Jackson, Minn., Mun. Code Ch. 97 (2026) § 97.11

A residential rental unit can obtain a rental license by completing one of following processes: [1] City inspection or through [2] exempt status. At the time the next inspection cycle is due, the owner may elect to use a different process to continue meeting the requirements of this chapter.


(A) Utilities. Utilities services (gas, water, electricity, and the like) must be connected and “on” at the time of the inspection.


(B) City inspection.


(1) The owner will have the unit inspected by the City’s inspector, for a fee.


(2) On the inspection form, the inspector will verify that the tenant information packet was handed out.


(3) Any deficiencies found shall be corrected as described in § 97.11 (E) before a license is granted.


(C) Frequency of inspections.


(1) Inspections shall be completed:


(a) Before a rental license is issued: to a new owner; for new construction; or, an application to register a rental unit;


(b) Before a rental license may issue to an owner whose rental license has been suspended or revoked;


(c) Within 30 days after a filed complaint; and


(d) Within 90 days before the expiration of the current rental license to renew the license.


(2) Failure to comply could result in a suspension or revocation of the license.


(D) Exemption from inspection. A rental license shall be issued for each rental unit determined by the City to be exempt.


(1) The exemption and the date that the exemption expires shall be noted on the license.


(2) The City may declare as exempt from inspection:


(a) Any unit that is inspected by another qualified third-party inspector at least biennially on equal or greater standards than this ordinance, upon filing of proof of such inspections and a copy of the inspection standards used; provided, that any exempt unit with founded complaints shall lose its exempt status for the next inspection cycle and shall be subject to another inspection process.


(b) Any unit that passed the immediately preceding biennial inspection and against which no substantiated complaints have been registered during the two-year term of the rental license; provided, [1] that any exempt unit with founded complaints shall lose its exempt status for the next inspection cycle, shall be subject to an inspection process, and [2] that exemption from inspection pursuant to this subsection will be for a term no greater than four years, after which time the unit will be subject to an inspection process.


(c) Any unit occupied by a qualifying relative of the owner.


(3) The City shall contact the owner or managing agent of each exempt unit biennially to confirm continuing exempt status. If appropriate evidence warranting exempt status is not filed with the City within 30 days, the unit shall lose its exempt status for the next inspection cycle and shall be subject to another inspection process.


(4) For purposes of this section, the City, in its sole discretion, shall determine whether:


(a) A person is a qualified third-party inspector; and


(b) An inspection is a qualified inspection.


(E) Deficiencies. Depending on the nature of the alleged deficiency, the City may intervene with a City inspection or may refer the matter to another authority (i.e. Fire Marshal, State Electrical Inspector, State Plumbing Inspector, Building Official, or Community Health Services) for further action.


(1) The City shall give written notice:


(a) Of each deficiency;


(b) Of what must be done to bring the unit into compliance;


(c) Of the alleged violator’s right to dispute the deficiencies;


(d) Of the violator’s right to provide proof that the deficiencies have been or are being corrected;


(e) Of the due date for a follow-up self-inspection, which should be not less than 30 days nor more than 45 days from the date of the notice;


(f) Of the violator’s right to request an extension; and


(g) Of an owner’s right to apply for a conditional license, as defined in § 97.11 (G), to correct the deficiencies.


(2) After three failed inspections:


(a) The City may revoke or suspend the license;


(b) Fine the owner a daily fine, per rental unit, until the unit(s) is either vacated or brought into compliance with City ordinance;


(c) The City may seek injunctive relief or any other relief from the Court to enforce the provisions of this section;


(d) The City may seek and be awarded it reasonable attorney fees, costs and fees to enforce this section; and


(e) The unit shall not be re-registered for at least 90 days from the date of the last failed inspection and after all fees, penalties and fines have been paid.


(3) The City may charge re-inspection fees and fines as fixed from time to time by resolution or ordinance.


(4) The City may immediately revoke a rental license after inspection and finding a significant and material adverse condition in a rental unit that is a clear and present danger to the tenant's health, safety or welfare. The rental unit shall be vacated as soon as practical and until the deficiencies are corrected and the corrections are verified by inspection. Additionally, the City may seek or take the remedies identified in divisions (E)(2)(a), (b), (c) or (d) above.


(F) Extensions. The violator may request a postponement of an inspection if:


(1) The deficient condition is not adversely affecting the health, safety or general welfare of the occupant(s) of the unit or of any neighboring unit;


(2) The required remedial action cannot be completed until weather permits or will take longer than 30 days to complete;


(3) The violator:


(a) Requests an extension in writing that recites the reasons for the request, the justifications for the extension, the anticipated completion date (not to exceed six months); and


(b) Submits proof that appropriate arrangements have been made for completion of the corrective action by the anticipated completion date.


(4) The number of inspections occurring in a single year is too great for staff to perform; provided, that unit passed the immediately preceding biennial inspection and against which no substantiated complaints have been registered during the two-year term of the rental license.


(G) Conditional rental license. The owner of any rental unit in existence on the effective date of this ordinance that is inspected, is determined to be sub-standard, and is found to require substantial upgrades may submit a one-, two- or three-year corrective plan to include a detailed schedule of when deficiencies will be corrected (“plan”). The plan must be submitted to the City for approval within 30 days of the failed inspection; and the City, in its sole discretion, shall determine if the plan is acceptable. Deficiencies that can be corrected immediately are not includable in the plan.


(1) A conditional rental license may be issued to the owner when the plan is approved and shall be posted in the same location as the standard license.


(2) The unit shall be re-inspected on an annual basis by the City to confirm adherence to the plan. Any deficiencies found during the re-inspection and not covered by the plan may not be added to the plan but must be corrected in accordance with this chapter.


(3) After the completion of all work items in the plan, the unit shall be re-inspected biennially.


(4) Conditional rental license’s will not be extended and are only eligible to existing rental units that are registered in accordance with this chapter. All conditional rental licenses shall expire on or before January 31, 2029.


(Ord. 19, 6 th Series, passed 4-3-2007; Am. Ord. 27, 6 th Series, passed 2-19-2008; Am. Ord. 115, passed 10-19-2021)