Saint Paul, Minn., Legis. Code ch. 183 § 183.04
Affirmative action requirements in employment
Operative Text
All city contracts shall include the following provisions, which may be incorporated by reference to this section: (1) The contractor will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment. The contractor will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed and that employees are treated during employment without discrimination. Such action will include, but not be limited to, the following: employment, upgrading, demotion or transfer; recruitment or recruitment advertising; layoff or termination; rate of pay or other forms of compensation; and selection for training, including apprenticeship. The contractor agrees to post in conspicuous places available to employees and applicants for employment notices to be provided by the department of human rights and equal economic opportunity setting forth the provisions of this nondiscrimination clause. (2) The contractor will, in all solicitations or advertisements for employees placed by or in behalf of the contractor, state that all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination. (3) The contractor will send to each labor union or representative of workers with which the contractor has a collective bargaining agreement, other contract or understanding a notice to be provided by the director of human rights and equal economic opportunity advising the labor union and the worker's representative of the contractor's commitment under this ordinance and shall post copies of the notice in conspicuous places available to employees and applicants for employment. (4) The contractor will comply with all provisions of this chapter of the Saint Paul Legislative Code, and of the rules, regulations and relevant orders of the human rights and equal economic opportunity commission issued pursuant thereto. (5) The contractor will furnish all information and reports required by this chapter, and by the rules, regulations and orders of the human rights and equal economic opportunity commission issued pursuant thereto, and will permit access to the contractor's books, records and accounts by the department of human rights and equal economic opportunity for the purpose of investigations to ascertain compliance with such rules, regulations and orders. (6) In the event of the contractor's noncompliance with the nondiscrimination clauses of this contract or with any of such rules, regulations, or orders, this contract may be terminated or suspended in whole or in part, and the contractor may be declared ineligible for further city contracts, and such other sanctions may be imposed and remedies invoked as provided by this chapter of the Saint Paul Legislative Code, or by rule, regulation or order of the human rights and equal economic opportunity commission, or as otherwise provided by law. (7) The contractor will include the provisions of this chapter in every subcontract so that such provisions will be binding upon each subcontractor. (8) Each contractor having a contract with the city shall file and shall cause each of the contractor's subcontractors to file compliance reports with the department of human rights and equal economic opportunity as may be required by the director. Compliance reports shall be filed within such time and shall contain such information as to the practice, policies, programs and employment policies and employment statistics of the contractor and each subcontractor and shall be in such form as the director of human rights and equal economic opportunity may prescribe with the approval of the human rights and equal economic opportunity commission. (9) In any contract with the city subject also to the requirements of Executive Order 11246 for the filing of "compliance reports" or such other information and reports as may be required by the government of the United States in providing for equal opportunity in federal employment, proof of satisfaction of such federal requirements shall be deemed and considered as full compliance with the requirements of subsections (1), (2), (3), (8) and (9) of this section. (10) The director of the department of human rights and equal economic opportunity shall be responsible for the administration and enforcement of this section pursuant to such rules, regulations and orders as the human rights and equal economic opportunity commission may deem necessary and appropriate to achieve the purpose of this section. Failure to comply with such rules, regulations and orders shall be subject to the civil and criminal enforcement provisions of this ordinance.
Saint Paul Legislative Code ch. 183 § 183.04 requires that all city contracts include specific affirmative action and nondiscrimination commitments covering hiring, pay, training, and other employment practices. Contractors must post notices, notify labor unions, file compliance reports, and flow these same obligations down to any subcontractors. Noncompliance can result in contract termination, suspension, or a contractor being declared ineligible for future city contracts, with additional civil and criminal enforcement available under the ordinance.
Plain English — not legal advice.
While § 183.04 is primarily a contractor-compliance provision rather than a landlord-tenant rule, property owners or managers who hold city contracts—such as those receiving city funding for housing development—are generally expected to embed the required nondiscrimination and affirmative action language in every contract and subcontract. Compliant operators typically post required notices in visible locations, maintain records accessible to the Department of Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity, and file compliance reports as directed by the department's director. Operators subject to federal Executive Order 11246 requirements may satisfy certain parallel obligations under § 183.04 by demonstrating federal compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Saint Paul Legislative Code ch. 183 § 183.04 establishes nondiscrimination protections in city-contract employment, which can be relevant to tenants in housing developments built or managed under city contracts. Individuals who believe a contractor or subcontractor has violated these affirmative action requirements may contact the Saint Paul Department of Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity, which is charged with administering and enforcing § 183.04. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices familiar with Saint Paul's ordinances can help individuals understand whether this provision applies to their situation and what general enforcement paths exist.
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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