Minnesota Rental Application (2026)

A landlord's tenant application with lawful screening questions, fee disclosure and FCRA consent, adjusted to your state's rules.

Updated September 2026≈ 10 minReviewed against Minn. Stat. § 504B.173, subd. 1 · 15 U.S.C. § 1681m · Minn. Stat. § 363A.09, subd. 1

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What you'll get

Sample first page of the Rental Application. Your answers fill in the blanks; the clauses required in Minnesota are added automatically.

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What this document covers

Property, rent and desired move-in date
Application fee within the state cap and receipt
Pre-screening notice where the state requires it
Applicant identity and co-applicants
Residence history for 3 years
Employment and income, including lawful sources
Eviction and bankruptcy questions where allowed
Fair-chance criminal-history rules
Tenant selection criteria and equal-housing statement
FCRA consent and adverse-action notice

Minnesota rules that this document follows

Application fee limit	actual costSource: Minn. Stat. § 504B.173, subd. 1 (screening fee may not exceed the actual cost of the screening)
Refund rule	Must refund if the applicant is not screened or a unit is not available; landlord must first disclose in writing the screening criteria, the amount of the fee, and that it will be refunded if no screening is done (§ 504B.173, subd. 2)Source: Minn. Stat. § 504B.173, subd. 1 (screening fee may not exceed the actual cost of the screening)
Must give applicant a copy of screening report	Not required by state law (FCRA adverse-action notice still applies)Source: 15 U.S.C. § 1681m
Criminal-history questions	Prohibited before a conditional offer in: Minneapolis (Code § 244.2030); St. Paul. No statewide lookback limit; landlord must give written notice of the specific reason for denial within 14 days when denial is based on screening (§ 504B.173, subd. 3). Minneapolis and St. Paul ordinances limit criminal lookbacks and credit screening.Source: Minn. Stat. § 504B.173, subd. 3; Minneapolis Code § 244.2030
Source of income protected	Yes — vouchers and other lawful income must be consideredSource: Minn. Stat. § 363A.09, subd. 1 (status with regard to public assistance)
Additional protected classes	creed, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity
Holding deposit	Pre-lease deposit must be returned within 7 days if landlord does not rent, or applied to the security deposit if the tenant moves in (Minn. Stat. § 504B.175)
Written notice before screening	Required — this application contains itSource: Minn. Stat. § 504B.173, subd. 2

Rules current as of 2026-10-27. Statutes change; verify before relying on them.

How to use this Rental Application in Minnesota

Use one application per adult. Collect the Social Security number only on the signed paper copy, never by email. Apply the same written criteria to every applicant and keep denied applications for at least two years in case of a fair-housing inquiry. Give the applicant this form — it contains the written notice Minnesota requires BEFORE you obtain any screening report.

Charge only a fee that Minnesota permits, give a receipt, and if you deny based on a consumer report send the FCRA adverse-action notice within a few days.

Frequently asked questions

Can a landlord charge an application fee in Minnesota?

Rule: actual cost (Minn. Stat. § 504B.173).

What questions are illegal on a rental application?

You may not ask about race, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability, nor about arrests without conviction. Minnesota adds: creed, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity. Criminal-history questions are barred before a conditional offer in Minneapolis (Code § 244.2030), St. Paul. This form omits those questions automatically.

Do I have to give the applicant a copy of the screening report?

Federal law requires an adverse-action notice naming the reporting agency; Minnesota does not separately require a copy of the report.

Other names

tenant application form
apartment application
lease application
rental application form
tenant screening form
renter application
housing application

Other states

FormsByState provides self-help document templates and general information, not legal advice. We are not a law firm. For advice about your situation consult a licensed attorney in your state.