Oakdale, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 7 § 7-19
Tenant Background Checks
Operative Text
All licensees will conduct criminal background checks on all prospective tenants. The criminal background check must include the following: (a) A statewide (Minnesota) criminal history check of the prospective tenant(s) covering at least the last three (3) years; the check must be done "in person" or by utilizing the most recent update of the state criminal history files. (b) A statewide criminal history check from the prospective tenants' previous state of residence if the tenant is moving directly from the previous state. (c) A criminal history check of any prospective tenant in their previous states of residence covering the last three (3) years if they have not resided in Minnesota for three (3) years or longer. (d) A criminal history check of any prospective tenant must be conducted in all seven (7) counties in the Twin City metro area covering at least the last three (3) years, including all misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor and felony convictions. (e) Licensees will retain criminal history check information for at least one (1) year after the date of the check or, if the subject of the check becomes a tenant of the licensed premises, one (1) year after the subject of the check has ceased to be a tenant. Such information shall be available for inspection upon demand by the City Building Official during normal business hours.
Oakdale Code of Ordinances ch. 7 § 7-19 requires that all rental property licensees in Oakdale perform criminal background checks on every prospective tenant before renting to them. These checks must cover Minnesota statewide records, prior states of residence under certain conditions, and all seven Twin Cities metro-area counties, reaching back at least three years and including misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, and felony convictions. Licensees are also required to keep the resulting records for at least one year and make them available to the City Building Official upon request.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Oakdale Code of Ordinances ch. 7 § 7-19, compliant rental operators run a multi-part criminal history check on every applicant before tenancy begins, covering Minnesota statewide records, prior-state records when applicable, and all seven Twin Cities metro counties going back at least three years. Records of each check are retained for a minimum of one year after the check date—or one year after a tenant vacates if they moved in—and are kept accessible for City Building Official inspection during normal business hours. Operators generally document their screening process consistently across all applicants to demonstrate compliance with the ordinance's requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Oakdale Code of Ordinances ch. 7 § 7-19 establishes that every licensed rental property operator in Oakdale is obligated to conduct a standardized criminal background check before accepting a tenant, which means applicants can expect their criminal history across multiple jurisdictions to be reviewed. Tenants who believe a landlord has not followed the required screening procedures, or who have concerns about how their background check information is being stored or used, may wish to contact the City of Oakdale or consult a tenant-rights organization familiar with Minnesota housing law. Understanding what records are covered under § 7-19 can help prospective tenants anticipate what information a landlord is required to review during the application process.
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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