Property Maintenance

The City of Brooklyn Park Building Inspections Division Adopts the 2000 International Property Maintenance Code

The City of Brooklyn Park joins a growing number of communities and states throughout the country that are updating building codes by adopting the 2000 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC).  "Building codes" provide a local government with a way to guard the public's personal safety, safeguard building performance, ensure safety and welfare for all building in the City, and support the economic well being of the community.

The 2000 International Property Maintenance Code is a national model code that addresses maintenance requirements for the interior and exterior of structures.  It is not meant to replace other City ordinances being enforced by other City departments (eg. signs, zoning, nuisances, junk cars, on-street parking, outside storage, etc...)  The IPMC also contains requirements for plumbing, heating, fire and electrical systems in existing buildings.  This document is a consistent and comprehensive and is a compatible property maintenance document that is meant to be used with the other codes as adopted by the State of Minnesota.

The adoption of this document will clarify the City's expectations to property owners in the areas of providing safe, structurally sound, and well maintained facilities for all buildings in the City of Brooklyn Park.

Property Inspections 

The City of Brooklyn Park provides inspections of existing housing in the city.  Some of these inspections are routine, while others are in response to complaints or concerns.  Property maintenance inspections consist of the following:

• Rental Property Licensing Inspections and Rental Housing Complaints
• Non-Rental Property Complaint Investigations

Fees and Charges (maintained by American Legal Publishing Corp) www.amlegal.com/brooklyn_park_mn.

To request an inspection, express concerns, or ask questions regarding property maintenance enforcement related issues, please contact the Building Inspections Division.

Rental Property Inspections and Licensing

The City of Brooklyn Park requires that all rental property within the city  be licensed.  This includes apartment complexes, town homes, condominiums, duplexes and single family rental dwellings.  All dwellings that do not qualify for a homestead or relative homestead classification through the Assessing Division are considered to be rental property and require a license.  All rental licenses are renewed on an annual basis.  The current licensing fee schedule is as follows:

Licensing Fee Schedule

Type of Dwelling	Annual Fee
Single Family detached (each)	$150
Double bungalow each side	$150
Condominium	$150
Townhouse (each)	$150
Apartment Complex 1-14 units	$180
Type of Dwelling	Annual Fee
Apartment Complex 15 + units	$18 per unit

Part of the property maintenance code includes a systematic inspection program.  Rental housing inspections will be done in accordance with the adopted International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC).  Prepared forms, checklists and certificates will be used to provide for consistency and uniformity in licensing and inspection of rental properties.  Property owners will be issued certificates of compliance based on the results of scheduled inspection.  These compliance certificates will be the basis for the approval of the required rental license.  The performance goal is to inspect small rental property units every year.  Common areas of apartment buildings (e.g. boiler rooms, laundry rooms, community rooms, corridors) will be inspected on an annual basis.  The apartment unit inspections will be accomplished by inspecting one third of all apartments each year (effective fall 2006).

All rental property is subject to a routine inspection.  The inspections are conducted to ensure the housing stock is being maintained and to ensure a safe living environment for the citizens of our community.

For more information or to obtain a rental license application, please contact the Business Licensing Division at 763-493-8182.

Property Complaint Investigations

Property maintenance inspections are conducted based on complaints or concerns received the city which are generated by citizens throughout the community or referred by other city departments.  This service is to ensure all structures built are being maintained and that all neighborhoods remain livable.  Everyone in the city can and should be involved in order to maintain the conditions of their communities.

A property maintenance ordinance has been established for the purpose of protecting the public health, safety and general welfare of the people of the community.  The general objectives include the following:

• To protect the character and stability of structures within the city.
• To correct and prevent property conditions that adversely affect or are likely to adversely affect the life, safety, general welfare and health of occupants of buildings.
• To prevent the overcrowding of dwellings.
• To provide minimum standards for the maintenance of existing residential buildings and thus prevent substandard housing and blight.
• To preserve the value of land and buildings throughout the city.