Stewartville, Minn., City Code ch. 10 §§ 1010, 1020, 1030 (2026) § 1020.03
Exceptions. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require any person or
Operative Text
1020.03 Exceptions. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require any person or
group of persons selling, renting or leasing property to modify the property in any way, or
exercise a higher degree of care for a person having a disability than for a person who does
not have a disability; nor shall this Section be construed to relieve any person or persons
regardless of any disability in a written lease, rental agreement, or contract or purchase or
sale, or to forbid distinctions based on the inability to fulfill the terms and conditions,
including financial obligations of the lease, agreement or contract.
Subd. 1 Exemptions. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to:
a. The rental of a portion of a dwelling containing accommodation for two (2)
families, one of which is occupied by the owner; or
b. The rental by an owner or occupier of a one-family accommodation in which he
or she resides in a room or rooms in the accommodation to another person or
persons if the discrimination is by sex, marital status, status with regard to public
assistance or disability. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require any
person or group of persons selling, renting or leasing property to modify the
property in any way, or exercise a higher degree of care for a person having a
disability than for a person who does not have a disability; nor shall this Section be
construed to relieve any person or persons of any obligations generally imposed on
all persons regardless of any disability in a written lease, rental agreement, or
contract of purchase or sale, or to forbid distinctions based on the inability to fulfill
the terms and conditions, including financial obligations, of such lease, agreement
or contract.Section 1020.03 of Stewartville, MN City Code carves out specific situations where the city's fair housing rules do not apply. Owner-occupied two-family dwellings and single-family homes where the owner lives on-site and rents a room are exempt from certain anti-discrimination requirements, particularly those involving sex, marital status, public assistance status, and disability. The provision also clarifies that nothing in the fair housing section forces property owners to physically modify their property for people with disabilities or to hold disabled persons to a different standard under a lease or contract than anyone else.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 1020.03, property owners who live in one unit of a two-family property, or who rent a room within their own single-family residence, may qualify for a limited exemption from some of Stewartville's fair housing requirements. Compliant operators in these exempt categories still generally document their rental arrangements clearly in written leases and apply lease terms—including financial obligations—consistently to all occupants. Owners outside these narrow exemptions remain subject to the full fair housing provisions of §§ 1020.xx and should ensure their practices reflect those broader requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 1020.03 defines the boundaries of Stewartville's fair housing protections by identifying situations where they may not fully apply, such as when renting from an owner who lives in the same small property. Tenants who believe they have experienced unlawful discrimination should consider whether their housing situation falls within or outside these exemptions before determining how to proceed. General enforcement paths include contacting a local tenant-rights organization, reaching out to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, or consulting with a housing attorney familiar with §§ 1020.xx of the Stewartville City Code.
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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