Madison Lake, Minn., Mun. Code Ch. 100 (2026) § 150.31
EMERGENCY CASES
Operative Text
(A) Declaration. Any dwelling or dwelling unit, which is damaged, decayed, dilapidated, unsanitary, unsafe, infested, or which lacks provision for illumination, ventilation, or sanitary facilities to the extent that the defects create a hazard to the health, safety, or general welfare of the occupants or to the public, may be declared unfit for human habitation. Whenever any dwelling or dwelling unit has been declared unfit for human habitation, the City Council shall order same vacated within a reasonable time and shall post a placard on same indicating that it is unfit for human habitation and any operating license previously issued for the dwelling or dwelling units shall be revoked. (B) Vacated dwelling. It shall be unlawful for a vacant dwelling or dwelling unit, which has been declared unfit for human habitation as provided above, to be used for human habitation until the defective conditions have been corrected and written approval has been issued by the city. It shall be unlawful for any person to deface or remove the declaration placard from any such dwelling or dwelling unit. (C) Secure unfit and vacated dwellings. The owner of any dwelling or dwelling unit which has been declared unfit for human habitation, or which is otherwise vacant for a period of 60 days or more, shall make same safe and secure so that it is not hazardous to the health, safety, or general welfare of the public and a public nuisance within the meaning of this subchapter. (D) Hazardous building declaration. (1) In the event that a dwelling or dwelling unit has been declared unfit for human habitation and the owner has not remedied the defects within a prescribed reasonable time, then it may be declared a hazardous building and treated consistent with the provisions of Minnesota Statutes. (2) The City Clerk-Treasurer shall keep an itemized account of the expense incurred by this jurisdiction in the repair or demolition of any building done pursuant to the provisions of this subchapter. Upon the completion of the work of repair or demolition, the City Clerk-Treasurer shall prepare the itemized and total cost of the work, a description of the real property upon which the building or structure was located, and the names and addresses of the persons entitled to notice. (3) The City Clerk-Treasurer shall present it to the City Council of the City of Madison Lake for consideration. The City Council shall fix a time, date, and place for hearing the report, and any protests or objections. (Ord. 148, passed 9-11-1989)
Madison Lake Ch. 100 Rental Dwellings § 150.31 establishes a process by which the City Council can formally declare a dwelling unfit for human habitation when conditions such as damage, decay, infestation, or lack of basic utilities create a hazard to occupants or the public. Once declared, the unit must be vacated, posted with a placard, and its operating license revoked; the unit cannot be reoccupied until defects are corrected and the city issues written approval. Owners of units declared unfit—or vacant for 60 or more days—must secure the property against public hazard, and if defects go unaddressed, the building may be escalated to a hazardous building declaration under Minnesota Statutes, with repair or demolition costs tracked and potentially assessed against the property.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Madison Lake Ch. 100 Rental Dwellings § 150.31, compliant property owners generally respond promptly to any city notice of defects, correct identified conditions within the time period the City Council prescribes, and obtain written city approval before allowing any reoccupancy of a unit that was declared unfit. Owners of properties that are vacant for 60 or more days are expected to keep those properties secured so they do not become a public hazard or nuisance. Failure to remedy defects in a timely manner can trigger a hazardous building declaration, after which the city may undertake repairs or demolition and seek reimbursement of those costs through a formal accounting process presented to the City Council.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Madison Lake Ch. 100 Rental Dwellings § 150.31 provides that tenants living in a dwelling with serious hazardous conditions—such as structural decay, infestation, or absent sanitation—may have grounds to bring those conditions to the city's attention, potentially leading to an official unfit-for-habitation declaration. If a unit is declared unfit and posted with a placard, it is unlawful for anyone to remove or deface that placard, and the unit cannot legally be re-rented until the city issues written approval of corrected conditions. Tenants who believe their unit may meet the threshold described in § 150.31 can explore options such as contacting the city directly, raising the provision as a defense in a housing proceeding, or reaching 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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