Minnesota is a relatively tenant-protective state, and its rules are in Chapter 504B of the statutes. Source of income (“status with regard to public assistance”) is protected under the Minnesota Human Rights Act, and Minneapolis and St. Paul require landlords to accept Housing Choice Vouchers; statewide, whether a landlord must accept a voucher is unsettled (a 2010 appellate ruling said not), so protection is strongest in those two cities. Since January 1, 2024, landlords must give a detailed 14-day notice before filing a nonpayment eviction. There is no statewide rent control, but St. Paul has local rent stabilization (Minneapolis voters authorized one, but the city has not enacted it). The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MN Housing) funds affordable housing. This page covers the statewide rules, the eviction timeline, and links to every Minnesota city we cover.
- 211 Minnesota — free, 24/7 — for any housing emergency anywhere in Minnesota
- HOME Line tenant hotline: 612-728-5767 (statewide advice for renters)
- MN Dept. of Human Rights (source-of-income complaints): 1-833-454-0148
- MN Housing: mnhousing.gov
- HUD fair housing: 1-800-669-9777
Public Housing & Vouchers in Minnesota
Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and public housing are run by local authorities — the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, the St. Paul Public Housing Agency, Metro HRA, and others. MN Housing finances affordable apartments and allocates Low-Income Housing Tax Credits — search HUD’s LIHTC database or read how to find LIHTC housing. Because Minnesota protects source of income (below), a landlord cannot refuse your voucher.
Apply to several authorities at once. Use HUD’s PHA directory or our how to find your PHA and how to apply for Section 8 guides. City waitlist status is on the city pages below.
Source of Income Protection
The Minnesota Human Rights Act protects “status with regard to public assistance.” Minneapolis and St. Paul go further with local ordinances that require landlords to accept Housing Choice Vouchers. Statewide, whether a landlord must accept a voucher is unsettled: a 2010 appellate ruling (Edwards v. Hopkins Plaza) held that a landlord may decline Section 8, and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights disputes that and has asked the Legislature to clarify it. Separately, in 2025 the Minnesota Supreme Court held that a landlord who keeps accepting rent after learning of a lease violation waives the right to evict on it — a protection that applies to subsidized tenants too. File a complaint with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (1-833-454-0148) and read our source-of-income protections guide.
Rent Control in Minnesota
There is no statewide rent control, but Minnesota lets voters adopt it locally. St. Paul voters passed a rent-stabilization ordinance in 2021 (a cap on annual increases, since amended with exemptions), and Minneapolis voters authorized the city council to create one. If you rent in either city, check the current local rules; elsewhere, your protection comes from your lease and required notice.
Emergency Rental Assistance in Minnesota
- Dial 211 to reach local emergency rental and prevention funds and your regional Coordinated Entry for shelter and rapid re-housing
- County Emergency Assistance can help eligible families avoid eviction during a crisis — apply through your county human-services office
- The Energy Assistance Program (EAP/LIHEAP) helps with winter heating bills — see utility assistance programs
- The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and local nonprofits provide one-time help across the state
See our emergency rental assistance guide for the national picture.
Minnesota Tenant Law: Key Protections at a Glance
Quick Reference: Minnesota (MN)
- Source-of-income protection: Human Rights Act protects public-assistance status; voucher acceptance required in Minneapolis and St. Paul, contested statewide (2010 case)
- Rent control: none statewide; local in St. Paul (Minneapolis authorized one but has not enacted it)
- Security deposit limit: no state cap
- Deposit interest: 1% per year (Minn. Stat. 504B.178)
- Deposit return deadline: 21 days; a penalty equal to the amount withheld for bad-faith retention
- Eviction notice (nonpayment): 14-day written notice required before filing (since Jan 1, 2024)
- Eviction records: can often be expunged/sealed (Minn. Stat. 484.014)
- Self-help eviction: illegal — only the sheriff can remove a tenant
Security deposits
Minnesota sets no cap on the deposit amount, but the landlord must pay 1% annual interest (Minn. Stat. 504B.178) and return the deposit with an itemized statement within 21 days of the tenancy ending. If the landlord keeps it in bad faith, you may recover the amount wrongfully withheld plus a penalty equal to that amount. See how to recover your security deposit.
Eviction process, the 14-day notice & expungement
Self-help eviction is illegal; the landlord must go to court and only the sheriff can remove you. Since January 1, 2024, the process starts with a stronger notice:
- 14-day pre-eviction notice for nonpayment — it must itemize what you owe (rent, late fees, other charges separately) and tell you where to find legal help and financial assistance, before the landlord can file
- Eviction action filed in district court; you receive a summons and a court date
- Hearing — appear and raise defenses; you can often pay what is owed to stay, and rental-assistance applications may pause the case
- Writ of recovery: if the landlord wins, the court issues the writ and the sheriff carries out the eviction
Minnesota also lets tenants ask the court to expunge (seal) an eviction record in many situations (Minn. Stat. 484.014), which protects your future applications — ask about it. An uncontested case commonly runs about three to six weeks from the notice. Call the HOME Line tenant hotline (612-728-5767) and read how to avoid eviction.
Other Housing Programs in Minnesota
- Public housing — government-owned affordable apartments run by local authorities; the waitlist is separate from Section 8
- HUD-VASH (veterans) — a voucher paired with VA case management; see how to apply for HUD-VASH
- Rapid re-housing — access through Coordinated Entry by calling 211
- Eviction prevention — our eviction prevention hub explains what to do before your court date
Major Minnesota Cities We Cover
Where to Get Help in Minnesota
Free advice & legal aid: the HOME Line tenant hotline (612-728-5767) gives free advice statewide; Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid and LawHelpMN handle eviction defense.
Source-of-income / discrimination: the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (1-833-454-0148) enforces the statewide protection.
State housing agency: MN Housing for vouchers, LIHTC, and programs.
Find your local PHA: HUD’s PHA directory or our how to find your PHA guide.
211 helpline: dial 2-1-1 or visit 211.org for rental help, shelters, and utility assistance.
HUD fair housing: file at hud.gov/reporthousingdiscrimination or call 1-800-669-9777.
Next Steps
Not sure where to start? Our Where to Start tool routes you to the right mix of Minnesota programs in about two minutes.
If a landlord refused your voucher, that violates state law — file with the MN Department of Human Rights (1-833-454-0148). For a nonpayment case, call the HOME Line (612-728-5767), ask about expungement, and read eviction prevention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a landlord refuse my Section 8 voucher in Minnesota?
It depends where you are. In Minneapolis and St. Paul, local ordinances require landlords to accept Housing Choice Vouchers. Statewide, the Minnesota Human Rights Act protects “status with regard to public assistance,” but a 2010 appellate ruling (Edwards v. Hopkins Plaza) held that a landlord is not required to accept Section 8 — the Minnesota Department of Human Rights disputes this and has asked the Legislature to clarify it. Outside those two cities, ask your PHA for participating landlords. File a complaint with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights at 1-833-454-0148.
What is the 14-day eviction notice in Minnesota?
Since January 1, 2024, before filing a nonpayment eviction a landlord must give a detailed 14-day written notice. It has to itemize what you owe - rent, late fees, and other charges separately - and tell you where to find legal help and financial assistance. If the notice is missing or wrong, that can be a defense.
What are Minnesota's security deposit rules?
There is no cap on the amount, but the landlord must pay 1% annual interest (Minn. Stat. 504B.178) and return the deposit with an itemized statement within 21 days of the tenancy ending. Bad-faith withholding can cost the landlord the amount wrongfully withheld plus a penalty equal to that amount.
Can an eviction be removed from my record in Minnesota?
Often, yes. Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. 484.014) lets tenants ask the court to expunge or seal an eviction record in many situations - for example, when the case was dismissed, settled, or sealing is in the interests of justice. A sealed record protects your future rental applications, so ask the court or a legal-aid attorney whether you qualify.
Is there rent control in Minnesota?
Not statewide, but Minnesota lets voters adopt it locally. St. Paul passed a rent-stabilization ordinance in 2021 (since amended), and Minneapolis voters authorized the council to create one. If you rent in either city, check the current local rules; elsewhere there is no cap.