Minn. Stat. § 504B § 504B.311
NO EVICTION ACTION IF TENANT HOLDS OVER FOR THREE YEARS.
Operative Text
No person may bring an eviction action against an occupant of any premises where that occupant's lease, or the lease of that occupant's ancestors or predecessor in interest, was terminated more than three years before the beginning of the action and where the occupant of the premises or that person's ancestors or predecessor in interest were in quiet possession for three consecutive years immediately before the filing of the eviction.
Under Minn. Stat. § 504B.311, an eviction action is barred when two conditions are both met: the occupant's lease (or that of a predecessor) was terminated more than three years before the eviction filing, and the occupant (or a predecessor) has been in quiet, uncontested possession of the premises for the three consecutive years immediately before the filing. In effect, a long period of undisturbed occupancy following a lease termination can extinguish the right to bring an eviction case. This rule applies regardless of how the original lease ended.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers should be aware that under Minn. Stat. § 504B.311, allowing an occupant to remain undisturbed for three or more consecutive years after a lease termination can foreclose the option of pursuing an eviction action. Compliant operators generally monitor holdover situations promptly and take timely steps to address unauthorized occupancy well before the three-year threshold is reached. Maintaining clear records of any notices, communications, or legal actions taken after a lease ends is a practice commonly associated with preserving enforcement options.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Minn. Stat. § 504B.311 provides occupants with a potential defense against eviction if their lease—or that of a predecessor—was terminated more than three years ago and they have been in quiet possession for the three consecutive years immediately before any eviction filing. Tenants who believe they meet these conditions may be able to raise this provision as a defense in an eviction proceeding. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices can help occupants understand whether the circumstances of their tenancy align with the protections described in this section.
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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