Minn. Stat. § 504B § 504B.111
WRITTEN LEASE REQUIRED; PENALTY.
Operative Text
A landlord of a residential building with 12 or more residential units must have a written lease for each unit rented to a residential tenant. The written lease must identify the specific unit the residential tenant will occupy before the residential tenant signs the lease. Notwithstanding any other state law or city ordinance to the contrary, a landlord may ask for the tenant's full name and date of birth on the lease and application. A landlord who fails to provide a lease, as required under this section, is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
Under Minn. Stat. § 504B.111, landlords who own or manage residential buildings with 12 or more units are required to provide each tenant with a written lease that identifies the specific unit the tenant will occupy before the tenant signs. The law also expressly permits landlords to collect a tenant's full name and date of birth on the lease and application, regardless of conflicting local ordinances. A landlord who fails to provide the required written lease commits a petty misdemeanor under Minnesota law.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of residential buildings with 12 or more units in Minnesota must ensure that a written lease is prepared for every rented unit under Minn. Stat. § 504B.111, and that the lease identifies the specific unit before the tenant signs. Compliant operators also routinely include fields for the tenant's full name and date of birth on both the lease and the rental application, as the statute expressly authorizes this practice. Failure to provide the required written lease exposes a landlord to a petty misdemeanor charge, so maintaining consistent leasing documentation practices across all units is a standard part of property management compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Minn. Stat. § 504B.111, tenants renting in buildings with 12 or more residential units have the right to receive a written lease that names their specific unit before they sign. If a landlord in a qualifying building fails to provide such a written lease, that failure constitutes a petty misdemeanor, which tenants may be able to raise as a relevant fact in a housing dispute or complaint. Tenants who believe this provision has not been followed may wish to contact a local tenant-rights organization or consult with a housing attorney to understand the options available to them.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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