Little Canada, Minn., City Code § 3200 (2026) § 3200.020
DEFINITIONS:
Operative Text
3200.020. DEFINITIONS:
The following words and terms when used in this Section shall have the following meanings
unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
A. City Administrator means the City of Little Canada City Administrator or his or her
designee.
B. Certificate of Compliance means a certificate issued by the city administrator after the
rental dwelling has passed a rental dwelling inspection.
C. Dwelling means a building or one or more portions of a building occupied or intended to
be occupied for residential purposes.
D. General Dwelling means a residential building consisting of three (3) units or less under
common ownership.
E. Let or Rent means to permit possession or occupancy of a dwelling by a person who is
not the legal owner of record thereof, pursuant to the terms of a written or unwritten
lease.
F. Licensee means an owner that operates a rental dwelling and is required to be licensed
under this section.
G. Manager or Operator means any person who has charge, care, or control of a rental
dwelling.
H. Multiple Family Dwelling means a residential building or complex consisting of four (4)
or more units under common ownership.
I. Non-Compliant Status means the administrative designation given to a Rental Dwelling
when it fails an initial inspection or any subsequent reinspection. This includes, but is not
limited to, failures due to the presence of uncorrected code violations, a late cancellation,
3200-1
a missed appointment, or an inspection terminated by the City due to an unsafe situation
or the presence of an unaccompanied minor.
J. Occupant means any person occupying, living, or sleeping or having possession of a
space within any dwelling.
K. Operate means to charge a rental charge, fee or other form of monetary or non-monetary
compensation for the use of a rental dwelling.
L. Owner means a person or person holding title to a property or otherwise having control of
the property, as recorded in the official state, county, or city records.
M. Person may be an individual, corporation, firm, association, company, partnership,
organization or any other group acting as a unit.
N. Qualifying Relative means the owner's parent, stepparent, partner, ex-spouse, child,
stepchild, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew or niece. This
relationship may be either by blood or by marriage.
O. Rental Dwelling means any building or portion of a building which is let or rent to one or
more persons who are not the owner or qualifying relative. This includes but is not
limited to General Dwellings, Multiple Family Dwellings and their units, and Short-Term
Rental Dwellings.
P. Rental Housing License means the license issued by the City of Little Canada to eligible
rental dwelling properties, including General Dwellings, Multiple Family Dwellings, and
Short-Term Rental Dwellings.
Q. Short-Term Rental Dwelling means a Dwelling, or a portion thereof, that is rented,
leased, or otherwise provided for compensation to transient occupants for a period of less
than thirty (30) consecutive days. This definition includes, but is not limited to, properties
advertised or operated via online rental platforms. This definition does not include state
licensed hotels, motels, hospitals, or state-licensed healthcare or residential care facilities.
R. Tenant means any person occupying a dwelling unit or having possession of a space
within a dwelling unit who pays, in any manner, for the right to occupy such space or
who has a leasehold right to occupy the dwelling unit.
S. Unaccompanied Minor means any person under the age of eighteen (18) years who is
present within a Rental Dwelling Unit without the immediate physical supervision of a
parent, legal guardian, or an adult occupant (age 18 or older) who is legally recognized as
a tenant under the lease agreement. For the purposes of this Section, a minor is
considered unaccompanied if they are left in the unit with only the Owner, Manager, or
property maintenance personnel.Little Canada City Code § 3200.020 establishes the foundational vocabulary for the city's rental housing licensing program, covering the entire § 3200.010–3200.170 framework. Key terms defined include what counts as a "Rental Dwelling" (any unit let to non-owners or non-qualifying relatives), the distinction between "General Dwellings" (three units or fewer) and "Multiple Family Dwellings" (four or more units), and what constitutes a "Short-Term Rental Dwelling" (compensation-based stays under 30 consecutive days). These definitions also clarify administrative concepts such as "Non-Compliant Status" and "Certificate of Compliance," which govern how inspections and licensing outcomes are categorized throughout the ordinance.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 3200.020, property owners and managers in Little Canada should be familiar with how the ordinance defines the type of property they operate, since the classification—General Dwelling, Multiple Family Dwelling, or Short-Term Rental Dwelling—shapes licensing and inspection obligations throughout §§ 3200.010–3200.170. Operators should note that renting to anyone other than a "Qualifying Relative" (as specifically defined) triggers the rental dwelling licensing requirements, and that even non-monetary compensation arrangements fall within the definition of "Operate." Compliant operators also take care to ensure that inspections are not terminated due to conditions flagged in the "Non-Compliant Status" definition, such as missed appointments or the presence of an unaccompanied minor as defined in subsection S.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 3200.020 of Little Canada's rental housing code defines who qualifies as a "Tenant"—broadly, anyone paying in any manner for the right to occupy a dwelling unit or holding a leasehold interest—which establishes who is protected and covered under the broader §§ 3200.010–3200.170 licensing framework. Tenants may find it useful to understand that a property's licensing and inspection status (including whether it holds a valid Certificate of Compliance) is governed by these definitions, and that a "Non-Compliant Status" designation can arise from a range of inspection-related failures. Those with questions about whether their rental unit is properly licensed or has passed inspection can contact the Little Canada City Administrator's office or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
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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