Renting in Minnesota
Your rights as a tenant in Minnesota
Minnesota law sets no maximum for the security deposit. What state law says about your deposit, the notices you must get, repairs and eviction. Every rule comes with its citation and the text of the law.
Key numbers in Minnesota
- Maximum deposit
- No maximum in the law
- Minn. Stat. §504B.178, subd. 1
- To return your deposit
- 21 days
- Minn. Stat. §504B.178, subd. 3(a)
- Notice for late rent
- 14 days
- Minn. Stat. §504B.321, subd. 1a(a)
What the law says
The rules, one by one
The basic rules for renting in Minnesota, answered with state law and its citation.
Tap “What the law says” to read the exact text and see where it comes from.
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How much can they charge for a deposit?
Minnesota law sets no maximum for the security deposit.
Minnesota law sets no maximum for the security deposit. Section 504B.178 governs the interest the deposit earns, how it may be withheld and how it is returned, but caps no amount.
What the law says · Minn. Stat. §504B.178, subd. 1
“Any deposit of money, the function of which is to secure the performance of a residential rental agreement or any part of such an agreement, other than a deposit which is exclusively an advance payment of rent, shall be governed by the provisions of this section.”
Source: Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes (Minnesota Statutes) · Verified on November 5, 2026
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When must they return my deposit?
21 days
Within three weeks after the tenancy ends (and after you give your address), the landlord must return the deposit with interest or give you a written statement of the specific reason for withholding any of it. Only rent owed and the cost of restoring the unit, ordinary wear excepted, may be withheld.
What the law says · Minn. Stat. §504B.178, subd. 3(a)
“Every landlord shall: (1) within three weeks after termination of the tenancy; or (2) within five days of the date when the tenant leaves the building or dwelling due to the legal condemnation of the building or dwelling in which the tenant lives for reasons not due to willful, malicious, or irresponsible conduct of the tenant, and after receipt of the tenant's mailing address or delivery instructions, return the deposit to the tenant, with interest thereon as provided in subdivision 2, or furnish to the tenant a written statement showing the specific reason for the withholding of the deposit or any portion thereof.”
Source: Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes (Minnesota Statutes) · Verified on October 23, 2026
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If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?
14 days
Before suing for unpaid rent, the landlord must give you a written notice with the total due, an itemized accounting, who to pay, the legal-help and financial-help contacts, and the statement that a case may be filed if you do not pay or move out within 14 days of the notice date. Some cities require more days.
What the law says · Minn. Stat. §504B.321, subd. 1a(a)
“Before bringing an eviction action alleging nonpayment of rent or other unpaid financial obligation in violation of the lease, a landlord must provide written notice to the residential tenant specifying the basis for future eviction action. … (6) the following statement: "Your landlord can file an eviction case if you do not pay the total amount due or move out within 14 days from the date of this notice. Some local governments may have an eviction notice period longer than 14 days."”
Source: Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes (Minnesota Statutes) · Verified on October 23, 2026
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How much notice ends a month-to-month rental?
A tenancy at will (no fixed term) ends by written notice from either party. The notice must be at least as long as the interval between rent payments (one month if you pay monthly) or three months, whichever is less.
What the law says · Minn. Stat. §504B.135
“A tenancy at will may be terminated by either party by giving notice in writing. The time of the notice must be at least as long as the interval between the time rent is due or three months, whichever is less.”
Source: Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes (Minnesota Statutes) · Verified on October 23, 2026
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Are there limits on late fees?
A landlord may charge a late fee only if you and the landlord agreed to it in writing, and the agreement must say when it is imposed. The fee can never exceed 8 percent of the overdue rent payment.
What the law says · Minn. Stat. §504B.177(a)
“A landlord of a residential building may not charge a late fee if the rent is paid after the due date, unless the tenant and landlord have agreed in writing that a late fee may be imposed. The agreement must specify when the late fee will be imposed. In no case may the late fee exceed eight percent of the overdue rent payment.”
Source: Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes (Minnesota Statutes) · Verified on October 23, 2026
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How much notice before a rent increase?
If your lease requires you to give a certain amount of notice before moving out, the landlord cannot give you a rent increase notice shorter than that. The rule applies when the lease gives the landlord and you different notice periods, and it cannot be waived.
What the law says · Minn. Stat. §504B.147, subds. 1, 3, 4
“Subdivision 1. Application. This section applies to a residential lease that provides a time period for the landlord to give notice to quit the premises or notice of a rent increase that is different than the time period the tenant is required to give for notice of intention to quit the premises. … Subd. 3. Landlord notice requirements. The landlord may not give a notice to quit the premises or notice of a rent increase that is shorter than the time period the lease provides for the tenant to give notice of an intention to quit the premises. Subd. 4. No waiver. The requirements of this section may not be waived or modified by the parties to a residential lease.”
Source: Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes – Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 504B · Verified on November 6, 2026
Protections
Protections the law gives you
We show only what state law says, with its citation. Your city may give you more protections.
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Only a court order can remove you
Yes: state law says so
If the landlord unlawfully removes or excludes you (including by shutting off utilities or removing doors, windows or locks), you may file a verified petition in district court and, if it applies, the court immediately orders that you regain possession and the sheriff executes it at once.
What the law says · Minn. Stat. §504B.375, subd. 1
“This section applies to actual or constructive removal or exclusion of a residential tenant which may include the termination of utilities or the removal of doors, windows, or locks. A residential tenant to whom this section applies may recover possession of the premises as described in paragraphs (b) to (e). … If it clearly appears from the specific grounds and facts stated in the verified petition or by separate affidavit of the residential tenant or the residential tenant's attorney or agent that the exclusion or removal was unlawful, the court shall immediately order that the residential tenant have possession of the premises.”
Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes (Minnesota Statutes)
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Protection from retaliation
Yes: state law says so
You cannot be evicted, have your obligations increased or services decreased as a penalty for complaining about a violation. If it happens within 90 days after your complaint, the landlord must prove it was not retaliation; after 90 days, the burden shifts to you.
What the law says · Minn. Stat. §504B.441
“A residential tenant may not be evicted, nor may the residential tenant's obligations under a lease be increased or the services decreased, if the eviction or increase of obligations or decrease of services is intended as a penalty for the residential tenant's or housing-related neighborhood organization's complaint of a violation. The burden of proving otherwise is on the landlord if the eviction or increase of obligations or decrease of services occurs within 90 days after filing the complaint, unless the court finds that the complaint was not made in good faith. After 90 days the burden of proof is on the residential tenant.”
Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes (Minnesota Statutes)
Eviction
How an eviction works in Minnesota
Step by step, with the time periods the law sets. No landlord can skip the court.
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Written 14-day notice for unpaid rent
at least 14 days
What the law says · Minn. Stat. §504B.321, subd. 1a(a)(6)
“"Your landlord can file an eviction case if you do not pay the total amount due or move out within 14 days from the date of this notice. Some local governments may have an eviction notice period longer than 14 days."”
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Complaint and summons; the appearance is set 7 to 14 days after issuance
7 to 14 days
What the law says · Minn. Stat. §504B.321, subd. 1(c)
“The appearance shall be not less than seven nor more than 14 days from the day of issuing the summons, except as provided by subdivision 2.”
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Paying the rent in arrears with interest and costs before possession is delivered restores your tenancy
What the law says · Minn. Stat. §504B.291, subd. 1(a)
“the tenant may, at any time before possession has been delivered, redeem the tenancy and be restored to possession by paying to the landlord or bringing to court the amount of the rent that is in arrears, with interest, costs of the action, and an attorney's fee not to exceed $5, and by performing any other covenants of the lease.”
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Judgment and writ of recovery and order to vacate, which the court may stay up to 7 days
up to 7 days
What the law says · Minn. Stat. §504B.345, subd. 1(a), (d)
“If the court or jury finds for the plaintiff, the court shall immediately enter judgment that the plaintiff shall have recovery of the premises, and shall tax the costs against the defendant. The court shall issue execution in favor of the plaintiff for the costs and also immediately issue a writ of recovery of premises and order to vacate. … the court shall stay the writ of recovery of premises and order to vacate for a reasonable period, not to exceed seven days. This paragraph does not apply when the court has issued a default judgment.”
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The officer demands that you leave within 24 hours and, if not, removes you with the county's assistance
at least 1 day
What the law says · Minn. Stat. §504B.365, subd. 1(a)
“The officer who holds the order to vacate shall execute it by demanding that the defendant, if found in the county, any adult member of the defendant's family who is occupying the premises, or any other person in charge, relinquish possession and leave, taking family and all personal property from the premises within 24 hours.”
Free or low-cost legal help
If you get a notice or a court case, look for help early: the deadlines are short. These are official pages or pages the state courts link to.
Discrimination charge with the Minnesota Commissioner of Human Rights: 1 year
A claim of an unfair discriminatory practice is brought as a civil action, as a charge with a local commission or as a charge with the commissioner of human rights, within one year after the practice occurred.
Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes (Minnesota Statutes)Frequently asked questions
How much can a landlord charge for a deposit in Minnesota?
Minnesota law sets no maximum for the security deposit. Section 504B.178 governs the interest the deposit earns, how it may be withheld and how it is returned, but caps no amount. (Minn. Stat. §504B.178, subd. 1)
When must a deposit be returned in Minnesota?
Within three weeks after the tenancy ends (and after you give your address), the landlord must return the deposit with interest or give you a written statement of the specific reason for withholding any of it. Only rent owed and the cost of restoring the unit, ordinary wear excepted, may be withheld. (Minn. Stat. §504B.178, subd. 3(a))
What notice is required for late rent in Minnesota?
Before suing for unpaid rent, the landlord must give you a written notice with the total due, an itemized accounting, who to pay, the legal-help and financial-help contacts, and the statement that a case may be filed if you do not pay or move out within 14 days of the notice date. Some cities require more days. (Minn. Stat. §504B.321, subd. 1a(a))
How much notice ends a month-to-month rental in Minnesota?
A tenancy at will (no fixed term) ends by written notice from either party. The notice must be at least as long as the interval between rent payments (one month if you pay monthly) or three months, whichever is less. (Minn. Stat. §504B.135)
Are there limits on late fees in Minnesota?
A landlord may charge a late fee only if you and the landlord agreed to it in writing, and the agreement must say when it is imposed. The fee can never exceed 8 percent of the overdue rent payment. (Minn. Stat. §504B.177(a))
How much notice before a rent increase in Minnesota?
If your lease requires you to give a certain amount of notice before moving out, the landlord cannot give you a rent increase notice shorter than that. The rule applies when the lease gives the landlord and you different notice periods, and it cannot be waived. (Minn. Stat. §504B.147, subds. 1, 3, 4)
A summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.
Pending
What is left to verify
We have not yet verified these Minnesota rules in the law with their citation, so we do not show them. If you need them today, ask for free legal aid.
- Protection related to immigration status Not verified yet
- Repair and deduct from the rent Not verified yet