitute agreement to such inspection by the owner identified on the rental license.
5. Posting of License. Licensees must conspicuously post a copy of the rental license for the rental dwelling in a frame with transparent protective covering in the main entry way of the rental dwelling or other conspicuous location.

6. License Transferability. Rental licenses may be transferred upon completion of a license transfer application, payment of the license transfer fee, and written approval by the Compliance Official.

7. License Suspension, Revocation or Conversion to Provisional License. The City may revoke, suspend, convert to a provisional license, deny, or decline to renew any rental license applied for or issued under this Chapter.
(a) Suspension, Revocation, or Conversion to Provisional License. Every rental license issued under the provisions of this Chapter is subject to suspension, revocation, or conversion to a provisional license for the entire rental dwelling or for individual rental dwelling units by the City Council (Council) if the licensee fails to operate or maintain the licensed rental dwelling(s) and dwelling units in compliance with the provisions of this Chapter, the Code and M.S.

(b) A rental license may also be suspended, denied, converted to a provisional license, not renewed or revoked for any of the following reasons:
(1) The license was obtained by misrepresentation of material facts, fraud, deceit or bad faith.

(2) The licensee or applicant has failed to comply with any condition set forth in any permits granted by the City related to the rental dwelling.

(4) The activities of the licensee on the rental dwelling premise have created a serious danger to the public health, safety or welfare.

(5) The rental dwelling contains conditions that might injure or endanger the safety, health or welfare of any member of the public.

(6) Failure to continuously comply with any condition required of the applicant for the approval or maintenance of the rental license.

(7) Failure to include the Crime Free/Drug Free Lease Addendum in all leases as required by this Chapter.

(8) A violation of any other term and condition of the rental license or of this Chapter.
(c) Hearing. Upon violation of any of the terms and conditions of a rental license, the Council may hold a hearing to consider the suspension, revocation or conversion to a provisional license. At this hearing, the licensee will be provided with due process, including:
(1) Interested parties may be represented by an attorney, present evidence, witnesses, and cross examine all adverse witnesses, and

(2) The City will make a complete record of all proceedings, including findings of fact and conclusions of law.
(d) Notification. The Compliance Officer must send written notice to the licensee of the date and time of a hearing before the Council regarding any license application or any potential revocation, suspension or conversion to a provisional license. Notice must be sent to the owner’s and/or agent’s address on file with the City not less than 10 days from the date of the hearing.

(e) Effect of Suspension or Revocation. In the event that a rental license is suspended or revoked by the Council for any violation under the provisions of this Chapter, it will be unlawful for the owner or their duly authorized agent to permit any new occupancies in vacant rental units until a valid operating license is restored to the affected units. Issuance of a new license after suspension or revocation will be made in the same manner as provided for obtaining an initial license.

(f) Terms of Provisional License. At the time of approval of the provisional license, the Council may approve a mitigation plan to address and prevent future license violations. The mitigation plan may include adding security measures, improving the exterior of the property, reducing or changing the hours of operation, holding neighborhood meetings, or taking other measures that the Council deems appropriate.
8. Posted to Prevent Occupancy. Whenever any dwelling or individual dwelling unit has been denied a license, has had its license suspended or revoked pursuant to this Chapter, or is unfit for human habitation, it will be marked with a placard by the Compliance Official to prevent further occupancy. No person, other than the Compliance Official or their designee, may remove or tamper with any placard. The Compliance Official will post on the placard the date that the vacancy will become effective. On or after the placard vacancy date, no person may reside in, occupy, or cause to be occupied any dwelling or dwelling unit which has been posted to prevent occupancy.

9. Failure to Obtain License. If it is determined that a rental dwelling or rental dwelling unit is being operated without a valid license, an immediate inspection will be conducted. It is unlawful for an owner, designated agent, or operator, after notice sent by first class mail, to continue operation of a rental dwelling unit without submitting an application for a license under this Chapter along with the necessary license fee. Once an application is made, it is unlawful for the owner, or their agent, to permit any new occupancies of vacant rental units until the license is issued.

10. Issuance of Rental License. If the rental dwelling is in compliance with this Chapter, the Code and the laws and regulations of the State, a license will be issued to the present owner or their designated agent. If the City finds that the circumstances of the occupancy following the issuance of the license involve possible Code violations, substandard maintenance, or abnormal wear and tear, the City may reinspect the premises during the licensing period.

11. Additional License Conditions
(a) Licensees must, as a continuing obligation of a license, maintain a current register of tenants and other person(s) who have lawful right to occupancy of rental properties. In their application, the licensee must designate the person(s) who will have possession of the register and must promptly notify the City of any change of the identity, address or telephone number of such person(s). The register must be made available for inspection by the City at all times.

(b) Licensees are responsible for the acts or omissions of their managers and operators.

(c) The licensee or manager is required to complete one educational course of the Crime-Free/Drug Free-Rental Housing Program, or similar course, as approved by the City Manager or their designee. The certification must be complete within one year of the initial license issuance and repeated once every five years. Program attendees are required to pay a participation fee in an amount determined to cover the cost of the program.

(d) The licensee or manager must provide all tenants with a written lease which must include the City approved Crime Free/Drug Free Lease Addendum. The lease and addendum must be made available for review by the City Manager or their designee upon request.

(e) All licensees or managers must complete a criminal background check on all occupants of a dwelling and provide proof of completion of said background check at the request of the City Manager or their designee.

(f) Licensees must comply with State law regarding completion of background checks on all managers, caretakers, and agents.
12. Exemptions. No rental license is required for the following:
(a) Hotels

(b) Motel(c) Hospitals

(d) State-licensed residential care facilities

(e) Assisted living facilities

(f) Nursing homes

(g) Single-family homes or duplexes in which the owner resides within a portion of the single-family home or duplex, and if the building is a duplex, only that portion of the building in which the owner resides is exempt. The other portion of the duplex requires a rental license.

HISTORY
Amended by Ord. 1337 on 8/22/2016
Amended by Ord. 1364 on 12/10/2018
Amended by Ord. 1419 on 3/11/2024