Newport, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 8, art. IV § 8-92
Use and occupancy of dwelling prohibited with certificate; illegal occupancy
Operative Text
(a) Unless an owner has applied for and received a registration certificate as provided, no rental dwelling unit shall be used or occupied until the zoning administrator, or his designee, has issued a rental dwelling unit registration certificate as provided. It shall be a misdemeanor to rent or lease, or permit the occupancy of, a rental dwelling unit which does not have a rental dwelling unit registration certificate. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, this section does not apply to or cover any dwelling which is occupied and used for the purposes of a homestead by its owner. (b) No person shall occupy, use or reside in a rental dwelling unit which does not have a rental dwelling unit registration certificate. Any unit or structure which is so occupied, used or resided in shall be an unlawful structure. Such illegal occupancy also constitutes a hazard to the health, safety or welfare of the occupants and the public, and may be condemned by the appropriate enforcement officer.
Newport Code of Ordinances ch. 8, art. IV § 8-92 establishes that rental dwelling units must hold a valid registration certificate — issued by the zoning administrator or a designee — before they can be rented, leased, or occupied. Operating or living in a unit without that certificate is treated as a misdemeanor and renders the unit an unlawful structure. The provision also authorizes the appropriate enforcement officer to condemn any such illegally occupied unit on public health, safety, or welfare grounds. Owner-occupied homestead dwellings are explicitly excluded from these requirements.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Newport Code of Ordinances ch. 8, art. IV § 8-92, compliant rental property operators apply for and obtain a rental dwelling unit registration certificate from the zoning administrator before placing any unit into service. Renting, leasing, or permitting occupancy of an unregistered unit constitutes a misdemeanor, exposing an owner to criminal liability. Operators generally maintain current certificates for each rental unit and ensure no tenancy begins until the certificate has been issued.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Newport Code of Ordinances ch. 8, art. IV § 8-92 makes it unlawful for any person to occupy a rental dwelling unit that lacks a valid registration certificate, and such a unit can be condemned by enforcement authorities. Tenants who discover their unit may be unregistered can contact the Newport zoning administrator's office to verify certificate status or report a potential violation. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand how an illegal-occupancy finding might affect their housing situation and what options may be available, including raising the violation in relevant proceedings.
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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