✓ Law Verified June 2026
This guide explains minnesota rent increase laws in plain English — whether there is a cap on how much your landlord can raise your rent, how much notice they must give, which Minnesota cities have local rent control, and what to do if an increase looks illegal. All figures are from Minnesota law, verified as of June 2026.
In This Minnesota Guide:
Minnesota Rent Increase Rules at a Glance
| Statewide rent cap | NO. Minnesota has no statewide rent cap. Landlords may raise rent by any amount as long as proper notice is given and the increase is not retaliatory or discriminatory. However, St. Paul has a local 3% annual cap (see local_rent_control_cities). |
| Notice required before increase | Minnesota does not use a single fixed number of days. Under Minn. Stat. 504B.135, the notice period must equal the interval between rent payments, or 3 months, whichever is shorter. Month-to-month tenancy: one full rental period (effectively about 30 days). Week-to-week tenancy: one full week. Quarterly or longer: 3 months (the statutory maximum). Under Minn. Stat. 504B.147, a landlord cannot give a shorter notice period than the tenant is required to give — this provision cannot be waived. For mobile home parks (Minn. Stat. 327C.06), landlords must give at least 60 days written notice before any rent increase. |
| How often rent can be raised | Minnesota has no statewide limit on how often a landlord can raise rent, as long as proper notice is given each time. In St. Paul, increases are capped at 3% per 12-month period. In mobile home parks (Minn. Stat. 327C.06), rent can only be increased twice per year. |
| During a fixed-term lease | NO — a landlord cannot raise rent during a fixed-term lease unless the lease itself contains a specific provision allowing for rent increases (such as an escalation clause). Once a fixed-term lease expires and converts to a periodic tenancy (e.g., month-to-month), the landlord can raise rent with proper notice under Minn. Stat. 504B.135. |
Retaliatory increases: YES — Minnesota prohibits retaliatory rent increases under Minn. Stat. 504B.285. It is a defense to eviction if the tenant proves the landlord increased rent or decreased services as a penalty for the tenant’s good faith attempt to enforce rights under a lease or law, or for reporting code violations to a government authority.
If the landlord’s notice was served within 90 days of the tenant’s protected act, the burden of proof shifts to the landlord to prove the action was not retaliatory.
Minnesota Cities With Local Rent Control
St. Paul is the only Minnesota city with an active rent control ordinance. The St. Paul Rent Stabilization Ordinance (Chapter 193A) was approved by voters in November 2021, took effect January 1, 2023, and was further amended in May 2025 (effective June 13, 2025).
It caps rent increases at 3% within any 12-month period. Properties issued their first certificate of occupancy after December 31, 2004 are permanently exempt (a 20-year rolling exemption added in 2025).
After a tenant vacates for a qualifying just-cause reason, the landlord may increase rent by up to CPI + 8%. Minneapolis voters approved a charter amendment in 2021 giving the City Council authority to regulate rent, but as of 2026 the Council has NOT enacted any rent stabilization ordinance — Minneapolis has no rent limits in effect. No other Minnesota city has rent control.
Exempt properties: Minnesota has no statewide rent cap, so there is no statewide exemption list. Under St. Paul’s local ordinance, properties with a first certificate of occupancy issued after December 31, 2004 are permanently exempt from the 3% cap. Landlords may also apply for a reasonable-return exception to exceed the cap.
State preemption: PARTIAL. Under Minn. Stat. 471.9996, no city, county, or town may adopt or renew any law to control rents on private residential property EXCEPT if the ordinance, charter amendment, or law is approved by voters in a general election.
This voter-approval exception is how St. Paul enacted its rent stabilization ordinance. Local governments may also manage property in which they have a financial interest through a housing authority and may act as required by federal or state law.
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What to Do If Your Rent Increase Is Illegal
If you believe a rent increase is illegal in Minnesota, you may be able to: (1) raise a retaliation defense under Minn. Stat. 504B.285 if the increase came within 90 days of you exercising a legal right or reporting a code violation; (2) in St. Paul, file a complaint with the city’s rent stabilization program if the increase exceeds 3% in 12 months (stpaul.gov/rent-stabilization); (3) contact the Minnesota Attorney General’s office for guidance (ag.state.mn.us); (4) consult a tenant rights organization such as HOME Line (homelinemn.org) or Legal Aid; (5) check whether your lease prohibits mid-lease increases; (6) if facing eviction for refusing an illegal increase, assert the retaliatory defense in court.
Many tenants can also contact LawHelpMN.org for free legal resources. Never ignore a court summons — always respond and attend hearings.
Other Minnesota rent rules: Mobile home park tenants have additional protections under Minn. Stat. 327C.06: landlords must give at least 60 days written notice before any rent increase and may only increase rent twice per year. Under Minn. Stat. 504B.147, a landlord’s notice period for quitting or raising rent cannot be shorter than the notice period required of the tenant — and this provision cannot be waived by either party.
St. Paul’s 2025 amendment introduced a just-cause vacancy decontrol provision allowing increases up to CPI + 8% when a tenant vacates for a qualifying reason.
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Official Minnesota Sources & Resources
- Minnesota Attorney General: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/consumer/handbooks/lt/default.asp
- Minnesota Rent Statute: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/504B
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: hud.gov
- Cornell Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/wex
Understanding Minnesota Rent Increase Laws
Whether a Minnesota rent increase is legal depends on the cap (if any), the notice given, and whether the increase is retaliatory. Minnesota rent increase laws protect tenants from surprise hikes by requiring a minimum notice period before any increase takes effect.
If you believe a Minnesota rent increase violates these rules, document the notice you received, check the math against the cap, and contact your local housing authority or legal-aid office.
Knowing the Minnesota rent increase rules before your lease renews puts you in a much stronger position.
This Minnesota rent increase guide was last verified against official sources in June 2026. Rent caps change — verify with your state or a local legal-aid office.
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Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal advice. Landlord-tenant laws change and vary by city and county within a state. Verify current rules with your state, your local court, or a free legal-aid office before acting. If you are facing eviction, contact a local tenant attorney or legal-aid organization right away.