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Rental License
Changes to rental housing license program
The updated rental ordinance was approved by City Council on April 5, 2022, and goes into effect June 1, 2022.
The ordinance was updated to improve the quality of our rental housing stock, clear up some outdated language, and streamline our processes to ensure efficient use of staff time and resources.
Read the Rental Housing Ordinance (PDF)
Overview of changes
Assistant City Attorney Alissa Harrington goes over the changes to the rental housing licensing program. This was recorded in December 2021.
This report was presented to the City Council in September 2021 to explain the purpose of code changes and types of changes being proposed.
Rental Housing Licensing, Nuisance and Enforcement Code Updates (PDF)
Residential rental properties
All residential rental properties within the City of Northfield must have a rental license prior to the property being occupied. To obtain a rental license, the rental units must comply with the City Rental Housing Ordinance found in Chapter 14 of the Northfield City Code.
View the City Rental Housing Ordinance
View the International Building Code
Eligible properties
Not all properties may be eligible for a rental license. Please contact the Building Inspections Division to determine if a rental license may be granted for any property being considered for residential rental. Certain areas of the community are restricted to allowing only 20% of the block to be rented. A block is defined as both sides of a street from intersection to intersection.
Obtaining a rental license
- A rental license application is submitted by the owner
- Payment of the appropriate fee
- The property must comply with the minimum property standards of the ordinance verified by a property inspection. The property owner is responsible to schedule the inspection with the Building Inspection Department.
The rental license must be issued prior to occupancy of any residential rental property.
Renewing a rental license
Rental licenses are valid for two years.
The renewal process is the same as the original licensing. It requires an application, fees, and inspection of the rental property to be complete before the existing license expires.
Fees for licenses
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Rental licenses
Service Fee Rental License Type 1 (2 years) $60 license fee first unit;
$25 each additional unitRental License Type 2 (1 year) $180 license fee first unit;
$25 each additional unitRental License Type 3 (6 months) $240 license fee first unit;
$25 each additional unitRental License Temporary (1 year or less) $60 license fee for the first unit;
$25 each additional unitRental housing inspection fee $50 Late rental license renewal application 14-95 $50 Failure to renew rental license prior to expiration 14-95 $50 Renting without a rental license 14-95 Two times (2x) the amount of the applicable rental license fee Rental Housing Board of Appeals processing 14-136 $100 Rental license re-inspection fee for inspections after the first inspection $75 Fines fore rental ordinance offenses
Violation First offense Second offense Subsequent offense License violation $100 $250 $500 Vehicle or bicycle violations $15 $30 $100 Animal violation $20 $75 $150 All other violation of City Code not otherwise specified $25 $50 $100