RELEASE
April 1, 2022
Contact:
Suzanne Donovan
suzanne.donovan@ci.stpaul.mn.us
651-266-9017
Department of Safety & Inspections Invites Community Members to Provide Feedback on Proposed Rent Stabilization Rules
Public Comment Period Open April 7-22 as City Plans for May 1 Implementation
Saint Paul, MN - Today, the Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI) invited community members to provide feedback on proposed rules for the City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance during a public comment period from April 7 through April 22. Rules will clarify how the ordinance is carried out including informing new processes the Department of Safety and Inspections will oversee.
“Engaging our community in the rulemaking process is a vital part of ensuring rent stabilization works in our city,” said Angie Wiese, interim DSI director. “We invite everyone to participate in this process in the coming weeks as we move toward implementation next month.”
ABOUT THE RULEMAKING PROCESS
On November 2, 2021, Saint Paul voters approved a Rent Stabilization Ordinance for the City of Saint Paul. The ordinance limits residential rent increases to no more than 3% in a 12-month period, regardless of whether there is a change of occupancy. The ordinance also directs the City to create a process for landlords to request an exception to the 3% limit based on the right to a reasonable return on investment.
After the Rent Stabilization Ordinance became law, DSI was tasked with working toward a May 1, 2022, implementation date. To that end, DSI is proposing rules to clarify and implement Saint Paul’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance. Rules clarify how a law or policy is to be carried out or enforced and have the force and effect of law.
A City webpage has been established that provides information including proposed rent stabilization rules that will be open for public comment April 7, 2022, to April 22, 2022, along with proposed processes and definitions by which landlords would request an exception to the 3% limit.
View the Rent Stabilization Rulemaking and Implementation Webpage
stpaul.gov/rent-stabilization-rulemaking
After public comments are received, the City will review and publish the final rules, along with text addressing substantive concerns on the City’s website by Friday, April 29, 2022. On May 1, 2022, the intake form will be available on the website for landlords to complete to formally request an exception to the limit on rent established by the ordinance.
ABOUT THE PUBLIC COMMENT PROCESS
DSI is proposing rules that specify how landlord requests for exceptions to the limitation on rent increases will be processed. The department has also proposed rules that identify the information to be considered when determining whether a landlord has demonstrated that an exception is needed to achieve a reasonable return on investment.
While Section 193A.05 of the Ordinance lays out factors that DSI must consider when determining whether a landlord’s request for exception should be granted, it does not specify a means of analyzing those factors. DSI’s proposed rules create a means to analyze landlord requests. Read and download the Proposed Rules here.
As part of the rulemaking process, DSI is also inviting public comment on additional supporting materials including draft processes by which landlords would request an exception to the 3% limit, information on tenant notification, and proposed definitions to be adopted by City Council. These materials are available for review on the City’s Rent Stabilization Rulemaking and Implementation webpage along with proposed rules.
HOW TO SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENT
Members of the public can participate in the public comment process by submitting feedback from April 7 through April 22 using any of the methods below. Every comment received will be part of the record for rulemaking purposes, and all community input will be reviewed and considered.
- Submit public comment through a web form available on the City’s website.
- Email public comments to rent-stabilization@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
- Send public comments via US mail.
- DSI- Rent Stabilization 375 Jackson Suite 220 Saint Paul, MN 55101
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Find information about the City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance here. For questions or inquiries, please contact us by email at rent-stabilization@ci.stpaul.mn.us, or by phone at 651-266-8553.
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