International Falls, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 6-44 § 6-44
Dwelling unit rental license
Operative Text
(a) Definition. As used in this section, the term "dwelling unit" means any structure, or part thereof, used by any individual person, family, or other group of individual persons as their temporary or permanent place of abode, including, but not limited to, sleeping rooms, apartments and single family dwellings. (b) License required. It is unlawful for any person, as owner or tenant, to lease, let or sublet, for a consideration any dwelling unit to another person without a license therefor from the city. (c) Inspection required. Before issuance or renewal of any dwelling unit rental license, such unit or units, and the structure within which it is situated, shall be inspected by the city and shall comply with the Housing Code, the City Code, and all other law relating thereto. (d) Unlawful act. It is unlawful for any licensee to substantially modify any dwelling unit, or the structure within which it is situated, during any license year without the express authority of the city other than for essentially cosmetic changes. Issuance of a building permit shall not constitute such authority. (e) Absentee owners or applicants. No license shall be granted or renewed if the applicant or licensee is a nonresident of the city, unless such applicant or licensee has first appointed, in writing, a local agent upon whom service of process can be made. (f) Complaints. Any tenant may complain to the city and the city shall thereupon reinspect the dwelling unit. If it is found that it does not comply, the license may be revoked after a hearing thereon. (g) Garbage and rubbish removal. The owner of any dwelling unit requiring a license under this section is required to remove from the premises all accumulated garbage and rubbish on at least a weekly basis. If the owner fails to have the garbage removed timely after one prior written warning, the owner shall be required to contract with an approved garbage and rubbish disposal contractor.
International Falls Code of Ordinances § 6-44 establishes a mandatory licensing system for rental dwelling units within the city. Any structure or portion of a structure used as a temporary or permanent place of abode—including sleeping rooms, apartments, and single-family homes—must be licensed before it can be rented for compensation. The ordinance also requires pre-license inspections for code compliance, restricts substantial modifications during a license year without city approval, and sets garbage removal standards for licensed properties. Nonresident owners must designate a local agent for service of process, and tenants may trigger a reinspection by filing a complaint with the city.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 6-44, compliant rental operators in International Falls obtain a city-issued dwelling unit rental license before leasing any unit and ensure the property passes inspection for compliance with the Housing Code and City Code at each issuance or renewal. Operators who live outside the city file a written local-agent designation with the city so that service of process can be made. During any license year, operators avoid making substantial modifications to a unit or its structure without express city authorization—note that a building permit alone does not satisfy this requirement—and arrange for garbage and rubbish removal from the premises at least once per week to avoid mandatory contracting requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 6-44 gives tenants in International Falls a direct avenue to address housing concerns: any tenant may file a complaint with the city, which is then required to reinspect the dwelling unit. If the unit is found out of compliance following that reinspection, the city has authority to revoke the landlord's rental license after a hearing. Tenants who believe their unit is being rented without a required license, or that conditions fall short of the Housing Code, may also contact local tenant-rights organizations or consult an attorney to understand the full range of options available under this ordinance.
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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