Owatonna, Minn., Mun. Code Ch. 151 (2026) § 151.04

For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.


BASEMENT. The lowest story of any building that does not meet the minimum requirements of a first story as defined herein.


COURT or COURTYARD. An area, open to the sky, at or above grade that is bounded on at least three sides by a building and having access to a public way.


DORMITORY(IES). Buildings owned or controlled by an educational institution; or spaces within buildings owned or controlled by educational institutions, where group sleeping accommodations are provided; or a series of closely associated rooms without individual cooking facilities, and with common toilet and bathroom facilities.


DWELLING. A building, wholly or partly used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking or eating purposes by human occupants; but not including rest homes, convalescent homes, nursing homes, hotels, motels, facilities licensed by the State of Minnesota as institutional occupancies or dormitories and may also be called a residence or residential building or apartment building.


DWELLING UNIT. A room or group of rooms within a dwelling, forming a single habitable unit and includes apartments.


EGRESS. An arrangement of exit facilities to assure safe means of exit from a building with specific dimensions as required in this code or any applicable code.


EXIT. A continuous and unobstructed means of egress to a public way. Exit includes intervening doors, corridors, ramps, stairways, and courts.


EXTERMINATION. The control and elimination of insects, rodents or other pests by eliminating their places of harborage; by removing or making inaccessible materials that may serve as their food; by poisoning, spraying, fumigating, trapping; or by any other recognized and legal pest elimination method. Extermination shall include removing all signs of extermination thereafter.


FIRST STORY. T he lowest story in a building provided it is not more than four feet below grade for more than 50% off its perimeter, or more than eight feet below grade at any point in its perimeter.


GARBAGE. " All putrescible organic wastes resulting from the handling, storage, preparation, cooking or consumption of food.


HABITABLE ROOM. A room used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, eating or cooking purposes, excluding bathrooms, water closet compartments, laundries, pantries, foyers, corridors, unoccupied cellars, accessory garages, porches, attics, stairways, closets and storage spaces, and utility and heating areas.


INFESTATION. The presence of insects, rodents or other pests within or around a dwelling.


KITCHEN. A habitable space within a dwelling unit used or intended to be used for cooking of food or preparation of meals. No part of any kitchen may be within the bathroom or toilet compartment.


NONCONFORMING USE. A use of land or occupancy that does not comply with the regulations of this Ordinance, but which did conform to regulations in effect at the time of original occupancy or licensing.


OCCUPANT. Any person living, sleeping, eating or cooking within a dwelling unit.


PERSON. Any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or a joint venture or organization of any kind.


PREMISES. The dwelling and its land and all buildings thereon.


PUBLIC WAY. Street, alley or other place where the public has access and which is at least ten feet in width.


RENT. Any consideration paid for the exclusive use of the dwelling unit, including, but not limited to, money, services or a combination thereof, paid or delivered at fixed intervals periodically agreed upon.


REPAIR. To restore to a sound, acceptable state of operation, serviceability or appearance.


REPLACE or REPLACEMENT. To remove all or a portion of an existing system or structure and to construct or install a new item of a quality similar to that of the item replaced when it was new. Replacement ordinarily takes place when repair of an item is impractical.


ROOMING UNIT. A room or group of rooms forming a habitable unit used or intended to be used for living and sleeping, but not for cooking purposes, along with private or shared sanitation facilities.


RUBBISH. All nonputrescible solid wastes, such as paper, cardboard, tin cans, glass, cold ashes, wood, clothing, yard clippings and similar materials.


SAFETY. The condition of being reasonably free from danger and hazards which may cause injury or illness.


SOUND CONDITION AND GOOD REPAIR. The dwelling unit on its structural elements, fixtures, facilities or equipment are in a safe and acceptable condition and appearance and in good working order and operation.


YARD. Any open space, other than a court, unobstructed from the ground to the sky, on the lot on which a building is located.


(1992 Code, § 460:04) (Ord. 1315, passed 5-20-2003; Ord. passed - -)