Robbinsdale, Minn., Mun. Code § 425.31 (2026) § 425.33

Subdivision 1. Administration and enforcement.


The enforcement officer administers and enforces the provisions of the PMC and may cause inspections on rental dwelling units on all classes of property within the City on a scheduled basis, whether on rental dwelling units or owner-occupied residential units on all classes of property when reason exists to believe that a violation of the code exists, has been or is being committed. The enforcement officer may cause inspections on non-residential buildings and structures when reason exists to believe that a violation of the code exists, has been or is being committed. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06; Ord. No. 14-02)


Subd. 2. Authority.


In the absence of a timely appeal under the PMC or any other applicable provision of law, the enforcement officer is the final authority in the determination of a violation under the PMC. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06; Ord. No. 14-02)


Subd. 3. Inspection access.


The occupant of any property must give the owner or operator thereof, or agent or employee, access to any part of such building, or its premises, at reasonable times for the purpose of effecting inspection, maintenance, repairs, or alterations as are necessary to comply with the provisions of this section. If any owner, occupant, or other person in charge of a building or related premises fails or refuses to permit free access and entry to the structure or premises under control of that person for an inspection pursuant to the PMC, the enforcement officer take appropriate legal action including but not limited to the issuance of a citation and a court order authorizing such inspection. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06; Ord. No. 14-02)


Subd. 4. Compliance order.


Whenever the enforcement officer determines that any building, dwelling, dwelling unit, or rooming unit, or the premises surrounding any of these, fails to meet the provisions of the PMC, the officer may issue a compliance order setting forth the violations of the code and ordering the owner, occupant, operator, and/or agent to correct such violations. The compliance order must: (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06; Ord. No. 14-02)


(a) Be in writing;


(b) Describe the location and nature of the violations of the PMC; (Amended, Ord. No. 03- 06; Ord. No. 14-02)


(c) Establish a time for the correction of such violations;


(d) Include information regarding the owner's right to appeal the order and the procedure to be followed in filing such an appeal pursuant to subsection 425.35 ;


(e) Be served upon the owner or owner’s agent or the occupant, as the case may require. Such notice shall be deemed to be properly served upon such owner or agent, or upon any such occupant, if a copy thereof is:


(1) Served personally, or


(2) Deposited in the U.S. Post Office addressed to the owner at owner’s last known address with postage prepaid, or


(3) Upon failure to effect notice by personal service or by mail, posted at a conspicuous place in or about the building or dwelling which is affected by the notice. (Amended, Ord. No. 14-02)


Subd. 5. Emergency cases.


When a violation of the PMC constitutes an imminent peril to life, health, or property, the enforcement officer may specify an immediate and exact time for the correction of the violation. When this is the case, no stay of proceedings in furtherance of action will be granted on appeal. Situations which constitute an imminent peril to life, health, or property include, but are not limited to the following: (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06; Ord. No. 14-02)


(a) Heating systems that are unsafe due to: burned out or rusted out heat exchanges (fire box); burned out, or plugged flues; not being vented; being connected with unsafe gas supplies; or being incapable of adequately heating the living space.


(b) Water heaters that are unsafe due to: burned out or rusted out heat exchanges (fire box); burned out, rusted out, or plugged flues; lack of proper venting; being connected with unsafe gas supplies; or lack of temperature and pressure relief valves.


(c) Electrical systems that are unsafe due to: dangerous overloading; damaged or deteriorated equipment; improperly tapped or spliced wiring; improper or overloaded fuses; expose uninsulated wires; distribution systems of extension cords or other temporary methods; ungrounded appliances in a hazardous condition. If overloading is suspected, the enforcement officer may require inspection and certification of all or part of the electrical system by a state licensed electrician.


(d) Plumbing systems that are unsanitary due to: leaking waste systems fixtures and traps; lack of a water closet; lack of washing and bathing facilities; or cross connection of pure water supply with fixtures or sewage lines.


(e) Structural systems, walls, chimneys, ceilings, roofs, foundations, and floor systems, that will not safely carry imposed loads.


(f) Refuse, garbage, human waste, decaying vermin or other dead animals, animal waste, other materials rendering it unsanitary for human occupancy, including lack of light and air.


(g) Infestation of rodents, insects, and other vermin.


(h) Lack of operational smoke detectors. (Added, Ord. No. 07-18)


Subd. 6. (Deleted, Ord. No. 07-18)


Subd. 7. Execution of compliance orders by public authority. Upon failure to comply with a compliance order within the time set therein and no appeal having been taken, the criminal penalty established hereunder notwithstanding, the City Council may by resolution direct the enforcement officer to remedy the deficiency (deficiencies) cited in the compliance order. The cost of such remedy shall be a lien against the subject real estate and may be levied and collected as a special assessment in the manner provided by Minnesota Statutes, chapter 429. Such action will not be taken, however, without a good faith effort on the part of the City to provide the property owner with advance notice of its intention to proceed with repairs and assessment of the costs of repairs to taxes.


Subd. 8. Built-in deficiencies.


Certain specific deficiencies may be deemed to be beyond reasonable correction by the enforcement officer and therefore waived from meeting the requirements of this section. Deficiencies which will be waived will be those that the enforcement officer finds to have been in conformance with all existing applicable codes at the time that the work was done and that are not causing adverse affects on the health or safety of the occupants of the unit. Other deficiencies which will be waived from meeting the requirements of this section shall be limited to the following:


(a) Ceiling heights.


Any existing habitable room with a ceiling height of between six feet six inches to seven feet shall be considered a built-in deficiency which is beyond reasonable correction.


(b) Superficial floor area.


Any existing habitable room of less than 70 square feet shall be considered a built-in deficiency and beyond reasonable correction.


(c) Natural light and ventilation.


Any existing habitable room with window area less than 8% of the floor area shall be considered a built-in deficiency beyond reasonable correction but in no case shall the required window area be less than 5% of the floor area, or less than required for sleeping rooms by subsection 425.27 .


(d) Entry doors.


Any existing dwelling which does not have at least one doorway that is at least 36 inches wide and at least 80 inches high, providing access to and egress from said dwelling, shall be considered a built-in deficiency, provided there is at minimum, one access/egress doorway is at least 32 inches wide and at least 80 inches high.


(e) Stairways.


An existing stairway that does not meet the standards for maximum rise and minimum run may be considered a built-in deficiency if it is not considered hazardous by the enforcement officer.


(f) Landings.


An existing stair landing that does not meet the minimum required length and width of three feet may be considered a built in deficiency if it is not considered hazardous by the enforcement officer. (Added, Ord. No. 03-06)


Subd. 9. Reinspection.


At the end of the period allowed for the correction of a violation specified in the compliance order, the enforcement officer may reinspect the premises to determine whether those corrective actions have been sufficient to bring the violations into compliance. If the premises are in substantial compliance with requirements of this section as of the time of the inspection or reinspection, the enforcement officer may issue the license in accordance with the requirements of section 425.31 . (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06)


Subd. 10. Reinspection-non-compliance.


If after the period allowed for compliance has elapsed, the enforcement officer determines on the basis of a reinspection that the violation has not been corrected, the enforcement officer may issue a citation or may file a formal complaint summoning the responsible party into court. The citation shall reiterate the charge and the section(s) violated. The City may also take action to correct violations under the provisions of subdivision 7. Fees for reinspection may apply as outlined in appendix B. (Amended, Ord. 99-13)


Subd. 11. No warranty by City.


By enacting and undertaking to enforce the PMC neither the City nor its council, agents or employers warrant or guarantee the safety, fitness or suitability of any building in the City, and any representation to the contrary by any person is a misdemeanor. Owners or occupants should take whatever steps they deem appropriate to protect their interests, health, safety and welfare. A warning in substantially the foregoing language shall be printed on the face of the rental dwelling license. (Amended, Ord. No. 03-06; Ord. No. 14-02)


Subd. 12. Administrative Fee.


An administrative fee shall be due and payable by the property owner for when a required rental inspection when more than 30 days has elapsed without a required rental inspection during the inspections assigned month. This fee is in addition to any other fee or fine that may result from uncorrected PMC violations. Fees shall be as established by Appendix B. (Added, Ord. No. 07-18; Ord. No. 14-02)