Princeton, Minn., City Code title 3 ch. 358 (2026) § 358.18
No Retaliation
Operative Text
358.18 No Retaliation. No owner shall evict, threaten to evict, or take other punitive action against any tenant who, by reason of good faith, files a complaint with the City related to public safety or property maintenance concerns. This section shall not prohibit the eviction of tenants from a rental dwelling for unlawful conduct of a tenant or invitee for violations of any rules, regulations, or lease terms other than a prohibition against contacting City officials.
Section 358.18 of Princeton, MN City Code Title 3 Ch. 358 prohibits rental property owners from evicting, threatening to evict, or otherwise punishing a tenant because that tenant filed a good-faith complaint with the City about public safety or property maintenance issues. The rule carves out an exception: owners are not barred from pursuing eviction when the basis is a tenant's or invitee's unlawful conduct or a genuine violation of lease terms, rules, or regulations — as long as that eviction is not triggered by the tenant's act of contacting City officials. In short, the provision draws a clear line between protected activity (reporting concerns to the City) and unprotected conduct (actual lease or legal violations).
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to Princeton, MN City Code § 358.18 generally ensure that any eviction or adverse action taken against a tenant is grounded in documented lease violations, unlawful conduct, or other legitimate grounds — not in the tenant's decision to contact the City about safety or maintenance concerns. Compliant property managers maintain records that clearly distinguish the basis for any enforcement action from any prior complaint activity by the tenant. Because § 358.18 preserves the right to pursue eviction for genuine rule or lease violations, thorough and contemporaneous documentation of the underlying conduct is a hallmark of sound management practice under this ordinance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 358.18 of Princeton, MN City Code Title 3 Ch. 358, tenants who file good-faith complaints with the City regarding public safety or property maintenance conditions are protected from eviction, eviction threats, or other punitive responses by their landlord. If a tenant believes an adverse action — such as a notice to vacate or a sudden change in tenancy terms — followed a protected complaint, that connection may be relevant to raising a retaliation defense in any subsequent legal proceeding. Tenants who believe their rights under § 358.18 have been violated may consider contacting the City of Princeton directly, consulting a local tenant-rights organization, or seeking guidance from a licensed attorney familiar with Minnesota landlord-tenant 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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