Mankato, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 7 § 7-55
Conduct on licensed premises
Operative Text
(a) The license holder shall be responsible to cause persons occupying the dwelling unit to conduct themselves in such a manner as to not cause the premises to be disorderly. The term "disorderly," as used in this subsection, encompasses illegal sale, distribution, or use of alcoholic beverages or controlled substances and conduct that would violate M.S.A. § 609.705 (unlawful assembly), M.S.A. § 609.715 (presence at unlawful assembly), M.S.A. § 609.72 (disorderly conduct), or M.S.A. § 609.33 (disorderly house). (b) The license holder shall be responsible for maintaining the dwelling unit and the licensed property so that a nuisance condition, as defined by this Code or a violation of chapter 10 is not allowed or permitted to exist occur, remain upon or be in any license property. (c) The police or city inspector shall be charged with the responsibility of enforcing subsection (a) of this section. (d) Upon determination by the police or city inspector that the licensed premises were used in a disorderly manner, or that a nuisance condition or violation of section 7-30 exists, the police or city inspector shall notify the license holder by regular mail of such violation and direct the license holder to take steps to prevent further violations. Additional violations within a 12-month period from the first instance may require that the license holder participate in problem solving conference and a review of the license by the city council pursuant to this subsection and subsection (e) of this section. (e) If another instance of disorderly use of the premises occurs within 12 months of an incident for which notice in subsection (d) of this section was given, the license holder shall be notified of the instance of disorderly use and shall also be required to participate in a problem solving conference (PSC), scheduled and conducted by the city manager or designee. The purpose of the PSC shall be to develop, by consensus, a plan of action to reasonably ensure that future incidents will not occur at the premises. (f) If another instance of disorderly use of the premises occurs within a 12-month period after receipt of notices as pursuant to subsections (d) and (e) of this section, the dwelling unit rental license may be revoked or suspended for such dwelling unit. Such suspension or revocation may be for all units in a given building or complex of buildings. If the notice of violation has been with respect to a common area of a building or complex of buildings, then the license as to all units in such building or complex of buildings may be suspended or revoked. Upon suspension or revocation, a license holder shall pay to the city a reinstatement fee for each unit relicensed for the first unit, and for each additional unit as provided in the city fee schedule. A suspension may be stayed subject to payment of the applicable reinstatement fees and no further violations of this section for a period of time. (g) No suspension or revocation shall be imposed where the instance of disorderly use of the premises occurred during the pendency of eviction proceedings (unlawful detainer) or within 30 days of notice given by the license holder to a tenant to vacate the premises where the disorderly use was related to and occurring in the unit for which eviction proceedings were undertaken or notice to vacate was given. Eviction proceedings shall not be a bar to sanctions, however, unless they are diligently pursued by the license holder. (h) All written leases for licensed premises executed after June 1, 1983, shall contain a clause providing that conduct which would be violative of subsection (a) of this section shall constitute a material breach of the lease and grounds for termination of such lease. (i) It shall be irrelevant to proceedings hereunder that the license holder or others were not criminally prosecuted or were acquitted of criminal charges for the incidents serving as the basis of the suspension or revocation. (j) The license holder, or his or her agent, is required to inform all prospective tenants of the number of disturbance notices pending against the licensed property and the potential effect of additional disturbances.
Mankato Code of Ordinances ch. 7 § 7-55 places responsibility on rental property license holders to ensure that occupants do not engage in disorderly conduct, which includes illegal drug or alcohol activity and behaviors that violate several Minnesota statutes on unlawful assembly and disorderly conduct. The rule establishes a progressive enforcement process: a first violation triggers a written notice, a second within 12 months may require a problem-solving conference, and a third within that same window can result in license suspension or revocation. Lease agreements executed after June 1, 1983 must include a clause making such conduct a material breach, and criminal acquittal of the occupants does not shield the license holder from administrative consequences.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Mankato Code of Ordinances ch. 7 § 7-55, compliant rental operators generally maintain leases that explicitly identify disorderly conduct as a material breach, giving them a contractual basis to pursue eviction when occupants engage in prohibited behavior. Operators typically act promptly on any written notice from police or a city inspector, document their corrective steps, and diligently pursue eviction proceedings when warranted — since the ordinance provides a safe harbor only when eviction is actively and diligently pursued. License holders are also required to disclose to prospective tenants the number of pending disturbance notices against the property and the potential consequences of additional violations.
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 § 7-55 requires that leases signed after June 1, 1983 include a clause identifying disorderly conduct as a material breach, so tenants should be aware that certain behaviors — including illegal drug or alcohol activity and conduct violating the referenced Minnesota statutes — can serve as grounds for lease termination. Tenants also have a right to be informed by the license holder of any pending disturbance notices against the property before signing a lease, which can be relevant context when evaluating a rental. Tenants who believe enforcement actions under this section are being applied improperly may wish to consult a local tenant-rights organization or seek guidance from a housing attorney familiar with Mankato's licensing framework.
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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