Minn. Stat. § 504B § 504B.401
SUMMONS.
Operative Text
Subdivision 1.Contents. (a) On receipt of the complaint in section 504B.395, the court administrator shall prepare a summons. The summons shall: (1) specify the time and place of the hearing to be held on the complaint; and (2) state that if at the time of the hearing a defense is not interposed and established by the landlord, judgment may be entered for the relief requested and authorized by sections 504B.381 and 504B.395 to 504B.471. (b) The hearing must be scheduled not less than seven nor more than 14 days after receipt of the complaint by the court administrator. Subd. 2.Service. The summons and complaint must be served upon the landlord or the landlord's agent not less than seven nor more than 14 days before the hearing. Service shall be by personal service upon the defendant pursuant to the Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure. If personal service cannot be made with due diligence, service may be made by affixing a copy of the summons and complaint prominently to the residential building involved, and mailing at the same time a copy of the summons and complaint by certified mail to the last known address of the landlord.
Under Minn. Stat. § 504B.401, once a tenant's housing-condition complaint is filed with the court, the court administrator must issue a summons that identifies the hearing date and location and warns the landlord that failing to appear and raise a defense may result in a judgment against them. The hearing must be set no sooner than seven days and no later than 14 days after the complaint is received. The summons and complaint must then be served on the landlord or their agent within that same seven-to-14-day window before the hearing, using personal service or, if that fails after due diligence, by posting and certified mail.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to a housing-condition complaint should be aware that Minn. Stat. § 504B.401 requires the court to schedule a hearing quickly — within a narrow two-week window — and that service may be accomplished by posting and certified mail if personal service cannot be completed. Compliant operators generally maintain a current, reachable address on file with the court and ensure that any designated agent is available to accept legal process. Failing to appear and raise a defense at the scheduled hearing can result in a judgment for the relief the tenant requested.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Minn. Stat. § 504B.401 establishes that after a housing-condition complaint is filed, the court moves on a tight timeline: a hearing is set within 14 days and the landlord must be served before that hearing. Tenants can take note that the law provides for alternative service methods — posting and certified mail — if the landlord evades personal service, so the process is not easily stalled. Tenants who want to understand their rights under this provision may find it helpful to consult a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office familiar with Minnesota housing court procedures.
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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