Mankato, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 7 § 7-3
Owner responsibilities defined
Operative Text
(a) Owners remain liable for violations of duties imposed by this chapter even though an obligation is also imposed on the occupants of the building, and even though the owner has, by agreement, imposed on the occupant the duty of furnishing required equipment or of complying with this chapter. (b) Buildings, structures and parts thereof shall be maintained in a safe and sanitary condition. The owner or the owner's designated agent shall be responsible for such maintenance. To determine compliance with this subsection, the building may be reinspected. (c) Owners, in addition to being responsible for maintaining buildings in a sound structural condition, shall be responsible for keeping that part of the building or premises which the owner occupies or controls in a clean, sanitary and safe condition, including the shared or public areas in a building containing two or more dwelling units. (d) Owners shall, when required by this chapter or any other applicable code, ordinance, regulation or statute, furnish and maintain such approved sanitary facilities as required and shall furnish and maintain approved devices, equipment or facilities for the prevention of insect and rodent infestation and, when infestation has taken place, shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents or other pests when such extermination is not specifically made the responsibility of the occupant by law or ruling. (e) Occupants of a dwelling unit, in addition to being responsible for keeping in a sanitary and safe condition that part of the dwelling or dwelling unit or premises which they occupy and control, shall properly dispose of their rubbish, garbage and other organic waste in a manner required by this chapter, or any other applicable code, ordinance, regulation or statute. (f) Occupants shall, when required by this chapter, or any other applicable code, ordinance, regulation or statute, furnish and maintain approved devices, equipment or facilities necessary to keep their premises safe and sanitary.
Mankato Code of Ordinances ch. 7 § 7-3 establishes a framework of shared but distinct responsibilities between property owners and occupants. Owners remain liable for building-wide code compliance—including structural soundness, sanitation, shared areas, and pest control—even if a lease agreement shifts some duties to tenants. Occupants, in turn, are responsible for keeping their own unit and controlled spaces clean, safely disposing of waste, and maintaining any equipment required by applicable codes.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Mankato Code of Ordinances ch. 7 § 7-3, compliant property owners generally maintain the entire building in a structurally sound, safe, and sanitary condition, including all shared and public areas in multi-unit properties. Owners also ensure that required sanitary facilities are in place and that pest infestations are addressed through extermination when the law does not assign that duty to occupants. Importantly, a lease clause transferring maintenance duties to a tenant does not relieve the owner of liability for code violations under this section, so operators typically document their own compliance efforts independently of any tenant agreements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mankato Code of Ordinances ch. 7 § 7-3 makes clear that owners bear responsibility for building-wide safety, sanitation, structural integrity, shared spaces, and pest control regardless of what a lease may say. Tenants who experience conditions such as pest infestations, unsanitary common areas, or structural hazards may have grounds to raise an owner's failure to comply with this section as a concern with local code enforcement or housing authorities. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Mankato's housing code can help residents understand the range of options available, including filing a complaint that may trigger a reinspection as contemplated by subsection (b).
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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