What Does Duluth’s New Renters’ Rights Ordinance Mean?

The City of Duluth just approved a new "renters' rights ordinance" for those who live in apartments and rental housing around Duluth.

With about 4 in 10 Duluthians calling a rental house or apartment home, this new ordinance is of interest not only to about half of the city's population but also to landlords and property owners.

With the passage of this new ordinance, what do renters need to know? What does the new ordinance do? Here's what you need to know.

What does Duluth's renters' rights ordinance accomplish?

The newly passed ordinance adds new language (the addition of Article V) to Chapter 29A of the Duluth City Code, which governs housing, property maintenance, and rental code in Duluth.

The new language, in plain terms, says a couple of things.

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First, it recognizes that the City of Duluth has a number of existing resources for tenants that are designed to ensure rental housing meets certain health, safety, and living standards. It then requires that tenants be provided with this information and outlines how and where it should be provided to tenants.

Each tenant is supposed to be provided with a summary of tenant rights outlined in state statute, contact information for the City of Duluth's Life Safety Division, and contact information for One Roof Community Housing Tenant Landlord Connection or a similar organization providing landlord/tenant education or dispute resolution services

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For any multi-family property with 5 or more units, a summary of this information will also be required to be published in a public, easy-to-access space like a hallway or entry area.

What does this new ordinance change for renters and landlords?

While the ordinance doesn't create any new protections or change any rules about properties, the requirement to provide this information to tenants is designed to make sure everyone is aware of the protections and rights they have as renters.

Landlords who do not comply with this new ordinance (once it goes into effect) will be subject to a fine in accordance with the City of Duluth's fees, fines, and penalties ordinance. Tenants are able to report violations to the City of Duluth's Life Safety Division for investigation.

For more information about the process for renters to file complaints about landlords or rental properties in Duluth, you can see this guide from the City of Duluth.

When does this new ordinance go into effect?

The new ordinance goes into effect on January 1, 2026.