Sauk Rapids, Minn., City Code ch. 9 § 9.03 (2026) § 9.03

9.03 HOUSING CODE
Subd. 1. Purpose. The City recognizes a need for an organized inspection program and proper distribution of residential rental units within the City in order to establish and enforce minimum standards for rental units to meet City and State safety, health, fire, and zoning codes within the City and to provide a more efficient system to ensure that rental property is properly maintained. The City recognizes that the most efficient system to provide for rental inspections is the creation of a program requiring the registration and license of all residential rental units within the City so that orderly inspections can be undertaken. To further the safety, health, fire, and zoning standards adopted by the City , inspections will consist of performance standards and density standards, as outlined in this section.
Subd. 2. Definitions.
a. The term “residential rental property” means any building, structure, room, enclosure, or mobile home including the real property upon which it is located and which surrounds it, which is rented or offered for rent as living quarters. Residential rental property does not mean hospital units, nursing home units, or hotels or motels with daily rental units, all of which shall be specifically exempt from registration and license under this Section.
b. The term “person” includes natural persons as well as business entities, whether one or more.
c. The term “inspector” means any person designated by the City to perform inspections and determine compliance with the applicable rules, standards, statutes and ordinances.
Subd. 3 Standards. The 2006 International Property Maintenance Code as amended by the City of Sauk Rapids and as from time to time amended or modified, is hereby adopted by reference and is made a part of this Section, so far as it applies to rental property, as if fully set out at length.
Subd. 4. Registration and License Requirements. It is unlawful for any person to hereafter occupy, allow to be occupied, advertise for occupancy, solicit occupants of, or let to another person for occupancy any residential rental property within the City for which an application for license has not been properly made and filed with the City of Sauk Rapids and for which there is not an effective license issued by the City . Initial application and renewal shall be made upon forms furnished by the city for such purpose and shall specifically require the following minimum information:
a. Name, address and phone number of the property owner and, if owner is not a natural person, the name, address and phone number of a designated agent for the owner.
b. The name, phone number, and address of any person authorized to make or order made repairs or services for the property, if in violation of City or State Codes, if the person is different than the owner.
c. The street address of the rental property.
d. The number and types of units within the rental property (dwelling units or sleeping rooms).
e. Evidence that all unpaid or delinquent real estate taxes, assessments and municipal service charges on the subject real estate are paid and are current for the applicable period.
A rental property owner and/or the designated agent must notify the City in writing within 15 calendar days after any change in the above information.
Subd. 5. Fees & Penalties. There shall be a license fee for the initial license, a renewal fee every two years thereafter. The fee shall be based upon the number of units in the case of multiple unit dwellings. There shall also be a provisional license fee. All fees shall be established by resolution of the Council. Penalties for failure to comply with any portion of these rules, standards, statutes, and ordinances will be established by resolution of the Council.
Subd. 6. Manner of Registration, Licensing and Renewal.
a. Initial application for license of property which is not licensed as residential
rental property on the effective date of this Section, or for licensed residential rental property when there is a change in type of occupancy, shall be made by personally filing an application for license with the City of Sauk Rapids before the property is used as residential rental property or before use as a new type of occupancy.
b. If there is a change in the type of occupancy from the type stated on the registration statement, a new registration statement and license will be required.
c. All licenses for residential rental properties shall be valid for two (2) years. At least sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of a residential rental license, a renewal application must be made in the same manner as the initial application.
Subd. 7. Method and Manner of Certification. Upon receipt of an initial application, the City shall forward a copy to the Building Official, who shall then, within twenty (20) working days, perform an inspection of the property to determine whether such property complies with the provisions of applicable rules, standards, statutes and ordinances. The inspector shall make a report thereon. No license shall be issued if the premises and building do not fully comply with all the provisions of the applicable rules, standards, statutes and ordinances which pertain to such dwelling units.
Subd. 8. Method of Correction. Whenever an inspector determines that any residential rental property fails to meet the requirements set forth in the applicable rules, standards, statutes or ordinances; the inspector shall issue a correction notice setting forth the violations and ordering the occupant, owner and/or owner’s designated agent to correct such violations. This notice and order shall:
a. Be in written form;
b. Describe the location and nature of the violation;
c. Establish a reasonable time for the correction of any violation;
d. Be served upon the owner, the owner’s designated agent and/or the occupant as the case may require. Such notice shall be deemed to be properly served if a copy thereof is:
(1) Served upon the owner, designated agent and/or occupant personally; or
(2) Sent by certified mail, return receipt requested.
Failure to correct violations within the time period stated in the correction order shall result in an administrative penalty to be set by Council resolution, as well as other sanctions provided by law or this ordinance. If the correction order relates to actions or omissions of the occupant, and the occupant fails to make the necessary correction, the licensee may be required to remedy the condition by whatever means necessary. No adverse action shall be taken against a licensee for failure to remedy a condition during the pendency of a bona fide eviction proceeding being pursued diligently by the licensee.
Subd. 9. Transfer of Property. To transfer the license from one property owner to another, the licensee shall give written notice, including the name and address of the transferee, to the City of Sauk Rapids of the proposed transfer, within thirty-days (30) after such transfer. The transferee must make application with the City for a transfer of the license within thirty-days (30) after the transfer of property. Failure to make application within the specified time limit shall result in automatic forfeiture of the license. Relicensing of any property for which the license has been forfeited shall require application for a new license. Issuance of any license when there is a transfer of property shall require the property to be in compliance with all requirements of the applicable rules, codes, statutes and ordinances.
Subd. 10. License Suspensions and Revocation.
a. Any license may be revoked or suspended at any time during the life of said license for grounds including, but not limited to the following:
(1) False or misleading information given or provided in connection with the license application or renewal;
(2) Failure to pay any fee herein provided for;
(3) Failure to correct violations in the time period prescribed;
(4) Violations committed or permitted by the licensed owner and/or the owner’s designated agent, of any rules, codes, statutes and ordinances relating to, pertaining to, or governing the license and the premises;
(5) Violations as specified in the Crime Free Multi-Housing provisions of this ordinance.
b. A suspended or revoked license shall be reinstated when the circumstances leading to the suspension have been remedied and a reinstatement fee as set by Council resolution has been paid.
c. If the circumstances leading to the suspension have not been remedied within six months of notification, the rental license shall be revoked.
Subd. 11. Prohibited Acts. Whoever does any of the following shall be guilty of a misdemeanor:
a. No License. Allows occupancy of a residential rental property prior to the issuance of a license by the City and payment of all applicable fees.
b. Over Occupancy. Permits a residential rental property to be occupied by more persons than the residential rental property is certified for.
c. Occupying Vacated Units. Occupies or allows occupancy of a residential rental property that was posted and ordered to be vacated.
d. Occupying Uncertified Bedrooms. Occupies or allows occupancy of a room as a bedroom in a residential rental property that is not certified as a bedroom and does not qualify as a bedroom.
e. Inspections. Failings to allow timely inspection of a licensed or potential residential rental property, governed by this Chapter.
Subd. 12. Limitation of Rental Housing Density in Certain Residential Districts.
a. Limitation in R-1: Single Family Residence District. In the R-1: Single Family Residence zoning district of the City, no more than fifteen percent (15%), rounded to the nearest whole unit, of the lots on any block shall be eligible to obtain certification and a license as a residential rental property. This shall include homes in which roomers or boarders are taken in by a resident family. Licenses will be issued on a first come first served basis. If the density of residential rental properties is reached on a block, once a previously residential rental property is no longer licensed as a residential rental property, another property on the block in question becomes eligible to be a residential rental property. If a residential rental property license has been suspended or revoked, the appeals period or time for correction must lapse before another property becomes eligible for a residential rental property license.
A block is defined as a group of properties bounded entirely by streets, public land, railroad rights of way, zoning district lines, corporate limit lines, or physical features such as rivers, provided that final delineation of a block shall be made by City’s Community Development Director. When a block is longer than 500 lineal feet or has more than 13 lots, there shall also be a 250-foot setback between licensed rentals in addition to the density requirement. When determining the number of eligible properties on a block, the number shall be the lowest number that results in 15% or more of the residential lots, whether vacant or developed, being rented. The following table indicated how may lots are able to be certified as rental based on the number of lots that exist on a block.

Lots
Rentals

Lots
Rentals

Lots
Rentals
1-9
1

37-43
6

70-76
11
10-16
2

44-49
7

77-83
12
17-23
3

50-56
8

84-89
13
24-29
4

57-63
9

90-96
14
30-36
5

64-69
10

97-103
15

In cases in which one portion of the block is in the R-1 Single Family Residence District and another portion of the block is in a different zoning district, only the portion of the block in the R-1 zone is subject to this regulation.
b. Exceptions . This limitation shall not apply to state licensed residential facilities and to residential rental properties which are validly licensed as of the date of adoption of this ordinance.
c. Planned Unit Development (PUD) District. A person may apply for a PUD to operate a residential rental property that would otherwise exceed the density limitation established in the R-1 Single Family Residence District.
Subd. 13. Maintenance of Records. All records, files, and documents pertaining to the Rental License Program shall be maintained for five years after the license expiration, in the office of the City of Sauk Rapids and made available to the public as allowed or required by the applicable laws, rules, codes, statutes or ordinances.
Subd. 14. Appeals.
The City Council shall hear appeals arising from a correction order or a determination by the Community Development Director related to density and shall make a determination to affirm, modify or reverse, in whole or in part, such order.
Subd. 15. Appeal Process. When it is alleged by any person to whom a correction order or density order is directed that such order is based upon erroneous interpretation of the applicable rules, standards, statutes or ordinance or mistake in fact, such person may appeal the correction order to the City Council.
Such appeal must be in writing, must specify the grounds for the appeal, must be accompanied by any filing fee set by Council resolution, and must be filed within twenty (20) business days after service of the correction order. Upon receipt of the written appeal, the City shall set a date for a hearing and give the appellant at least five (5) days prior written notice of the date, time and place of the hearing. By mutual agreement between the appellant and the Building Official, the five (5) day notice may be waived.
The City Council shall hear and consider the matter within sixty-days (60) from the filing of an appeal. The filing of an appeal shall stay all proceedings in furtherance of the action appealed from unless the enforcement officer certifies that such a stay would cause imminent peril to life, health, or property.
The City Council shall issue its recommendation to the Council and the appellant in writing within thirty-days (30) after the hearing. The Council shall thereafter affirm, modify or reverse the correction order upon such terms as the Council deems necessary to accomplish the purposes of this ordinance. A copy of the decision shall be mailed to the appellant.
Subd. 16. Authority. Nothing in this Section shall prevent the City from taking action under any applicable rule, standard, statute or ordinance for violations thereof to seek either injunctive relief or criminal prosecution for such violations as therein provided. Nothing contained in this Section shall prevent the City from seeking injunctive relief against a property owner or designated agent who fails to comply with the terms and conditions of this Section on registration and licensing including an order prohibiting the occupancy of such rental units until violations of this Section have been remedied by the property owner or designated agent.
Subd. 17. Posting. Every licensee of residential rental property shall conspicuously post a receipted copy of the current license (in a frame with transparent cover) in a public corridor, hallway, or lobby of the rental property for which it is issued. For other than single family dwellings, the licensee must post the license certificate in a frame with a transparent cover in such a manner so as to be easily viewed and readable at or near the front entrance of the building for which it was issued.
Subd. 18. Inspection Access. Property owners and their agents shall permit the enforcement officer to inspect all premises governed by this ordinance to determine if the building is operated as a rental property and/or to determine compliance with the provisions of this section, and shall fully cooperate with such inspections. The property owners or their agents shall make reasonable efforts to notify tenants of planned inspections of their rental units to the extent required by state law.
If an owner, occupant, or other person in charge of a dwelling, dwelling unit or a multiple dwelling fails or refuses to permit free access and entry to the structure or premises, or any part thereof, for an inspection authorized by this section, the inspector may obtain an order to inspect and/or a search warrant from a court of competent jurisdiction. Property owners shall cooperate in the execution of all administrative search warrants and court orders, including providing access and entry to rented premises where directed to do so. An authorized representative of the property owner shall be present on the premises during inspections; however, failure of a property owner to comply with this requirement shall not deprive the City of the authority to inspect.
Failure of a property owner to obey any of the requirements of this subdivision shall subject the property owner to suspension or revocation of license, in addition to other remedies and/or penalties provided by law. Any such suspension or revocation shall continue until the inspection sought has been completed, any violations satisfactorily remedied and any outstanding fees or penalties have been paid.
Subd. 19. Applicable Laws. Licensees shall be subject to all applicable rules, standards, statutes and ordinances; and this Section shall not be construed or interpreted to supersede any other such applicable rules, standards, statutes or ordinances.
Subd. 20. Tenant Identification. Licensees are required to provide names of tenants occupying rental property when the City of Sauk Rapids, or a Police Officer submits a written request.
Subd. 21. Tenant Requested Inspection. A tenant may at any time request an inspection of the rental property in which they currently reside. A fee for such inspection shall be imposed on the tenant only if the Council finds, by a preponderance of the evidence that the request made was frivolous or in bad faith.
Subd. 22. Rules, Policies and Procedures. The City Council may adopt from time to time, by resolution, rules, policies and procedures for the implementation of this section. Violation of any such rule, policy or procedure by a property owner shall be considered a violation of this ordinance.
Subd. 23. Criminal Background Checks.
a. Purpose. The Sauk Rapids City Council has determined that there are persons residing in rental property in Sauk Rapids engaging in criminal activity and disorderly conduct that results in a hostile environment for other Sauk Rapids citizens living near or close to the rental property. It is the declared purpose and intent of this section to protect and preserve the City’s neighborhoods and the public health, safety and welfare of its citizens by providing a system at the local level for criminal history/background investigation of prospective tenants.
b. Frequent Police Calls. Notwithstanding any finding of the Housing Inspector for other violations of this Ordinance, any rental property that receives more than three (3) police calls per unit within a twelve (12) month period, or receives twenty-four (24) police calls or complaints within a twelve (12) month period for the building, whichever number is less, may be subject to license suspension, license termination, license non-renewal, civil penalties, and/or the requirement that property management procedures for the rental property be modified. The City Council will consider such penalties and/or actions after providing written notice and an opportunity to be heard to the owner of the rental property.
c. Background Investigations for Prospective Residents. The Sauk Rapids Police Department may conduct criminal history/background investigations on prospective tenants in rental property in the City of Sauk Rapids upon request by the owner or manager of the rental property. No such investigations shall be conducted using the State Criminal Justice Data Communications Network (CJDN), and no information obtained from the CJDN shall be disseminated unless the landlord presents an Informed Consent/Waiver form signed by the prospective tenant. The Informed Consent/Waiver form must meet the requirements of Minnesota Statutes Section 13.05, Subd. 4 (d). Each request must be on a form approved or provided by the Sauk Rapids Police Department. The applicant shall pay a fee as established by Council resolution or ordinance.