Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule Means You Have to Heat Your Duplex

Winter in Minnesota got a late start this year. As a result, many Minnesota housing providers may have forgotten the rules about cold weather and tenants have changed.

As of January 1, 2024, Minnesota state law requires housing providers to supply or furnish heat at a minimum temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit from Oct. 1 through April 30 for units where the tenants don’t control the heat.

In the city of Minneapolis, that rule extends further; to units where the tenants do control the heat should the furnace, boiler or other heat source fail. When a tenant reports they have little or no heat, the landlord must take immediate action to get the situation resolved.

In Minneapolis, if a situation arises where heat can’t be restored right away, the landlord must provide two UL approved temporary heating sources until the primary issue is resolved.

Under no circumstances should a tenant use a stove to stay warm.

In all cases, tenants have the right to call the HOME tenant helpline, or in St Paul, the fire marshal to report the issue. If the issue isn’t resolved in a timely manner, landlords may be subject to administrative fines, government rent escrow, and even experience adverse actions against their rental license.