Rental Housing Licensing Program
The City of Albert Lea has adopted the Albert Lea Minimum Housing Code to promote safe housing in rental property:
The program goal is to be proactive in reducing life safety hazards in rental property.
The ordinances benefit both landlords and tenants by providing an effective program to eliminate problems with rental property. The ordinances provide a tool for the City of Albert Lea to effectively resolve issues with rental property.
If You Are a Landlord
All rental property as defined in the ordinance needs to be licensed effective February 1, 2009. Applications for a license will be available at the Inspection Department, located at 221 East Clark Street (lower level) in the Albert Lea City Hall building (or download pdf file below).
How the Program Works
Rental property owners need to complete a Rental License Application and pay a license fee at the Inspection Department. At that time you will schedule an appointment for your inspection. Albert Lea Fire Rescue personnel conduct the inspections and all follow-up inspections. If you are unable to make your inspection appointment, you must call the Inspection Department to cancel and reschedule.
(Cancellations received 24 hours before the inspection will not be required to pay a reinspection fee when a new date is scheduled.)
To schedule an inspection or to cancel an appointment please call the Cierra Maras at the Inspection Department at 507-377-4340.
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
- Notify your tenants prior to the inspection to get permission to enter all units on the scheduled inspection day. Be sure to follow all applicable state regulations.
- You may pick up a copy of the inspection check-off form prior to the inspection to assist you in identifying and fixing problems prior to the inspection.
- If the inspector finds violations with your property, you will be provided with a copy of the inspection noting the problems, the code that applies to the problem, and a reasonable amount of time to make any needed improvements. After correcting the problems, schedule a time for the property to be re-inspected. The license will be issued when all problems are corrected.
- If you have any questions or concerns about the inspection or correcting a problem, please feel free to contact the inspector for assistance.
- Upon the successful completion of the inspection, you will be awarded a license.
Expired Licenses
Any license that is allowed to lapse for more than 30 days will be cancelled. Owners of these properties will lose all grandfathering rights. To have your license reinstated, you would need to apply for a license and bring your building up to current codes.
Public Nuisance Ordinance
This ordinance provides a formal procedure to notify a rental property owner or manager of disorderly conduct that occurs on the property.
The ordinance requires a rental property owner or manager to respond to and resolve the occurrences of disorderly conduct occurring on the property. The City may take administrative action against the rental registration certificate if necessary.
How the Public Nuisance Ordinance Works
If the licensed premises is involved in a violation of the public nuisance ordinance, the City shall notify the license holder to take appropriate action to prevent further violations. If a second nuisance violation occurs on the premises within 12 months, the license holder will be required to participate in a problem solving conference to prevent further nuisance violations on the property. If a third nuisance violation occurs within 12 months the license or right to obtain a license may be revoked or suspended for a specific unit or units located on the premises.
No suspension or revocation or other sanctions shall be imposed where one or more of the three required nuisance violations notices were mailed or delivered to the landlord after the rental property owner has filed an unlawful detainer action with the District Court for the particular unit or units identified in the public nuisance notice.
Chapter 26 Minimum Housing Code
10-13 Ordinance 115 3d Rental Housing Revised 2nd Reading
10-13 Ordinance 117, 3d Public Nuisances
Rental Housing License Application
Utility Billing for Rental Property Owners
Smoke Detector Guidelines for Households