Lakeville, Minn., Mun. Code Ch. 9 (2026) § 9-9-2
DEFINITIONS
Operative Text
For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning. APARTMENT BUILDING: A multi-family building containing dwelling units in a stacked configuration, having common walls and floors/ceilings. APPLICANT: The natural person completing the registration form prescribed herein. DWELLING UNIT: A single unit providing a separate living space delineated by partitions of any kind for one or more persons. MULTIPLE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING: A building with any dwelling joined to another dwelling at one or more sides by a party wall or walls, including apartments, townhomes, twinhomes, duplexes or quadhomes. RENTAL MANAGER: Any natural person who has been delegated by the residential rental property owner the charge, care or control of a residential rental property, and is able to respond in person to issues related to the residential rental property. RESIDENTIAL RENTAL PROPERTY: Any building, or one or more portions thereof, occupied or intended to be occupied for residential purposes by a residential tenant. RESIDENTIAL RENTAL PROPERTY OWNER: Any person or entity owning residential rental property within the city. RESIDENTIAL TENANT: A person who does not own, but occupies a dwelling for residential purposes, for payment of a fee or other compensation to the owner, under a lease or contract, written or verbal. (Ord. 1084, 9-18-2023)
Lakeville Ch. 9 Rental Registration § 9-9-2 establishes the working vocabulary for the city's rental registration chapter, setting out precise meanings for terms like "residential rental property," "rental manager," and "residential tenant" that apply throughout the chapter. These definitions draw clear boundaries — for example, distinguishing a stacked apartment building from a side-by-side multiple residential building, and clarifying that a residential tenant is someone who pays to occupy a dwelling they do not own. Whenever one of these defined terms appears elsewhere in Chapter 9, its meaning is governed by this section unless the surrounding context clearly calls for something different.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 9-9-2, property owners and managers should be familiar with how Lakeville defines the key terms that trigger obligations throughout Chapter 9 — particularly "residential rental property owner," "rental manager," and "residential rental property." A compliant operator ensures that the person designated as the rental manager is a natural person who can actually respond in person to property issues, as the definition requires, rather than a corporate entity or absentee contact. Owners also take care to understand which building types — apartments, duplexes, twinhomes, townhomes, and quadhomes — fall under "multiple residential building," since that classification may affect registration requirements elsewhere in the chapter.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 9-9-2 defines "residential tenant" as someone who occupies a dwelling they do not own and pays rent or other compensation under a lease or contract — written or verbal — which means informal or oral rental arrangements are expressly covered by Lakeville's rental registration framework. Tenants can use these definitions to understand whether their housing situation falls within the chapter's scope and, if so, what protections or requirements apply to their landlord. Those with questions about how these definitions apply to their living arrangement may find it helpful to consult a local tenant-rights organization or review the full text of Chapter 9 alongside 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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