Minn. Stat. § 504B § 504B.225
INTENTIONAL OUSTER AND INTERRUPTION OF UTILITIES; MISDEMEANOR.
Operative Text
A landlord, an agent, or person acting under the landlord's direction or control who unlawfully and intentionally removes or excludes a tenant from lands or tenements or intentionally interrupts or causes the interruption of electrical, heat, gas, or water services to the tenant with intent to unlawfully remove or exclude the tenant from lands or tenements is guilty of a misdemeanor. In any trial under this section, it shall be presumed that the landlord, agent, or other person acting under the landlord's direction or control interrupted or caused the interruption of the service with intent to unlawfully remove or exclude the tenant from lands or tenements, if it is established by evidence that the landlord, an agent, or other person acting under the landlord's direction or control intentionally interrupted or caused the interruption of the service to the tenant. The burden is upon the landlord to rebut the presumption. The remedies provided in this section are in addition to and shall not limit other rights or remedies available to landlords and tenants. Any provision, whether oral or written, of any lease or other agreement, whereby any provision of this section is waived by a tenant, is contrary to public policy and void. The provisions of this section also apply to occupants and owners of residential real property which is the subject of a mortgage foreclosure or contract for deed cancellation and as to which the period for redemption or reinstatement of the contract has expired.
Under Minn. Stat. § 504B.225, it is a misdemeanor for a landlord, agent, or anyone acting at a landlord's direction to intentionally lock out a tenant or cut off electricity, heat, gas, or water service in order to force the tenant out. The law creates a legal presumption that any intentional service interruption was done with that unlawful intent, placing the burden on the landlord to prove otherwise. These protections cannot be waived by any lease clause or agreement, and they extend to occupants of properties undergoing mortgage foreclosure or contract-for-deed cancellation after the redemption period has expired.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Minn. Stat. § 504B.225 makes it a criminal misdemeanor for a property owner, manager, or anyone acting on their behalf to shut off utilities or physically exclude a tenant as a means of removing them from the premises. Compliant operators maintain uninterrupted utility services and use only lawful legal processes—such as formal eviction proceedings—to address tenancy disputes. Because the statute places the burden of rebutting the presumption of unlawful intent squarely on the landlord, operators generally document any utility interruptions that occur for legitimate maintenance reasons and ensure they are not directed at removing a tenant.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Minn. Stat. § 504B.225 gives tenants the right to remain in their home without being locked out or having essential utilities cut off by a landlord or anyone acting on the landlord's behalf. If a service interruption occurs, the law presumes it was done with unlawful intent, which can support both criminal charges against the landlord and separate civil remedies—rights that cannot be signed away in any lease. Tenants who believe this provision has been violated may consider reporting the conduct to local law enforcement, contacting a tenant-rights organization, or exploring civil remedies through the courts.
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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