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Rent Control Laws in Minnesota

Minnesota has no statewide rent cap and bars local rent control unless voters approve it at a general election; Saint Paul has a voter-approved ordinance limiting most increases to 3% a year.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Minnesota at a glance

Statewide rent cap
No
No state statute capping private residential rent was found.
Local rent control banned
Only if approved by voters
A city, county, or town may control rents only through an ordinance or charter amendment approved in a general election.
Local rent control
Saint Paul
Saint Paul limits increases to 3% in 12 months, with exceptions including new construction (amended effective January 1, 2023 and June 13, 2025).

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Minnesota

Does Minnesota have a statewide rent cap?

No. Statewide rent cap in Minnesota: no. No state statute capping private residential rent was found.

Does Minnesota law ban cities from adopting rent control?

Only if approved by voters. Local rent control banned in Minnesota: only if approved by voters. A city, county, or town may control rents only through an ordinance or charter amendment approved in a general election.

Which cities in Minnesota have rent control?

Local rent control in Minnesota: Saint Paul. Saint Paul limits increases to 3% in 12 months, with exceptions including new construction (amended effective January 1, 2023 and June 13, 2025).

Where do the Minnesota rent control laws come from?

The rules above come from Minn. Stat. 471.9996. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

Even where there is no rent control, a landlord usually cannot raise the rent during a fixed-term lease unless the lease allows it. Increases normally take effect at renewal or after written notice for a month-to-month tenancy, and notice periods are set by state law.

Rent caps and rent stabilization rules commonly have exemptions, such as buildings built in recent years, owner-occupied duplexes, or units owned by individuals rather than companies. A unit can sit in a covered city and still be exempt, so read the coverage section of the law closely.

Local rent control ordinances change through ballot measures and council votes more often than state law does. If you rent or own property in a city that regulates rent, check the city or county housing department for the current allowable increase and any registration requirements.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.