Maplewood, Minn., City Code ch. 12, art. XIII § 12-618
Falsely reporting violations
Operative Text
No person shall report a violation of this chapter knowing or having reason to know that the report is false with the intent to affect the licensing status or inspection schedule of the rental dwelling.
Maplewood City Code ch. 12, art. XIII § 12-618 prohibits anyone from filing a complaint or report about a rental housing violation when they know, or have reason to know, that the report is untrue and they intend for that false report to influence a rental property's license status or inspection schedule. The rule applies to any person, not just tenants or landlords. It is designed to protect the integrity of the rental housing oversight process from deliberate manipulation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Maplewood City Code ch. 12, art. XIII § 12-618, compliant property operators are aware that the false-reporting prohibition cuts both ways — it protects rental dwellings from bad-faith complaints filed with the intent to disrupt licensing or inspections. Operators who believe a report against their property was filed in bad faith may wish to document the circumstances and consult with a legal professional about available remedies. Keeping thorough records of property conditions and inspection history can support a response to any complaint, whether or not it appears to be made in good faith.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Maplewood City Code ch. 12, art. XIII § 12-618 establishes that reporting a genuine, honestly held concern about a rental housing violation is entirely distinct from filing a report one knows to be false. Tenants who have real, good-faith concerns about conditions in their rental dwelling retain the ability to report those concerns through the city's housing complaint process without running afoul of this provision. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand the difference between protected good-faith reporting and conduct that could implicate this prohibition.
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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