Waconia, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 541 § 541.03
Rental housing licenses
Operative Text
Subd. 1. License required. No owner or manager shall allow the occupancy of a rental dwelling unit by a tenant prior to the issuance of a rental housing license by the city for the rental dwelling in which the rental dwelling unit is located. Further, no owner or manager shall allow the occupancy of a rental dwelling unit by a tenant after the expiration of the rental housing license for the rental dwelling in which the rental dwelling unit is located unless the license has been properly renewed. A. Any person operating, advertising, or offering a short-term rental within the city without first obtaining the required State of Minnesota Lodging License shall be ineligible to receive a city short-term rental license until all state licensing requirements have been satisfied. B. Any applicant seeking a city short-term rental license after having operated a short-term rental without the required State of Minnesota Lodging License shall pay an after-the-fact license application fee equal to two (2) times the standard license fee established by chapter 1100, in addition to any penalties imposed under this chapter. Subd. 2. Application. Applications for rental housing licenses shall be made in writing on forms provided by the city. The owner or manager of a rental dwelling shall apply for a rental housing license at least sixty (60) days before the planned occupancy of any rental dwelling unit by a tenant so as to allow time for inspection and, if necessary, correction of conditions that do not conform to the requirements of this ordinance. Subd. 3. Inspection fee. The rental housing inspection fee shall be established by the city council, from time to time, and set forth in chapter 1100. Each applicant shall pay the inspection fee when an application for a license is made (either initial or renewal). Subd. 4. License fee. The rental housing license fee shall be established by the city council, from time to time, and set forth in chapter 1100. Each applicant shall pay the license fee when a rental housing license is issued (either initial or renewal). Subd. 5. Inspection. Before a rental housing license is issued or renewed for a rental dwelling, the code official shall inspect the rental dwelling to determine if the rental dwelling and the rental dwelling units in the rental dwelling comply with the minimum requirements set forth in this ordinance. The code official has no duty to inspect or re-inspect any rental dwelling until a complete application has been submitted to the city and the rental housing inspection fee has been paid in full. A licensed rental dwelling must be re-inspected at least once every one year during the term of a rental housing license with a short-term rental endorsement. Subd. 6. Issuance. No license shall be issued until all the requirements of this ordinance have been fully met. The city shall issue a rental housing license for each rental dwelling that meets or exceeds the minimum requirements set forth by this ordinance or when a variance has been granted by the city council for good cause shown. Each license shall show the number of rental dwelling units for which the rental dwelling is approved. Subd. 7. Effective period of license. All rental licenses shall remain effective for two (2) years from the date of inspection, unless sooner revoked or suspended pursuant to the terms of this ordinance. Subd. 8. Renewals. Applications for rental housing license renewals shall be submitted at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration date of the license. The procedure and fee for renewing a license shall be the same as that required for an initial license. Subd. 9. Suspension and revocation. A rental housing license may be suspended or revoked as follows: A. A rental housing license may be suspended or revoked by the city council if the city council finds that the provisions of this ordinance have been violated in regard to the rental dwelling for which the license was issued. Before any suspension or revocation occurs, the city shall send written notice to the license holder specifying the ordinance violations alleged. This notice shall also specify the date for a hearing before the city council, which shall not be less than ten (10) days from the date of the notice. C. At such hearing before the city council, the license holder or the license holder's attorneys may submit and present evidence and witnesses on the license holder's behalf. D. After a hearing, the city council may suspend or revoke the license if the council finds that a violation of this ordinance has occurred.
Waconia Code of Ordinances ch. 541 § 541.03 establishes a mandatory licensing framework for rental housing in the city of Waconia. No rental dwelling unit may be occupied by a tenant unless the property holds a valid, current rental housing license issued by the city, and that license must be renewed before it expires to allow continued occupancy. Short-term rentals face an additional layer of requirements, including a state lodging license, and operators who skipped that step before applying for a city license must pay a doubled application fee on top of any other penalties. Licenses are valid for two years from the date of inspection, must be renewed at least 30 days before expiration, and can be suspended or revoked by the city council after a noticed hearing if ordinance violations are found.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Waconia Code of Ordinances ch. 541 § 541.03, compliant rental property owners and managers apply for a rental housing license at least 60 days before any planned tenant occupancy, pay both the inspection fee at application and the license fee at issuance, and ensure the property passes a code official inspection before tenants move in. Operators of short-term rentals also secure the required State of Minnesota Lodging License before seeking a city short-term rental license, since operating without it triggers ineligibility and an after-the-fact fee equal to twice the standard license fee. Diligent operators track the two-year license term, submit renewal applications at least 30 days before expiration, and address any code violations promptly to avoid the suspension or revocation process outlined in Subdivision 9.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Waconia Code of Ordinances ch. 541 § 541.03 gives tenants a baseline assurance that a rental unit should not be offered for occupancy unless the property holds a valid city-issued rental housing license, meaning the dwelling has been inspected and found to meet minimum standards. If a tenant has reason to believe a unit is being rented without a current license—or that a license was obtained improperly, such as without the required state lodging license for a short-term rental—that information may be relevant to a complaint filed with the city. Tenants who have questions about whether a specific property is properly licensed can contact the city of Waconia directly, and tenant-rights organizations can help explain what options may be available under this ordinance.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.