Minnesota · Renters' rights · Updated Oct 2026
Minnesota tenant rights
Security deposits, repairs, landlord entry, notices and evictions in Minnesota, in plain English from official sources, with free tools to get your deposit back and ask for repairs.
Guides for Minnesota renters
Security deposit
Limit, deadline, deductions, penalty and the calculator.
Repairs
The landlord's duty, repair and deduct, withholding rent and a repair letter.
Eviction
Notice periods, court deadlines, illegal lockouts and a timeline tool.
Security deposit in Minnesota
- Limit
- no statewide limit
- Deadline to return it
- Within 3 weeks after your tenancy ends (or within 5 days if you had to leave because the building was condemned, not through your fault), and after you give a mailing address or delivery instructions, the landlord must return the deposit with interest or give you a written statement of why it kept any part. Mailing first class by the deadline counts.
- Itemized list
- Yes: a written statement showing the specific reason for keeping any part. The landlord has the burden of proving the reason in court.
- What may be deducted
- Only amounts reasonably needed to cover unpaid rent or other money you owe under the lease, and to restore the unit to its move-in condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted. You may not use the deposit as your last month's rent (except in a month-to-month tenancy where no notice to quit has been served).
- Interest
- Yes: 1% simple interest a year, from the first day of the month after you paid the full deposit (amounts under $1 excluded).
- Move-in checklist
- Yes, on request. At the start of the tenancy or within 14 days after you move in, the landlord must tell you that you may ask for a move-in inspection. Before the tenancy ends, the landlord must tell you in writing that you may ask for a move-out inspection (no earlier than 5 days before you leave) and be present. You may instead agree in writing on photos or videos of the unit's condition (Minn. Stat. §504B.182). A landlord who fails to give these notices or do a requested inspection owes the deposit penalty (§504B.178, subd. 4).
- If the landlord keeps it wrongly
- If the landlord misses the 3-week (or 5-day) deadline, or fails to offer/complete the required inspections, it owes the wrongly withheld amount plus interest and a penalty equal to that amount (in effect, double). Bad-faith retention adds punitive damages of up to $500 per deposit; retention is presumed in bad faith if the landlord missed the deadline and does not return the deposit within 2 weeks after you sue.
How to get your deposit back
- Before you move out, clean, take dated photos and video of every room, and return all keys.
- Give your landlord your new address in writing. In Minnesota: Within 3 weeks after your tenancy ends (or within 5 days if you had to leave because the building was condemned, not through your fault), and after you give a mailing address or delivery instructions, the landlord must return the deposit with interest or give you a written statement of why it kept any part.
- Wait for the deadline: Within 3 weeks after your tenancy ends (or within 5 days if you had to leave because the building was condemned, not through your fault), and after you give a mailing address or delivery instructions, the landlord must return the deposit with interest or give you a written statement of why it kept any part.
- If the money or an itemized list doesn't come, or the deductions are wrong, send a demand letter (below). Keep proof of mailing.
- If that doesn't work, sue in small claims court. Limit: $20,000 in Conciliation Court since July 1, 2024. Small claims court in Minnesota on Small Claims Map
Repairs in Minnesota
- The landlord's duty
- The landlord must keep the home and common areas fit for their intended use and in reasonable repair (including pest extermination), follow health, safety and rental licensing laws, and provide heat of at least 68°F from October 1 to April 30. These duties cannot be waived (Minn. Stat. §504B.161).
- How to ask for repairs
- Give written notice describing the problem, delivered personally or to where you pay rent. The landlord has 14 days before you can file rent escrow (or the inspector's deadline for code violations).
- Repair and deduct
- No general repair-and-deduct statute. A court in a rent escrow or tenant remedies action can authorize repairs and payment from escrowed rent; for some emergencies (like no heat or water) a court can order quick relief (§504B.381).
- Withholding rent
- Use rent escrow, not self-help. Give the landlord written notice of the problem; if not fixed within 14 days, deposit your rent with the court administrator with a simple affidavit (court form). For code violations, you can deposit after the inspector's repair deadline passes. While the case is pending, keep paying rent into court (Minn. Stat. §504B.385).
- Law
- Minn. Stat. §§504B.161, 504B.381, 504B.385
Landlord entry in Minnesota
At least 24 hours' notice (good-faith effort), for a reasonable business purpose, with a stated time or window, and only between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. unless you agree otherwise. You cannot be required to waive this. Entry without notice is allowed if the landlord reasonably suspects immediate entry is needed to prevent injury to people or property, among other listed emergencies (Minn. Stat. §504B.211).
Eviction in Minnesota
- Notice for unpaid rent
- Before filing for unpaid rent, the landlord must give a written 14-day notice listing the total owed, a breakdown of rent and fees, who to pay, and legal aid and rental assistance information. If you pay or move out within 14 days (or a longer local notice period), the landlord cannot file. In court, you can usually keep your home by paying all rent owed plus costs any time before you are removed (redemption) (Minn. Stat. §§504B.321, 504B.291).
- Notice for a lease violation
- No statewide notice required for a material lease violation unless the lease requires one; check your lease. Expedited hearings (5-7 days) apply to serious safety threats or intentional serious damage.
- Ending a month-to-month tenancy
- Written notice at least as long as the rent period (one month for month-to-month), or 3 months if less; from either side (Minn. Stat. §504B.135). Leases may require more.
- Time to respond to an eviction lawsuit
- The court hearing is set 7 to 14 days after the summons is issued; go to the hearing (Minn. Stat. §504B.321).
- Lockouts and utility shutoffs
- Yes. Lockouts, removing doors, windows or locks, and shutting off utilities to force you out are illegal. You can ask the court for an immediate order putting you back in (§504B.375) and recover treble damages or $500, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees (§504B.231). Intentional ouster or utility shutoff is a misdemeanor (§504B.225).
- Court self-help
- The court's eviction self-help page
- Law
- Minn. Stat. §§504B.135, 504B.225, 504B.231, 504B.285, 504B.291, 504B.321, 504B.375
Rent increases and rent control in Minnesota
- Notice of a rent increase
- no statute setting a rent-increase notice; for month-to-month, the landlord must give notice at least one rental period ahead to change terms, and during a lease only as the lease allows.
- Rent control
- No statewide rent control. Cities may adopt rent control only by voter approval; St. Paul has a voter-approved rent stabilization ordinance.
Late fees in Minnesota
Allowed only if agreed in writing, stating when the fee applies, and capped at 8% of the overdue rent. For subsidized tenants, the fee is based only on the tenant's share of rent (Minn. Stat. §504B.177).
Retaliation in Minnesota
A landlord may not evict you, raise your obligations or cut services as a penalty for your (or a neighborhood housing organization's) good-faith complaint of a violation. If the action comes within 90 days after the complaint, the landlord must prove it was not retaliation (Minn. Stat. §504B.441; also §504B.285).
Small claims court in Minnesota
Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer.
Limit: $20,000 in Conciliation Court since July 1, 2024.
Where to get free help in Minnesota
Good to know in Minnesota
- The 14-day pre-filing notice for unpaid rent is required; if the landlord files without attaching it, the court must dismiss the case and expunge the file (§504B.321).
- You can usually stop a nonpayment eviction by paying everything owed plus costs before you are removed (§504B.291).
- St. Paul has local rent stabilization; Minneapolis and other cities have their own rental licensing and tenant rules.
Recent law changes
2024 Minn. Laws ch. 118 amended many tenant laws (late fees for subsidized tenants based on tenant share, extra fees ban in §504B.113, tenant screening reports, emergency-call protections, domestic violence lease termination, early lease renewal limits, rent escrow counterclaims). 2023 Minn. Laws ch. 52 art. 19 (effective 2024) added the 24-hour, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. entry rule and the 14-day pre-filing notice. 2025 laws (ch. 11 and 32) amended landlord covenants and rent escrow; 2026 ch. 81 amended expedited eviction hearings.
Free tools for Minnesota renters
Pre-set for Minnesota. They run in your browser and send nothing.
Deposit return calculator for Minnesota
Find your state's deadline for returning a security deposit, whether your landlord is late and what you may be owed. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.
Security deposit demand letter for Minnesota
A short, firm and polite letter asking your landlord to return your deposit by a date. It cites your state's deposit law. Many landlords pay at this step, and the letter is proof that you asked. Fill this in, download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it), sign it, keep a copy and send it in a way you can prove, such as certified mail with a return receipt.
Repair request letter for Minnesota
Ask your landlord in writing to fix the problem by a date. A written, dated request is the first step in almost every state, and it is proof that the landlord knew. Check the problems, add dates, then download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it). Sign it, keep a copy and photos, and send it in a way you can prove.
Eviction notice timeline for Minnesota
Got a notice from your landlord? Enter the kind of notice and the day you got it to see the dates that follow from your state's rule, what your landlord may not do, and where to get free help fast.
This is not legal advice. Eviction deadlines are short and missing one can cost you your home. Read your notice carefully and contact legal aid or your court's self-help center right away.
Questions about renters' rights in Minnesota
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Minnesota?
no statewide limit
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Minnesota?
Within 3 weeks after your tenancy ends (or within 5 days if you had to leave because the building was condemned, not through your fault), and after you give a mailing address or delivery instructions, the landlord must return the deposit with interest or give you a written statement of why it kept any part. Mailing first class by the deadline counts.
What can I do if my landlord won't return my deposit in Minnesota?
If the landlord misses the 3-week (or 5-day) deadline, or fails to offer/complete the required inspections, it owes the wrongly withheld amount plus interest and a penalty equal to that amount (in effect, double). Bad-faith retention adds punitive damages of up to $500 per deposit; retention is presumed in bad faith if the landlord missed the deadline and does not return the deposit within 2 weeks after you sue.
What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit in Minnesota?
Only amounts reasonably needed to cover unpaid rent or other money you owe under the lease, and to restore the unit to its move-in condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted. You may not use the deposit as your last month's rent (except in a month-to-month tenancy where no notice to quit has been served).
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Minnesota?
Yes: 1% simple interest a year, from the first day of the month after you paid the full deposit (amounts under $1 excluded).
How do I ask my landlord for repairs in Minnesota?
Give written notice describing the problem, delivered personally or to where you pay rent. The landlord has 14 days before you can file rent escrow (or the inspector's deadline for code violations).
Can I repair and deduct the cost from rent in Minnesota?
No general repair-and-deduct statute. A court in a rent escrow or tenant remedies action can authorize repairs and payment from escrowed rent; for some emergencies (like no heat or water) a court can order quick relief (§504B.381).
Can I withhold rent for repairs in Minnesota?
Use rent escrow, not self-help. Give the landlord written notice of the problem; if not fixed within 14 days, deposit your rent with the court administrator with a simple affidavit (court form). For code violations, you can deposit after the inspector's repair deadline passes. While the case is pending, keep paying rent into court (Minn. Stat. §504B.385).
How much notice does a landlord need to enter in Minnesota?
At least 24 hours' notice (good-faith effort), for a reasonable business purpose, with a stated time or window, and only between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. unless you agree otherwise. You cannot be required to waive this. Entry without notice is allowed if the landlord reasonably suspects immediate entry is needed to prevent injury to people or property, among other listed emergencies (Minn. Stat. §504B.211).
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Minnesota?
Before filing for unpaid rent, the landlord must give a written 14-day notice listing the total owed, a breakdown of rent and fees, who to pay, and legal aid and rental assistance information. If you pay or move out within 14 days (or a longer local notice period), the landlord cannot file. In court, you can usually keep your home by paying all rent owed plus costs any time before you are removed (redemption) (Minn. Stat. §§504B.321, 504B.291).
How much notice for a lease violation in Minnesota?
No statewide notice required for a material lease violation unless the lease requires one; check your lease. Expedited hearings (5-7 days) apply to serious safety threats or intentional serious damage.
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month lease in Minnesota?
Written notice at least as long as the rent period (one month for month-to-month), or 3 months if less; from either side (Minn. Stat. §504B.135). Leases may require more.
How long do I have to respond to an eviction lawsuit in Minnesota?
The court hearing is set 7 to 14 days after the summons is issued; go to the hearing (Minn. Stat. §504B.321).
Can my landlord lock me out or shut off utilities in Minnesota?
Yes. Lockouts, removing doors, windows or locks, and shutting off utilities to force you out are illegal. You can ask the court for an immediate order putting you back in (§504B.375) and recover treble damages or $500, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees (§504B.231). Intentional ouster or utility shutoff is a misdemeanor (§504B.225).
How much notice is needed for a rent increase in Minnesota?
no statute setting a rent-increase notice; for month-to-month, the landlord must give notice at least one rental period ahead to change terms, and during a lease only as the lease allows.
Is there rent control in Minnesota?
No statewide rent control. Cities may adopt rent control only by voter approval; St. Paul has a voter-approved rent stabilization ordinance.
Is there a limit on late fees in Minnesota?
Allowed only if agreed in writing, stating when the fee applies, and capped at 8% of the overdue rent. For subsidized tenants, the fee is based only on the tenant's share of rent (Minn. Stat. §504B.177).
Can my landlord retaliate if I complain in Minnesota?
A landlord may not evict you, raise your obligations or cut services as a penalty for your (or a neighborhood housing organization's) good-faith complaint of a violation. If the action comes within 90 days after the complaint, the landlord must prove it was not retaliation (Minn. Stat. §504B.441; also §504B.285).
What is the small claims limit in Minnesota?
$20,000 in Conciliation Court since July 1, 2024.
- Minn. Stat. §504B.178
- Minn. Stat. §504B.211 Tenant's right to privacy
- Minn. Stat. §504B.177 Late fees
- Minn. Stat. §504B.321 Complaint and summons; 14-day notice
- Minn. Stat. §504B.385 Rent escrow
- Minn. Stat. §504B.231 Damages for ouster
- Minnesota AG: Landlords and Tenants handbook
- 2024 Minn. Laws ch. 118
Last checked: Oct 2026.