Minn. Stat. § 504B § 504B.205
RESIDENTIAL TENANT'S RIGHT TO SEEK POLICE AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.
Operative Text
Subdivision 1.Definitions. In this section, "domestic abuse" has the meaning given in section 518B.01, subdivision 2. Subd. 2.Emergency calls permitted. (a) A landlord may not: (1) bar or limit a residential tenant's right to call for police or emergency assistance in response to domestic abuse or any other conduct, including but not limited to mental health or health crises; or (2) impose a penalty on a residential tenant for calling for police or emergency assistance in response to domestic abuse or any other conduct, including but not limited to mental health or health crises. (b) A residential tenant may not waive and a landlord may not require the residential tenant to waive the residential tenant's right to call for police or emergency assistance. Subd. 3.Local preemption. This section preempts any inconsistent local ordinance or rule including, without limitation, any ordinance or rule that: (1) requires an eviction after a specified number of calls by a residential tenant for police or emergency assistance in response to domestic abuse or any other conduct, including but not limited to mental health or health crises; or (2) provides that calls by a residential tenant for police or emergency assistance in response to domestic abuse or any other conduct, including but not limited to mental health or health crises, may be used to penalize or charge a fee to a landlord. This subdivision shall not otherwise preempt any local ordinance or rule that penalizes a landlord for, or requires a landlord to abate, conduct on the premises that constitutes a nuisance or other disorderly conduct as defined by local ordinance or rule. Subd. 4.Residential tenant responsibility. This section shall not be construed to condone or permit any breach of a lease or of law by a residential tenant including, but not limited to, disturbing the peace and quiet of other tenants, damage to property, and disorderly conduct. Subd. 5.Residential tenant remedies. A residential tenant may bring a civil action for a violation of this section and recover from the landlord $250 or actual damages, whichever is greater, and reasonable attorney's fees. Subd. 6.Attorney general authority. The attorney general has authority under section 8.31 to investigate and prosecute violations of this section.
Under Minn. Stat. § 504B.205, Minnesota law prohibits landlords from blocking, limiting, or penalizing a residential tenant's ability to call for police or emergency help — whether for domestic abuse, mental health crises, or any other situation. Tenants cannot be made to waive this right, and any lease clause attempting to do so is unenforceable. The statute also overrides local ordinances that would require evictions or impose fees on landlords based on a tenant's emergency calls.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Minn. Stat. § 504B.205 means that lease agreements, building rules, and verbal policies cannot restrict or penalize tenants for contacting police or emergency services under any circumstances. Compliant operators review their lease templates to remove any nuisance or 'excessive calls' clauses that could conflict with this statute. Because the law also shields landlords from certain local fee-based penalties tied to tenant emergency calls, operators generally document their awareness of this preemption when dealing with municipal nuisance ordinances.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Minn. Stat. § 504B.205 gives you the right to call for police or emergency assistance — including for domestic abuse or health crises — without fear of lease penalties, eviction threats, or waiver requirements from your landlord. If a landlord violates this provision, the law allows you to bring a civil action to recover $250 or your actual damages, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney's fees. The Minnesota Attorney General also has authority to investigate and prosecute violations, and tenant-rights organizations can help you understand the options available under this statute.
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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