05-27 Bill No 2025-04City of Richfield May 27, 2025
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2025-04
Motion by: Hayford Oleary
Seconded by: Supple
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE RICHFIELD
BUILDING, HOUSING AND CONSTRUCTION REGULATIONS
(CHAPTER IV OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE)
TO LIMIT RENTALS TO NO LESS THAN FIVE DAYS
THE CITY OF RICHFIELD DOES ORDAIN:
Section 1 Subsection 407 of the Richfield Municipal Code “Inspection and Licensing of
Apartment Houses and Rental Homes” Code is amended at Subsection 407.03
to read as follows:
407.03. - Definitions.
For the purposes of this Section the terms defined herein have the following
meanings:
(a)"Apartment house" means a building containing three (3) or more dwelling
units.
(b)"Dwelling unit" means a room or group of rooms located within a building and
forming a single habitable unit with facilities which are used or intended to be
used for living, sleeping, cooking and eating by persons other than the owner
of record regardless of familial relationship or whether rent or other
compensation is paid to the owner.
(c)"Rental home" means a one- or two-family dwelling which is occupied by
persons other than the owner of record, except a parent, sibling or child of the
owner of record, regardless of whether rent or other compensation is paid to
the owner.
(d)(Repealed, 2010-11)“Short-Term Rental” means a dwelling unit or
accessory dwelling unit (as described in subsection 518.05) which is
occupied for a term of less than one month by persons other than the
owner of record, except a parent, sibling or child of the owner of record,
regardless of whether rent or other compensation is paid to the owner.
(e)"Housing maintenance code" means a Subsections 405.01 through 405.19 of
this code and also means all other codes and regulations of the City
pertaining to the occupancy and habitability of the licensed premises.
(f)Unless a different meaning is intended from the context, all other definitions
contained in Subsection 405.05, subdivisions 1—19 are incorporated in this
Section by reference and made a part hereof.
(g)"Owner" or "owner of record" shall have the meaning given in Subsection
105.01 Subd. 8, and shall also means, with respect to all matters involving
the making of applications and the giving of notices, the individuals or entities
holding legal and equitable title to the premises, or the legally constituted
agent designated by the owner for such purposes.
City of Richfield May 27, 2025
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2025-04
(h)Director ("director") means the Director of community development and also
includes any individual designated by the Director of community development
to carry out the duties and responsibilities assigned to the Director under this
Chapter.
Section 2 Subsection 407 of the Richfield Municipal Code “Inspection and Licensing of
Apartment Houses and Rental Homes” Code is amended at Subsection 407.05
to read as follows:
407.05. - License required.
(a)It is unlawful for any person who is an owner of an apartment house or an
owner of a rental home to operate such apartment house or rental home
without first having obtained a license under the provisions of this Section.
There are two (2) types of licenses: regular and provisional. Provisional
licenses are defined in Subsection 407.13. All references to licenses in this
Section are references to regular licenses, unless otherwise stated. No
license shall be required under this Section for Rental Homes which have
currently valid licenses from either Hennepin County, or the Minnesota
Department of Health permitting such occupancy.
(b)It is unlawful for any person to operate a Short-Term Rental without
having a valid business license per Chapter X - License and Permits;
Procedures and Fees. No Short-Term Rental shall be for a term of less
than five days unless the licensee resides on site and is present during
the term. All Short-Term Rentals shall pay the Lodging Tax.
Section 3 This ordinance is effective on January 1, 2026.
VOTING AYE VOTING NAY
Supple, Mary Supple, Mary
Burk, Walter Burk, Walter
Christensen, Sharon Christensen, Sharon
Coleman-Woods, Rori Coleman-Woods, Rori
Hayford Oleary, Sean Hayford Oleary, Sean
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Richfield, Minnesota this 27th day of May, 2025.
____________________
Mary B. Supple, Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________________
Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk
RESOLUTION NO. 12323
RESOLUTION APPROVING SUMMARY PUBLICATION
OF AN ORDINANCE MODIFYING THE MUNICIPAL CODE
IN RELATION TO SHORT TERM RENTALS
WHEREAS, the City has adopted the above-referenced amendment of the Richfield City
Code; and
WHEREAS, the verbatim text of the amendment is cumbersome, and the expense of
publication of the complete text is not justified.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Richfield that the
following summary is hereby approved for official publication:
SUMMARY PUBLICATION
BILL NO. 2025-04
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE RICHFIELD MUNICIPAL CODE
RESTRICTING SHORT TERM RENTALS
This summary of the ordinance is published pursuant to Section 3.12 of the Richfield City
Charter.
This ordinance amendment creates a definition for the term Short-Term Rental (anything
less than one month) and amends Chapter IV “Building, Housing and Construction Regulations” of
the Municipal Code to specify that short term rentals:
▪Must have a valid business license, (will include an inspection).
▪May not be for a term of less than five days unless the licensee resides on site and is
present during the term.
▪Must pay the Lodging Tax.
The ordinance does not take effect until January 1, 2026.
Copies of the ordinance are available for public inspection in the City Clerk’s office during normal
business hours or upon request by calling the Department of Community Development at (612)
861-9760.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Richfield, Minnesota this 27th day of May, 2025.
Mary B. Supple, Mayor
ATTEST:
Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk