Mendota Heights, Minn., Mun. Code Ch. 1301 (2026) § 3-5-3
GENERAL LICENSING PROVISIONS
Operative Text
A. License Required: No person shall rent a single-family detached dwelling unit in the R-1 zoning district to another for occupancy unless the city has issued a rental license for the dwelling unit. B. License Application: The owner of a dwelling unit may submit an application for a rental license on forms provided by the city administrator or official designee. A person who has been issued a rental license shall give notice, in writing, to the city administrator, within five (5) business days of any change in the information contained on the license application. C. License Fees: Licensing fees shall be prescribed, from time to time, by council resolution, and maintained on file in the office of the city administrator. The required fees shall be submitted along with the application for a new or renewal license. Applications for a renewal license submitted after the license term expiration are subject to a penalty fee. D. License Terms: All dwelling unit rental licenses shall expire on December 31 of each year except as otherwise provided herein or in cases of suspension or revocation. E. License Issuance: The city shall issue a dwelling unit rental license if real estate taxes and municipal utility bills for the dwelling unit have been paid, and city has no record of unresolved complaints regarding the property subject to the rental license. F. Renewal Of License: A licensee may continue to rent a dwelling unit after the expiration date of the rental license provided that the owner has filed with the city administrator, on or before the expiration date, the appropriate renewal license application and license fee, and provided that the city has no record of unresolved complaints regarding the property subject to the rental license. G. Transfer Of License: A rental license shall not be transferable to another person or to another dwelling unit. (Ord. 407, 4-4-2006)
Mendota Heights Ch. 1301 § 3-5-3 establishes a mandatory rental licensing system for single-family detached dwellings in the R-1 zoning district. No such unit may be rented without a city-issued license, and licenses expire annually on December 31 unless suspended or revoked earlier. Licenses are non-transferable between persons or properties, and renewal applications submitted after the expiration date are subject to a penalty fee. The city may withhold or decline to issue a license if property taxes or utility bills are unpaid, or if unresolved complaints are on record for the property.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Mendota Heights Ch. 1301 § 3-5-3, operators of single-family rental units in the R-1 district generally obtain and maintain a current rental license before placing or continuing a tenant in occupancy. Compliant operators submit renewal applications and fees on or before December 31 each year to avoid late-penalty fees and any gap in licensure. They also keep the city administrator informed of any changes to application information within five business days, ensure property taxes and utility bills remain current, and resolve any outstanding complaints that could block license issuance or renewal.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mendota Heights Ch. 1301 § 3-5-3 gives tenants a basis to verify that their single-family rental unit in the R-1 district is covered by a valid city-issued rental license. If a landlord is renting without a required license, tenants may raise that violation as a relevant fact when dealing with the city or in any applicable legal proceeding. Tenants who believe a landlord is operating without a license or has unresolved complaints on record can contact the city administrator's office to inquire about the property's license status, and may also consult a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
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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