Pine City, Minn., Mun. Code § 11.12.010 (2026) § 11.12.010

Purpose. The City recognizes a need for an organized inspection program of residential rental units within the City in order to establish minimum standards for rental units to meet City and State safety, health, fire and zoning codes within the City and to provide a more efficient system for compelling both absentee and local landlords to correct violations and properly maintain rental property within the City. The City recognizes that the most efficient system to provide for rental inspections is the creation of a program requiring the registration and license of all residential rental units within the City so that orderly inspections can be undertaken.
Definition. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: 

Residential rental property means any building, structure, room, enclosure or mobile home including the real property upon which it is located, and which surrounds it, which is rented or offered for rent by any person to any other person for use for residential purposes by such other person. The term "residential rental property" does not mean on campus dormitories, hospital units, nursing home units, assisted living units and hotels or motels with daily rental units, located within the City, all of which shall be specifically exempt from registration and license under this section.
Registration and license requirements. It is unlawful for any person to hereafter occupy, allow to be occupied, or let to another person for occupancy any residential rental property within the City for which a registration statement has not been properly made and filed with City Hall and for which there is not an effective license. Initial registration and renewal shall be made upon forms furnished by the City for such purpose and shall specifically require the following minimum information:Name, address and telephone number of the property owner. In cases where the property is subject to a contract for deed, the contract for deed vendee shall be considered the owner for the purposes of this section.
The name, telephone number and address of any person authorized to make or order repairs or services for the property, if in violation of City or State Codes, if the person is different than the owner.
The street address of the rental property.
The number and types of units within the rental property (dwelling units or sleeping rooms).
The maximum number of occupants for each dwelling unit or sleeping room.
Off street parking arrangements.

Fees. There shall be an annual license fee as set by the City Council as set out in the fee schedule. The license and inspection fee may be amended from time to time by Council resolution.
Manner of registration and renewal.The owner or his designated agent shall make initial registration for residential rental property existing on the effective date of the ordinance from which this section is derived by submitting a registration statement to the City of Pine City. Registered rental property existing on the effective date of the ordinance from which this section is derived shall receive an interim license until the time as an inspection can first be made if the property is due for an inspection per the inspection schedule.
Initial registration for property which is not residential rental property or for licensed residential rental property when there is a change in type of occupancy shall be made by submitting a registration statement at City Hall before the property is used as residential rental property or before use as a new type of occupancy.
Each license issued pursuant to this section shall expire on December 31 of the year for which it was issued. The City will mail annual renewal statements to the property owner of record on file with Pine County on or before November 1 each year. Failure to receive a renewal statement from the City shall not excuse the owner from meeting the license requirements. Renewal statements must be returned to City Hall by December 31 of each year. Failure to return renewal form will result in an administrative penalty set out in the fee schedule. Statements may be returned by mail, at the property owner's risk, to City Hall.
If there is a change in the type of occupancy from the type stated in the registration statement, a new registration statement and license will be required to be filed at City Hall within 30 days of the date of the change.
A renter may at any time request an inspection of the rental property that shall be conducted at the renter's expense.

Method and manner of certification.Upon receipt of a registration statement, the City shall refer the application for an inspection if the property is due for an inspection per the inspection schedule (see table in Subsection (f)(4) of this section). The inspection will be done by either a licensed firm as designated by the City Council, the City's Fire Marshal, the City’s Safety Inspector, or the City's Building Inspector with the advice and consent of the City Council for investigation and inspection. The purpose of the inspection is to ensure that all rental units meet code requirements under the Minnesota State Building Code, Minnesota State Fire Code and all City ordinances.
Each rental unit will be inspected per the inspection schedule (see table in Subsection (f)(4) of this section) New construction would be slated for its first rental registration inspection prior to being issued a Certificate of Occupancy and then be scheduled three years from the date of construction for its next scheduled inspection under this subsection, provided that no modifications were made to the property. The City's officer or agent charged with the duty of making the investigation of inspection shall make a report thereon, after receiving an initial registration or a copy thereof, and the inspection and investigation shall be made within a reasonable time. No license shall be issued if the premises and building do not fully comply with the Minnesota State Building Code, the Minnesota State Fire Code and all City Code provisions.
Exceptions to inspection schedule. Any rental properties that are inspected by the State of Minnesota Fire Marshal's office, by a State of Minnesota Building Code Division Inspector or a certified inspector from the Office of Housing and Urban Development, or registered as a Residential Relative Homestead with Pine County are exempt from City inspections as long as documentation supporting the exemption is provided to the City of Pine City when filing their annual registration application.
Inspection schedule table:

Number of Violations
Inspection Frequency

0--23 years
3--42 years
4--61 year
7+6 months

Method of correction. Whenever an inspector determines that any residential rental property fails to meet the requirements set forth in this section or any other City Code provision, he shall issue a notice setting forth the violations and ordering the owner, occupant or agent to correct such violations. This notice and order shall:Be in written form;
Describe the location and nature of the violation;
Establish a reasonable time for the correction of any violation;
Be served upon the owner or his agent, or the occupant as the case may require. The notice shall be deemed to be properly served if a copy thereof is:Served upon the owner, or designated agent personally, or sent by electronic mail, or if no response is rendered within a reasonable time;
Then first class mail to the property owner of the record on file with Pine County or designated agent’s address provided on the most recent registration statement on file at City Hall, or if no response is rendered within a responsible time;
Posted in a conspicuous place on the dwelling affected.

Transfer of property. Every new owner of residential rental property (whether as fee owner or contract purchaser) shall be required to furnish to City Hall the new owner's name, address and telephone number and the name, address and telephone number of the owner's designated agent upon closing of the transaction. No license fee shall be required of the new owner during the year in which the property is purchased, provided that the previous owner has paid all license fees, has complied with all requirements of this subsection, and has corrected any violations of the City Code. An inspection of the property will take place of the property within six months, but not more than nine months after transfer of ownership regardless of any previous inspections.
License suspensions and revocation.Any license may be revoked or suspended at any time during the life of the license for grounds including, but not limited to, the following:False or misleading information given or provided in connection with the registration statement or renewal;
Failure to pay any fee herein provided for;
Failure to permit any officer or employee of the City charged with the duty of making inspections of enforcing any City Code provisions, access to the premises at a reasonable hour to determine whether the facilities conform with the provision of this subsection;
Violation by the certified owner or anyone operating there under, of any City Code provisions or laws of the State of Minnesota relating, pertaining to, or governing, the license and the premises.

A suspended license shall be reinstated when the circumstances leading to the suspension have been remedied and a reinstatement and inspection fee as set by Council resolution has been paid. After a certificate has been revoked, a new certificate may be issued to the revoked owner only if the circumstances leading to the revocation have been remedied, a new registration is made, and an additional reinstatement and inspection fee as set by Council resolution has been paid.

Failure to grant registration. The City reserves the right not to register a unit unless the rental unit for which registration is sought complies with the Minnesota State Building Code, Minnesota State Fire Code and all City ordinances. If the City does not issue a license the owner is prohibited from renting the unit until a license is received.
Maintenance of records. All records, files and documents pertaining to the Rental License Program shall be maintained at City Hall and made available to the public as allowed or required by State law and City Code provisions.
Appeal process. Any property owner aggrieved by any action taken by the City in regard to the Rental License Program under this section may request a review by or may make an appeal to the City Council as to the action of the City. An appeal must be made within ten days from the City's action and shall be in writing, addressed to the City Council. The property owner shall have the right to appear and be represented by counsel. The City Council shall hear and consider the matter within 30 days of the hearing. In the event of a tie vote, the action taken by the City shall stand.
Authority. Nothing in this Section shall prevent the City from taking action under any of its City fire, housing, zoning or other health safety codes for violations thereof to seek either injunctive relief or criminal prosecution for such violations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the particular City Code provision or code under which the City would proceed against the property owner, designated agent or occupant of any residential rental dwelling unit covered by this section. Nothing contained in this section shall prevent the City from seeking injunctive relief against a property owner or designated agent who fails to comply with the terms and conditions of this section on registration and licensing to obtain an order closing such rental units until violations of this section have been remedied by the property owner or designated property manager.
Posting. Every registrant of residential rental property shall post a receipted copy of the current license containing the information required by Subsection (c) of this section (with the exception of telephone numbers) when received from the City. These items shall be conspicuously posted (in a frame with transparent cover) by the registrant in a public corridor, hallway or lobby of the rental property for which it is issued. For other than multiple dwellings, the registrant must post the license certificate in a frame with a transparent cover in such a manner so as to be easily viewed and readable at or near the front entrance of the building for which it was issued.
Enforcement. In order to compel compliance with the license requirements, the City or City's designee shall have the authority to enter any building, at reasonable times and upon five days' written notice to the tenant, to determine if the building is operated as a rental property as defined in Subsection (b) of this section, or to enforce the Minnesota State Building Code and/or Minnesota State Fire Code.
Applicable laws. Registrants shall be subject to all City Code provisions and laws of the State of Minnesota relating to dwellings; and this section shall not be construed or interpreted to supersede any other such applicable City Code provision or law.
Tenant identification. When requested by the Sheriff’s Department, property owners are required to provide names of tenants occupying rental property.
Criminal penalties. If an owner does not comply with the provisions of this section, specifically including, but not limited to, renting units without obtaining a proper license as defined in this section, the owner shall have committed a misdemeanor with the applicable penalties as set by then existing Minnesota law. Each day that a premises is actually rented to a tenant in violation of this section shall constitute a separate and additional misdemeanor offense.
(Prior Code, § 900.06; Ord. No. 19-13, 7-25-2019)
HISTORY
Adopted by Ord. 21-10 on 10/6/2021