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Rental Property
All apartments and rental properties must be registered, inspected, and licensed prior to anyone occupying the residence. This is a 2-year cycle in the City of Owatonna.
Rental Property License Application
- Link directs applicant to the City of Owatonna's Citizen Services portal, powered by OpenGov.
- This form should be used for both new rental property licenses and renewal of an expiring rental property license.
| Number of Units | License Fee | Inspection Fee | Total Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $57.75 | $20.00 | $77.75 |
| 2 to 4 | $74.25 | $20.00 | $94.25 |
| 5 to 10 | $99.00 | $20.00 | $119.00 |
| 11 to 35 | $175.50 | $20.00 | $195.50 |
| 36 or more | $390.00 | $20.00 | $410.00 |
The Rental Property Inspection Checklist (PDF) contains the items that the inspectors are looking at while conducting the inspection.
Common Violations
Prior to your rental inspection, make sure these items are taken care of:
Smoke alarms
- Installed in every sleeping room, outside sleeping areas, and on every level
- Operational and less than 10 years old
CO alarms
- Installed within 10 feet of each sleeping room
- Operational and less than 7 years old
Extension cords
- Must not be used in place of permanent wiring.
Fire extinguisher
- Must be present and inspected annually
The Minimum Housing Code addresses the heating requirements for rental property:
Heating facilities shall be turned on and maintained at a minimum temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit between October 1 and May 1.
Tenants who are having problems with the heat in their rental unit should take these steps:
- Contact the property owner, landlord, or maintenance company.
- They must be made aware of the problem and be allowed reasonable time to correct the problem.
- If the problem is NOT corrected within a reasonable time, contact the Owatonna Fire Department at 507-444-2454.
- A fire department inspector will inspect the property and, if necessary, write compliance orders to correct the problem.
Additional Information
- Rental Property Ordinance
- Requires all apartments or rental properties to be registered, inspected, and licensed prior to anyone occupying the residence.
- Minimum Housing Code
- Establishes minimum standards for maintaining dwellings, accessory structures and premises. This code is intended to provide standards for housing, owner occupied and rental.
- Disorderly Use Ordinance
- Provides a formal procedure to notify a rental property owner or manager of disorderly conduct that occurs on the rental property.
There is a penalty for the failure to register and license rental properties. Each day that a property is rented out without a valid rental license for that property is a separate violation. A violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor.