1998 Minnesota Statutes

     504A.001 Definitions. 

    Subdivision 1.    Applicability.  For the purposes of 
 this chapter, the terms defined in this section have the 
 meanings given them. 

    Subd. 2.    Commercial tenant.  "Commercial tenant" 
 means a person paying rent in a residential building defined in 
 subdivision 10 who is not a residential tenant, as defined in 
 subdivision 11.  

    Subd. 3.    Evict or eviction.  "Evict" or "eviction" 
 means to remove a renter or occupant from or otherwise recover 
 possession of real property by process of law. 

    Subd. 4.    Inspector.  "Inspector" means the person 
 charged by the governing body of the political subdivision in 
 which a residential building is situated, with the 
 responsibility of enforcing provisions of local law, the breach 
 of which could constitute a violation as defined in subdivision 
 13, clause (1).  If there is no such person, "inspector" means 
 the county agent of a board of health as authorized under 
 section 145A.04 or the chair of the board of county 
 commissioners, and in the case of a manufactured home park, the 
 state department of health or its designee. 

    Subd. 5.    Landlord.  "Landlord" means an owner of real 
 property, a contract for deed vendee, receiver, executor, 
 trustee, lessee, agent, or other person directly or indirectly 
 in control of rental property. 

    Subd. 6.    Lease.  "Lease" means a written or oral 
 agreement to rent real property, other than a hotel as defined 
 in section 327.70, for any period of time. 

    Subd. 7.    Neighborhood organization.  "Neighborhood 
 organization" means a nonprofit corporation incorporated under 
 chapter 317A that:  

    (1) designates in its articles of incorporation or bylaws a 
 specific geographic community to which its activities are 
 limited; and 

    (2) is formed for the purposes of promoting community 
 safety, crime prevention, and housing quality in a 
 nondiscriminatory manner. 

    For purposes of this chapter, an action taken by a 
 neighborhood organization with the written permission of a 
 residential tenant means, with respect to a building with 
 multiple dwelling units, an action taken by the neighborhood 
 organization with the written permission of the residential 
 tenants of a majority of the occupied units.  

    Subd. 8.    Person.  "Person" means a natural person, 
 corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or 
 unincorporated association. 

    Subd. 9.    Renter.  "Renter" means a residential or 
 commercial tenant or other person that rents or leases real 
 property. 

    Subd. 10.    Residential building.  "Residential 
 building" means: 

    (1) a building used in whole or in part as a dwelling, 
 including single family homes, multiple family units such as 
 apartments, and structures containing both dwelling units and 
 units used for nondwelling purposes, and includes a manufactured 
 home park; or 

    (2) an unoccupied building which was previously used in 
 whole or in part as a dwelling and which constitutes a nuisance 
 under section 561.01. 

    Subd. 11.    Residential tenant.  "Residential tenant" 
 means a person who is occupying a dwelling in a residential 
 building under a lease or contract, whether oral or written, 
 that requires the payment of money or exchange of services, all 
 other regular occupants of that dwelling unit, or a resident of 
 a manufactured home park.  

    Subd. 12.    Tenancy at will.  "Tenancy at will" means a 
 tenancy established without a written lease.  

    Subd. 13.    Violation.  "Violation" means: 

    (1) a violation of a state, county or city health, safety, 
 housing, building, fire prevention, or housing maintenance code 
 applicable to the building; 

    (2) a violation of section 504A.125, subdivision 1, 
 paragraph (a), clause (1) or (2); 

    (3) a violation of section 504A.701, subdivision 1; or 

    (4) a violation of lease for the rental of a dwelling in a 
 building.  

    HIST: 1998 c 253 s 1