Rental Resources
Tenant Legal Resources
Minnesota Attorney General Landlord and Tenants Rights and Responsibilities- Online handbook provides explanations of certain rights and responsibilities apply to landlords and tenants everywhere in Minnesota. You can find more resources on the Minnesota Attorney General’s website.
- Legal rights and duties of the landlord and tenant are determined by lease (rental agreement), state and federal laws, and city ordinances. This information includes links to many helpful resources for residential tenants offered by other agencies in Minnesota. You might also find materials at your local law library.
- Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services provides free, high-quality legal help to low-income people in critical civil matters. For 113 years, SMRLS has helped individuals and families secure and protect their basic needs, maintaining freedom from hunger, homelessness, sickness, and abuse. Because, justice matters.
- The Law Library holds Civil Legal Advice Clinics the second and fourth Monday of every month from 1 to 3:30 p.m. If you are interested in speaking with a lawyer, please call 651-430-6330 or email [email protected] to set up an appointment.
- A nonprofit Minnesota tenant advocacy organization featuring free and low-cost legal help and advocacy services for renters.
Tenant Housing Resources
HousingLink- Resource for affordable housing-related openings, data, information and resources.
- The state’s housing finance agency where you can access resources and updates regarding rent payment assistance, finding housing, and many other housing-related resources.
Healthy Home Resources
Healthy Homes Minnesota- Tips, information and resources on creating a healthy home environment from the Minnesota Department of Health.
- Provides smoke-free housing opportunities in Minnesota.
Eviction Prevention/Homeless Services
Washington County Community Services- Washington County Community Services recognizes that homelessness exists in Washington County and that those experiencing homelessness deserve access to services to assist them in becoming stably housed, as well as assist them with accessing other resources to meet their basic needs. The Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST) provides these services to residents of Washington County. HOST consists of four social workers, a supervisor, and one support staff person. Together, they manage a housing resource line (651-430-6488) where calls may be placed 24/7 and will be returned within one business day.
- Emergency Assistance is available to eligible applicants who are experiencing an emergency situation such as eviction, threat of eviction, or utility shut-off.
City of Woodbury Program Resources
Landlord Legal Resources
Minnesota Attorney General Landlord and Tenants Rights and Responsibilities
- Online handbook provides explanations of certain rights and responsibilities apply to landlords and tenants everywhere in Minnesota. You can find more resources on the Minnesota Attorney General’s website.
Minnesota Judicial Branch Landlord Resources
- Legal rights and duties of the landlord and tenant are determined by lease (rental agreement), state and federal laws, and city ordinances. This information includes links to many helpful resources for residential tenants offered by other agencies in Minnesota. You might also find materials at your local law library.
Additional Landlord Resources
- Tips, information and resources on creating a healthy home environment from the Minnesota Department of Health.
- Resource for landlord education, listing your property, and other housing related information.
Review Woodbury City Ordinances related to rental housing and property maintenance:
- View Woodbury Housing and Property Maintenance Code
- The above link is to the current City Ordinance.
- View the Proposed Housing and Property Maintenance Code (PDF)
- The above link is to the draft version of the Ordinance currently being proposed that will expand the rental licensing program to include licensure of single dwelling units.
Additional areas of City Code that can be helpful for all residents as well as landlords and tenants are:
- Woodbury Nuisances Code
- Woodbury Zoning Code Article V Supplemental District Regulations
- Woodbury Zoning Code Article VI Supplemental Performance Standards
Fair Housing
The Federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing because of race or color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or handicap. The Minnesota Human Rights Act (Statute 363A) mirrors the federal legislation. In addition to the federal protected classes, it prohibits discrimination based on sexual or affectional orientation, marital status, creed or status with regard to receipt of public assistance.
Fair housing covers most housing. In some circumstances, fair housing laws exempt owner-occupied buildings with no more than four units, single-family housing sold or rented without the use of a broker, and housing operated by organizations and private clubs that limit occupancy to members.
Regional Analysis
In 2020 and 2021, a range of cities and counties in the Twin Cities metropolitan area collaborated to create the 2020 to 2024 Regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (PDF). The document is linked on this page. Interested parties with questions about the 2020 to 2024 Regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice are encouraged to contact Jamie Fritts, Woodbury's Housing and Economic Development Coordinator.
Resources for Filing Complaints
Several agencies are available to help victims of fair housing violations including:
- HOME Line Tenant Hotline
Phone: 612-728-5767
HOME Line Email an Attorney Page - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
Phone: 800-669-9777 or TTY: 800-927-9275
Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Page - Minnesota Attorney General
Phone: 651-296-3353
MN Attorney General File a Complaint Page - Minnesota Department of Human Rights
Phone: 651-296-5663 or TTY: 651-296-1283
Minnesota Department of Human Rights Website - Washington County Attorney
Phone: 651-430-6115
Before you contact any of the listed organizations to file a discrimination complaint, it would be beneficial to have the following information available:
- Your name and address
- The name and address of the person your complaint is against
- The address of the housing involved
- A short description of the event that caused you to believe your rights were violated
- The date(s) of the alleged violation