What took effect on June 20, 2026

The city’s public notice lists Ordinance 2026-02—an ordinance amending Chapter 12 sections related to rental licensing and vacant property exceptions—with an effective date of June 20, 2026.

Key parts of the amended Chapter 12 landlords should focus on

1) Rental license transfers

The amended ordinance states that rental licenses may be transferred if the license is within 6 months of issuance and the license has passed the rental license inspection. It also says transfers require a license transfer application and payment of the license transfer fee.

2) The occupancy register (what owners must document)

Every owner of a licensed rental dwelling must keep, or cause to be kept, a current occupancy register for each dwelling unit. The register must include:

• Dwelling unit address
• Number of bedrooms and the maximum number of occupants
• Legal names and date of birth of adult occupants, and counts of adults and children under 18 currently occupying the unit
• Dates renters occupied and vacated
• A chronological list of complaints and repair requests by dwelling unit occupants related to the city code provisions
• A similar chronological list of corrections made in response to those complaints and requests

The ordinance further says the register must be made available for viewing or copying by the city’s Compliance Official at reasonable times.

3) When an unoccupied unit may not need a rental license

The amended ordinance lists one condition where no rental license is required: unoccupied dwelling units issued a Vacant Building Registration.

Other exceptions the ordinance lists

• Two-sleeping-room exception: No license is required if an owner rents no more than two (2) sleeping rooms within the owner’s primary residence, with proof of residency provided by submitting a notarized affidavit to the city.
• Seasonal Leave: No license is required for a maximum of 120 consecutive days when the owner is residing out of the State of Minnesota, as long as the owner must occupy the property during the remainder of the year.
• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): The ordinance states that ADUs (as defined in Chapter 35) do not require a rental license, and they must comply with the applicable ADU code section.

How inspections/enforcement fit into the city’s rental program

Brooklyn Center’s rental program overview says landlords must have and be able to show proof of a current rental license, and that the license indicates the dwelling has been inspected and met minimum housing standards. The city also describes routine inspections as part of keeping rental units in compliance.

In the amended Chapter 12 language, the ordinance describes the city’s Compliance Official having a right to inspect licensed rental dwellings and units, with reasonable notice to the owner or operator. For the initial license process, the ordinance states a property must pass an inspection within 90 days of rental license issuance, and it lays out potential consequences if it fails to pass.

What tenants should expect from the licensing/inspection process

The city’s rental program page says tenants can expect that a landlord must have a current rental license to offer a dwelling for rent, and the license reflects an inspection and minimum housing standards.

It also says the city won’t get involved in landlord/tenant lease disputes. But if a tenant has a complaint about the condition of the property, the tenant must notify the landlord and give a reasonable amount of time to correct the violation before filing a written complaint with City Hall—after which an inspector may follow up. The rental program page also states it is unlawful for the landlord to retaliate for filing a complaint.

What to do now

Landlords should review the amended Chapter 12 language—especially if anything about the property’s status might be changing—by focusing on:

• Any plan to transfer a rental license (including the ordinance’s timing/inspection condition)
• Keeping the occupancy register current and available
• Whether any unoccupied units qualify under the ordinance’s vacant-building exception

Tenants can use the city’s rental program guidance to understand what “licensed” should mean in practice and how to raise concerns about rental housing conditions through the city’s complaint pathway.

Sources

• Brooklyn Center Rental Program overview (licensing/inspections + tenant complaint basics)