Richfield, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 409 § 409.01
Definitions
Operative Text
Subdivision 1. The following definitions apply in this Section: (a) "Affordable housing building" means an apartment house as defined in 407.03 having three or more dwelling units, where at least 20 percent of the units rent for an amount that is affordable to households at or below 60 percent of area median income, as median income was most recently determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minnesota- Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area, as adjusted for household size and number of bedrooms. (b) "Affordable housing unit" means a rental unit in an affordable housing building that rents for an amount that is affordable to households at or below 60 percent of area median income, as median income was most recently determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Minneapolis-St. Paul- Bloomington, Minnesota-Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area, as adjusted for household size and number of bedrooms. (c) "Cause" means the tenant or a member of the tenant's household materially violated a term of the lease or rental agreement, or violated an applicable federal, state, or local law or regulation. (d) "Relocation assistance" means a payment in the amount equal to three months of the current monthly contract rent. (e) "Tenant protection period" means the period that commences on the date when written notice of the transfer of ownership is sent to each affordable housing unit tenant pursuant to subsection 409.03 and ends on the last day of the third full calendar month following the date on which the notice was sent pursuant to subsection 409.03 . (f) "Transfer of ownership" means any conveyance of title to an affordable housing building, whether legal or equitable, voluntary or involuntary, resulting in a transfer of control of the building, effective as of the earlier of the date of delivery of the instrument of conveyance or the date the new owner takes possession.
Richfield Code of Ordinances § 409.01 establishes the key terms used throughout § 409, which governs tenant protections when affordable housing buildings change ownership. It defines what qualifies as an "affordable housing building" (three or more units, at least 20% rented at rates affordable to households at or below 60% of area median income), and sets out concepts like "relocation assistance" (three months' contract rent) and the "tenant protection period" (triggered by written ownership-transfer notice and lasting through the third full calendar month after that notice).
Plain English — not legal advice.
Owners and managers of multi-unit rental properties in Richfield should review § 409.01 to determine whether their building meets the definition of an "affordable housing building" — particularly the threshold requiring at least 20% of units to rent at rates affordable to households at or below 60% of HUD's area median income for the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA. If a building qualifies, a planned sale or conveyance triggers the "transfer of ownership" definition, which in turn activates the tenant protection period and relocation assistance obligations defined in this section. Compliant operators track HUD median income figures regularly to assess and document their building's status.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Richfield Code of Ordinances § 409.01 lays the groundwork for protections that may apply to renters in qualifying affordable housing buildings when ownership changes hands. If a tenant receives written notice of a transfer of ownership, the "tenant protection period" defined here begins on that date and extends through the end of the third full calendar month following the notice. Tenants who believe they live in an affordable housing building as defined in § 409.01 may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or review subsequent sections of § 409 to understand what rights and remedies may be available to them.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.