Minn. Stat. § 504B § 504B.391
VIOLATIONS OF BUILDING REPAIR ORDERS.
Operative Text
Subdivision 1.Noncompliance; fines. If the court finds that a landlord has willfully failed to comply with a court order to remedy a violation, the court shall fine the landlord according to the following schedule: (1) $250 for the first failure to comply; (2) $500 for the second failure to comply with an order regarding the same violation; and (3) $750 for the third and each subsequent failure to comply with an order regarding the same violation. Subd. 2.Criminal penalty. A landlord who willfully fails to comply with a court order to remedy a violation is guilty of a gross misdemeanor if it is the third or subsequent time that the landlord has willfully failed to comply with an order to remedy a violation within a three-year period.
Under Minn. Stat. § 504B.391, when a court determines that a landlord has willfully ignored a court order to fix a code or habitability violation, the court imposes escalating civil fines — starting at $250 for a first failure, rising to $500 for a second, and $750 for a third or later failure tied to the same violation. Beyond civil fines, a landlord who willfully defies repair orders for a third or subsequent time within any three-year period faces criminal liability at the gross misdemeanor level. The statute creates a structured accountability ladder that grows more serious with each repeated refusal to comply.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to Minnesota court repair orders should understand that Minn. Stat. § 504B.391 ties escalating financial penalties directly to willful noncompliance — not mere delay. Compliant operators generally document all remediation steps, meet court-ordered deadlines, and return to court promptly if circumstances prevent timely completion. Repeated failures regarding the same violation not only increase civil fines but can cross into gross misdemeanor criminal territory after a third offense within three years.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Minn. Stat. § 504B.391 gives courts the authority to impose fines and even criminal penalties on landlords who willfully ignore court orders to make repairs, which can be a meaningful enforcement tool in habitability disputes. Tenants who have already obtained a court repair order and believe a landlord is not complying may be able to bring that noncompliance to the court's attention, potentially triggering the fine schedule described in this provision. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices familiar with Minnesota housing court procedures can help tenants understand what options exist for documenting and reporting continued noncompliance.
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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