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Legal Rights Handbook

Minnesota Renter Rights & Landlord Laws 2025

Everything tenants and landlords need to know about Minnesota housing laws. Eviction rules, deposits, and rights.

Updated January 15, 2026
5 min read

Renter Rights & Landlord Laws Guide: Minnesota (2025 Edition)

Target Audience: Renters & Landlords
Jurisdiction: State of Minnesota
Legal Source: Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 504B (Landlords and Tenants)

1. Overview: The Balance of Power

Minnesota is widely considered a Moderate state, leaning slightly tenant-friendly in judicial interpretation but maintaining clear statutory protections for landlords.

  • Landlord Friendliness Score: Moderate
  • The Vibe: Minnesota law prioritizes housing stability but does not heavily regulate rent prices or eviction causes outside of specific local ordinances (like Minneapolis). The courts generally expect landlords to follow strict procedural rules, but they do not hesitate to grant evictions when those rules are met.

For Renters: You have decent protections regarding habitability and privacy, but you must pay rent on time or face a relatively fast eviction process.
For Landlords: You have strong rights to collect rent and remove non-paying tenants, but you must document every step of the security deposit and eviction process to avoid triple-damage lawsuits.

2. Security Deposits

Handling the security deposit is the most common source of legal disputes in Minnesota.

Limits

  • No State Cap: Minnesota does not set a maximum limit on how much a landlord can charge for a security deposit (unless a local ordinance—like in Duluth—says otherwise).
  • Pet Deposits: Allowed, but generally treated as part of the total security deposit subject to the same return rules.

Return Requirements

  • Deadline: Landlords must return the deposit (or an itemized statement of deductions) within 3 weeks (21 days) after the tenant moves out and surrenders the keys.
  • Receipts: If the deposit is $50 or more, the landlord must place it in a trust account (separate from personal funds) and provide the tenant with the account details.

Deductions

Landlords can deduct for:

  1. Unpaid rent.
  2. Damage beyond "normal wear and tear."
  3. Costs to restore the unit to its original condition (excluding ordinary cleaning).

3. Eviction Rules

Minnesota Statutes Chapter 504B governs evictions. The process is streamlined but strict.

The "14-Day Notice" (Non-Payment)

  • The Rule: If a tenant fails to pay rent, the landlord may serve a 14-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate.
  • What it means: The tenant has 14 days to pay the full rent owed or move out. If neither is done, the landlord can file for eviction (court action) on the 15th day.
  • No "Cure" Period: Unlike some states, there is generally no grace period required by law if rent is late (though late fees must be reasonable).

Other Grounds for Eviction

  • Lease Violations: For non-monetary breaches (e.g., unauthorized pets, lease violations), a landlord usually must provide a notice giving the tenant a reasonable time to cure the violation (typically 30 days for month-to-month tenancies, unless it's a serious nuisance).
  • Holdover: If a tenant stays past the lease end without permission, a landlord can issue a notice to quit (often 30 days for month-to-month, or shorter if specified in the lease).

The Process

  1. Written Notice: The landlord must provide written notice. "Self-help" evictions (changing locks, tossing belongings) are illegal.
  2. Filing Complaint: If the tenant doesn't comply, the landlord files an eviction action (called a "Forcible Entry and Detainer") in district court.
  3. Hearing: A hearing is usually scheduled within 7–14 days of filing.
  4. Writ of Recovery: If the judge rules for the landlord, the tenant has a short window (usually 24 hours to 7 days) to leave before law enforcement enforces the removal.

4. Landlord Entry

Privacy rights are protected, but not aggressively.

  • Notice Required: Yes.
  • Standard Notice: 24 hours is the standard "reasonable notice" required for the landlord to enter a rental unit.
  • Consent: Entry is permitted for:
    • Repairs or improvements.
    • Showing the unit to prospective buyers or tenants.
    • Inspecting the property (specified in the lease).
  • Emergencies: No notice is required in case of an emergency (fire, flood, immediate threat to safety).

Warning for Landlords: Entering without proper notice or valid cause can be considered "harassment" and may allow a tenant to break their lease or sue for damages.

5. Rent Control

Does Minnesota have rent control?

  • State Law: No. Minnesota state law generally preempts rent control, meaning cities cannot cap rent increases on existing tenancies without specific state authorization.
  • Major Cities: As of 2025, Minneapolis and St. Paul do not have active, broad rent control ordinances applied to the general market.
    • Note: St. Paul voters approved a rent control measure (capping increases at 3%), but it faced significant legal challenges and exemptions. Always check local city ordinances, as this is a rapidly changing area of law.
  • Reality: Landlords generally have the freedom to raise rent at the end of a lease term, provided they give proper notice (usually one full rental period for month-to-month tenancies).

6. Special Warning for Landlords

Minnesota is "Procedure-Obsessed."

Because the state leans tenant-friendly in court, you cannot cut corners.

  1. The Security Deposit Trap: If you fail to return the deposit or itemize deductions within the strict 21-day window, you may forfeit your right to keep any of the deposit and could be sued for three times the wrongfully withheld amount plus attorney fees. Always send it via certified mail.
  2. Retaliation is Illegal: Do not raise rent or threaten eviction shortly after a tenant complains to a building inspector or joins a tenant union. Courts in Minnesota view this very harshly.
  3. No Self-Help: Never change the locks or shut off utilities to force a tenant out. You must go through the district court system.

7. Special Warning for Tenants

You Have Rights, But You Must Act Fast.

  1. The 14-Day Clock: If you receive a 14-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate, the clock starts ticking immediately. If you are unable to pay the full amount within those 14 days, you should prepare to move out or seek legal aid. The court process moves quickly after this period expires.
  2. Repair and Deduct: Minnesota law allows tenants to make repairs and deduct the cost from rent only under very specific conditions (usually involving health hazards) and usually requires prior written notice to the landlord. Do not do this without legal advice, or you risk eviction for non-payment.
  3. Document Everything: If your landlord enters without 24-hour notice or refuses to return your deposit, keep a paper trail (photos, texts, certified mail receipts). This is your best evidence in court.

Disclaimer

This guide is for informational purposes only and reflects Minnesota laws as of 2025. Laws are subject to change and may be interpreted differently by local courts. This is not legal advice. Consult an attorney or a local tenant advocacy group for specific legal situations.