Marshall, Minn., Mun. Code art. 18-VIII (2026) § 18-154
No Retaliation
Operative Text
Per Minnesota State Statute Section 5048.205, Subd. 2, Emergency calls are permitted. A landlord may not: Bar or limit a residential tenant's or short-term rental occupant’s right to call for police or emergency assistance in response to domestic abuse or any other conduct, including calling the City to file a complaint; or Harass a residential tenant's or short-term rental occupant’s for calling police or requesting emergency assistance in response to domestic abuse or any other conduct, including calling the City to file a complaint; or Impose a penalty on a residential tenant or a short-term rental occupant for calling for police or emergency assistance in response to domestic abuse or any other conduct. A residential tenant or short-term rental occupant may not waive and a landlord may not require the residential tenant to waive the residential tenant's right to call for police or emergency assistance. HISTORY Adopted by Ord. 24-003 on 2/13/2024
Marshall Art. 18-VIII Residential Rental Code § 18-154 establishes that tenants and short-term rental occupants retain an unconditional right to call police, emergency services, or the City to file a complaint — including in situations involving domestic abuse — without interference from their landlord. Landlords are prohibited from blocking, penalizing, or harassing occupants for making such calls or requests for assistance. Notably, this right cannot be signed away: neither a tenant's waiver nor a landlord's demand for such a waiver is legally valid under this provision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Marshall § 18-154, compliant property owners and managers ensure that no lease clause, policy, or practice restricts a tenant's or short-term rental occupant's ability to contact police, emergency services, or the City. Operators generally review their lease agreements to confirm that no language could be read as limiting or penalizing emergency calls, including calls related to domestic abuse. Landlords also avoid any conduct — such as threats, fee assessments, or intimidation — that could be characterized as harassment or retaliation following a tenant's use of emergency or complaint services.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Marshall Art. 18-VIII § 18-154 protects your right to call police, emergency services, or the City to file a complaint at any time, and that right cannot be taken away by a lease provision or a landlord's demand that you waive it. If a landlord attempts to bar, penalize, or harass you for making such a call, that conduct is prohibited under this provision. General enforcement paths available to tenants include filing a complaint with the City of Marshall, raising the violation as a defense in any related housing proceeding, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on next steps.
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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