Selling/Renting a Home

Arrange for a housing inspection
If you are selling a home in St. Louis Park, you must arrange for a housing inspection. For details, click on Housing Inspections.

Buyers
In most cases, the seller makes the code corrections. However, buyers may obtain a temporary property maintenance certificate if they sign an agreement acknowledging the work orders and agreeing to make all required code work within a specific time period.

Housing inspections are aimed at protecting the community's overall housing stock and avoiding unsafe conditions and major deterioration. A City housing inspection is neither a home seller disclosure statement nor a buyer protection program. We always suggest buyers hire their own private inspector.

Renting Out Single-Family Homes or Duplexes
Owners who wish to rent out a single family home or duplex, must apply for an annual business license by January 1. This requirement also applies to owners who don't live in the home and who are allowing someone (even a relative) to live in the home or duplex without paying rent. The license fee is

• $95 per home
• $95 when only one side of a duplex is rented out and the owner lives on the other side
• $145 when both sides of a duplex are rented out.

This City ordinance enables a city staff member to inspect rental property once every two years to ensure it is being maintained to the minimum housing maintenance code requirements that apply to other homes as well as apartment buildings and businesses. Owners would need to correct any code violations, just as apartment owners and homeowners now do.

• A dwelling unit occupied by the owner for a minimum of six months per calendar year.
• Rented rooms within an owner occupied dwelling unit.
• Unoccupied dwelling units being offered for sale which have been issued a Certificate of Property Maintenance that remains in effect.

For more information, contact Ann Boettcher, Inspections Department, at (952) 924-2504 or aboettcher@stlouispark.org. For a form to print out and fax in, click here .

Selling your residential property
Inspections at the time of sale are aimed at protecting the community's overall housing stock and avoiding unsafe conditions and major deterioration. The City of St. Louis Park requires property inspections whenever a property is sold or ownership is transferred. To ensure you are ready for closing, apply for your inspection before or immediately after you place your property up for sale. A Property Maintenance Certificate MUST be presented to the buyer and title company when the property transfer occurs at closing.

To schedule an inspection, the homeowner or the owner's agent may either call the Inspections Department at (952) 924-2588 or come to St. Louis Park City Hall (second floor - Inspections Department). City Hall is located at 5005 Minnetonka Boulevard (three blocks east of Highway 100). You may also apply on-line. (Click on Permits & Forms.)

The fee for the housing inspection includes the initial inspection and any follow-up inspections that may be needed. Inspection appointments are typically available within one to three days. A City inspector will visit your property to check that the siding, roof, garage and interior complies with the City's property maintenance code. A typical inspection takes about 45 to 60 minutes. Fees are

• $210 house or townhome
• $130 condo
• $295 duplex

If the inspector finds no code violations, a Property Maintenance Certificate is issued.

If code violations are found, work orders are issued for the needed repairs. In most cases, corrections must meet the code requirements that were in place when the building was constructed. If a portion of the home was remodeled, the remodeled section must comply with the building code that was in effect when the remodeling occurred. (Exception: smoke detectors are required in all buildings, no matter when constructed.)

In most cases, the seller makes the code corrections. However, buyers may obtain a temporary property maintenance certificate if they sign an agreement acknowledging the work orders and agreeing to make all required code work within a specific time period. Buyers and sellers must use the City's Agreement Form and pay a $50 service fee. In addition, sufficient funds must be put in escrow to cover the cost outlined in the agreement. A City representative must also sign off on the agreement.

After repairs have been completed, a City housing inspector will return for a follow-up inspection to verify that all work meets code. Once this is done, a Property Maintenance Certificate is issued. Certificates are good for one year.