Owatonna, Minn., Mun. Code Ch. 115 (2026) § 115.02
REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE REQUIRED
Operative Text
(A) No owner shall allow another person to occupy, nor shall any person let to another for occupancy, any dwelling unit without first obtaining a registration certificate as provided in this subchapter, or at any time that the registration certificate, or the right to receive such a registration certificate, is suspended or revoked. This registration certificate is also referred to within this section as a “rental license” or “license”. Any registration certificate obtained pursuant to this section shall be issued in the name of the owner. In the case of a multiple-unit dwelling, a registration certificate issued pursuant to this section includes and applies to both the entire dwelling as well as each individual rental unit within the dwelling. Any suspension or revocation of the registration certificate or the right to receive a registration certificate may involve the entire dwelling or an individual unit or units within the dwelling. (B) The occupancy or rental of any dwelling unit for which a registration certificate is required, need not be interrupted or suspended for lack of a registration certificate if the same is due to the inability of the city to process the application in a timely manner, or if the owner is in the process of complying with a notice of deficiencies from the city within the period of time authorized by the Fire Chief. (1992 Code, § 457:05) (Ord. 1316, passed 5-20-2003) Penalty, see § 115.99
Section 115.02 of Owatonna Ch. 115 establishes that no dwelling unit may be occupied or rented unless the owner has first obtained a valid registration certificate (also called a rental license) from the city. The certificate is issued in the owner's name and, for multi-unit buildings, covers both the entire structure and each individual unit. Occupancy does not need to be interrupted if the city itself is unable to process an application on time, or if the owner is actively working to correct deficiencies within a timeframe authorized by the Fire Chief.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 115.02, compliant property owners in Owatonna secure a registration certificate before allowing any tenant to move into a dwelling unit, and they maintain that certificate in good standing at all times. For multi-unit properties, operators ensure the license covers the full building as well as each individual rental unit, and they track any suspension or revocation notices carefully since these can apply to the whole property or to specific units. When the city issues a notice of deficiencies, operators generally work to address those deficiencies within the period authorized by the Fire Chief to avoid interruption of lawful occupancy.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 115.02 gives tenants in Owatonna a basis to know that their landlord is required to hold a valid registration certificate — sometimes called a rental license — before renting out any dwelling unit. If a landlord's certificate has been suspended or revoked, that status may be relevant to the legality of the rental arrangement, and tenants can inquire with the city about the registration status of their unit. Tenants who believe this provision has been violated may consider contacting the city of Owatonna, consulting a local tenant-rights organization, or reviewing the penalty provisions referenced at § 115.99 to understand what remedies may be available.
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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