Saint Paul, Minn., Legis. Code ch. 183 § 183.27
Legal counsel for department and commission
Operative Text
(1) The city attorney shall provide legal counsel for the department and the commission. (2) The city attorney shall provide legal counsel to the department, at no cost to the complainant, in a case in which the director has reason to believe that injunctive relief is appropriate or where a charge of discrimination has concluded in a cause determination and a civil enforcement proceeding before the commission or district court is initiated. (3) At the time the director initiated civil enforcement procedures in a case involving a violation of section 183.06 , and where such case has been dually filed with the department of housing and urban development as a violation of Title VIII of the Fair Housing Act prohibiting discrimination in housing pursuant to the contractual agreement between the director and the department of housing and urban development, the director shall notify the complainant, respondent, and/or aggrieved person of the procedures and of the option to proceed with the charge before the city human rights and equal economic opportunity commission or the Minnesota District Court. In a case involving an alleged violation of section 183.06 , the city attorney shall bring a cause case before the commission panel or district court, if efforts to engage in a conciliation agreement are unsuccessful.
Saint Paul Legislative Code ch. 183 § 183.27 establishes that the City Attorney serves as legal counsel for both the Department of Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity and the commission that oversees it. When a discrimination complaint results in a 'cause' finding and moves to civil enforcement—whether before the commission or in district court—the City Attorney represents the department at no cost to the person who filed the complaint. In housing discrimination cases under § 183.06 that are also filed with the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development under the Fair Housing Act, all relevant parties must be notified of their procedural options, and the City Attorney is required to pursue the case if conciliation efforts fail.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Saint Paul Legislative Code ch. 183 § 183.27, property owners and managers should be aware that once a housing discrimination complaint under § 183.06 reaches a cause determination, the City Attorney is empowered to bring civil enforcement proceedings before the commission or in district court. Operators who are named as respondents in such proceedings will receive formal notification of the available procedural forums, including the city's Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity Commission and Minnesota District Court. Compliant operators generally maintain thorough records of their rental practices and fair housing policies, as these can be relevant if a case proceeds to civil enforcement.
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 § 183.27 provides that if your housing discrimination complaint under § 183.06 results in a cause determination, the City Attorney will represent the department's enforcement interests at no cost to you as the complainant. If your case has also been filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as a Fair Housing Act matter, you are entitled to be notified of your options to proceed before the city's Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity Commission or in Minnesota District Court. Tenants navigating this process may find it helpful to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to better understand the implications of each available forum.
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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