Princeton, Minn., City Code title 3 ch. 358 (2026) § 358.08
Inspections
Operative Text
358.08 Inspections.
(a) Generally. All buildings or structures within the scope of this Article, and all construction or work
for which a permit is required, shall be subject to inspection by the Fire Chief and the Building
Official in accordance with and in the manner provided by this Article and the Building Code.
(b) Frequency. Upon receipt of a properly executed application for a rental license and receipt of the
appropriate fee, the Fire Chief shall conduct an initial inspection of the premises to assure
compliance with the City Code.
Any licensed rental dwelling will be re-inspected every three years after an application is filed to
determine compliance.
(c) Response to complaints. The Fire Chief shall respond to valid complaints of violations of this
Article. A valid complaint may be cause for a complete inspection of a unit or building. If an
inspection is to be made, the Fire Chief shall notify the owner/tenant of the inspection. If there are
violations, the Fire Chief shall notify the owner/tenant to correct the problem which prompted the
valid complaint. An owner may request an advisory inspection of a unit(s).
(d) Response to complaints of other jurisdictions outside of this Article.
Amended 10-22-26
3-21
City of Princeton Title 3 Licensing and Regulations
HUD – Multifamily Complaint Line – residents of HUD insured and assisted properties to report
complaints concerning matters such as poor maintenance, dangers to health and safety and
mismanagement and fraud.
HUD - Complaints regarding housing discrimination, federal housing, manufactured housing, land
sales, deceptive contractors, and fraud, waste and abuse.
Public Health Nuisance Complaints – Complaints should be filed with the County Public Health
Department. These complaints will also be filed with the State Department of Health by the County
Public Health Department. These types of complaints would include but are not limited to bed bugs,
sewage and water issues, dead animals, buried animal feces, old pools containing water, rotting
garbage, insect/rodent infestations, or a drug lab.
(e) Access for inspections.
(1) The Fire Chief shall be authorized to make or cause to be made inspections to determine the
condition of rental dwellings and premises to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of the
public.
(2) The Fire Chief shall be authorized to enter any rental dwelling or premises during regular
business hours which are Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm for the purpose of
performing his/her duties under this Article. Notice is not required when the Fire Chief
believes a violation presents a major life-safety issue requiring immediate action.
(3) The owner, operator, or tenant of every rental dwelling and premises, or the person in charge
thereof, shall give the Fire Chief free access to such rental dwelling and premises on which it is
located at any reasonable time for the purpose of inspection, examination, and survey.
(f) Refusal of access for inspection. If the owner, operator, person in charge, or tenant refuses to
consent to the inspection, an administrative search warrant may be obtained, unless an emergency
exists.
(g) Subject to tenant's right to privacy. Entry under this section is subject to Minnesota Statute §
504B.211 (Residential Tenant's Right to Privacy) as amended from time to time.
(h) Costs of obtaining warrant. If the City finds it necessary to obtain an administrative search warrant
to enter the property for inspection due to the owner, operator, person in charge, or tenant's lack of
cooperation, said person or persons will be responsible for all costs of obtaining the warrant,
including court costs and attorney's fees.Princeton, MN City Code § 358.08 establishes a framework for inspecting long-term residential rental properties. Inspections are conducted by the Fire Chief at the time of initial licensing, then on a recurring three-year cycle, and also in response to valid complaints. Tenants retain privacy rights under Minnesota Statute § 504B.211, and if access is refused, the City may seek an administrative search warrant — with the costs of that warrant charged to the party who withheld cooperation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 358.08, compliant rental property owners and operators generally ensure that the Fire Chief has reasonable access to their properties during regular business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) for initial, triennial, and complaint-driven inspections. Operators who receive notice of a valid complaint are expected to correct the identified problem in a timely manner. Refusing access can trigger an administrative search warrant process, and § 358.08(h) makes clear that the uncooperative party bears all associated costs, including court costs and attorney's fees.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 358.08 preserves tenants' privacy rights by subjecting all City inspections to Minnesota Statute § 504B.211, which governs residential tenants' right to privacy. Tenants are entitled to notice before an inspection occurs, except when the Fire Chief determines that a major life-safety issue requires immediate action. Tenants who have concerns about housing conditions may file a complaint with the City, and depending on the nature of the issue, may also have recourse through HUD's Multifamily Complaint Line, the County Public Health Department, or a local tenant-rights organization familiar with § 358.08 and related state law.
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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