Minn. Stat. § 504B § 504B.115
TENANT TO BE GIVEN COPY OF LEASE.
Operative Text
Subdivision 1.Copy of written lease to tenant. Where there is a written lease, a landlord must give a copy to a tenant occupying a dwelling unit whose signature appears on the lease agreement. The landlord may obtain a signed and dated receipt, either as a separate document or an acknowledgment included in the lease agreement itself, from the tenant acknowledging that the tenant has received a copy of the lease. This signed receipt or acknowledgment is prima facie evidence that the tenant has received a copy of the lease. Subd. 2.Legal action to enforce lease. In any legal action to enforce a written lease, except for nonpayment of rent, disturbing the peace, malicious destruction of property, or a violation of section 504B.171, it is a defense for the tenant to prove that the landlord failed to comply with subdivision 1. This defense may be overcome if the landlord proves that the tenant had actual knowledge of the term or terms of the lease upon which any legal action is based.
Under Minn. Stat. § 504B.115, when a rental agreement is in writing, the landlord is required to provide a copy of that lease to every tenant whose signature appears on it. A signed receipt or written acknowledgment serves as prima facie evidence that the copy was delivered. In certain legal proceedings to enforce the lease, a tenant's failure to receive a copy can be raised as a defense, unless the landlord can show the tenant already had actual knowledge of the disputed lease terms.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Minn. Stat. § 504B.115 places the obligation on landlords to deliver a signed copy of the lease to each tenant who signed it. Compliant operators typically obtain a signed and dated receipt or include an acknowledgment clause within the lease itself to document that delivery occurred. Maintaining clear records of this delivery is a standard practice, since the absence of such documentation can become a defense for tenants in lease-enforcement proceedings (other than those involving nonpayment of rent, disturbing the peace, malicious destruction of property, or a violation of § 504B.171).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Minn. Stat. § 504B.115 gives tenants the right to receive a physical copy of any written lease they have signed. If a landlord fails to provide that copy, tenants may be able to raise that failure as a defense in certain legal actions brought to enforce the lease — though this defense does not apply in cases involving nonpayment of rent, disturbing the peace, malicious destruction of property, or violations of § 504B.171. Tenants who believe this right has been violated may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office 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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