Minnesota Residential Lease Agreement

• No statewide deposit limit. Within three weeks after the tenancy ends and the landlord receives the tenant's mailing address, the landlord must return the deposit with 1% simple yearly interest, or send a written statement of the specific reasons for withholding any of it (5 days if the tenant had to leave because the building was condemned) (Minn. Stat. § 504B.178).

Reviewed 5 Oct 2026 · Minn. Stat. § 504B.178

Reviewed 5 Oct 2026 · Minn. Stat. § 504B.178

• Written notice at least as long as the interval between the times rent is due, or three months, whichever is less — for monthly rent, one rental month (recorded as 30 days).

Quoted from the source: “at least as long as the interval between the time rent is due or three months, whichever is less”

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · Minn. Stat. §504B.135; §504B.285 subd. 1(a)(3)

• Same rule: notice at least as long as the rent interval (one week for weekly rent).

Quoted from the source: “at least as long as the interval between the time rent is due or three months, whichever is less”

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · Minn. Stat. §504B.135

• No statewide just-cause requirement; a tenancy at will ends on the §504B.135 notice and eviction lies for holding over after notice to quit (§504B.285 subd. 1(a)(3)).

Quoted from the source: “any tenant at will holds over after the termination of the tenancy by notice to quit.”

Exceptions:

• Post-foreclosure and contract-for-deed tenants get 90-day protections (§504B.285 subd. 1a–1b).

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · Minn. Stat. §504B.135; §504B.285

• Written notice specifying the basis for a future eviction action for nonpayment of rent or other unpaid financial obligation under the lease; landlord may file only if the tenant fails to correct the delinquency within 14 days of delivery or mailing (or a longer local-government period) or fails to vacate.
• Mandatory contents: total amount due with a specific accounting of unpaid rent, late fees and other charges; name/address of the person authorized to receive rent; the statutory legal-aid (LawHelpMN.org) and rental-assistance (MNBenefits.mn.gov / United Way) statements; the 'Your landlord can file an eviction case...' statement.
• A copy of the notice must be attached to the eviction complaint (subd. 1).

Quoted from the source: “fails to correct the rent delinquency within 14 days of the delivery or mailing of the notice ... the landlord may bring an eviction action”

Exceptions:

• Where a local government requires a notice period longer than 14 days, that longer period applies (e.g. Minneapolis pre-eviction filing notice).

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · Minn. Stat. §504B.321 subd. 1a (2023 c 52 art 19 s 105, 119; 2024 c 80 art 7 s 12)

• Breach of the statutory covenant not to allow controlled substances, prostitution/prostitution-related activity, stolen property, unlawful firearm use/possession, or (per 2023 amendments) acts of domestic violence against other occupants — breach 'voids the tenant's ... right to possession' and the landlord may bring an eviction action.

Quoted from the source: “voids the tenant's or licensee's right to possession of the residential premises”

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · Minn. Stat. §504B.171 subd. 1–2

• The 14-day nonpayment notice must be delivered personally or by first class mail to the residential tenant at the address of the leased premises (§504B.321 subd. 1a); §504B.135 requires only 'notice in writing' for terminating a tenancy at will, method unspecified.

Quoted from the source: “must deliver the notice personally or by first class mail to the residential tenant at the address of the leased premises”

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · Minn. Stat. §504B.321 subd. 1a; §504B.135

• No official state form found, but §504B.321 subd. 1a prescribes mandatory contents and verbatim statements for the 14-day nonpayment notice (total due with itemized accounting; landlord/agent name and address; 'If you can't afford a lawyer, free legal help may be available. Contact Legal Aid or visit www.LawHelpMN.org'; rental-assistance statement referencing MNBenefits.mn.gov / United Way; 'Your landlord can file an eviction case if you do not pay the total amount due or move out within 14 days from the date of this notice. Some local governments may have an eviction notice period longer than 14 days.').

Quoted from the source: “Your landlord can file an eviction case if you do not pay the total amount due or move out within 14 days”

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · Minn. Stat. §504B.321 subd. 1a(b)–(c)