Minnesota Rental Application

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

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Minnesota rules that this document follows

Application fee limitactual costSource: Minn. Stat. § 504B.173, subd. 1 (screening fee may not exceed the actual cost of the screening)
Refund ruleMust 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 reportNot required by state law (FCRA adverse-action notice still applies)Source: 15 U.S.C. § 1681m
Criminal-history questionsNo 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 protectedYes — vouchers and other lawful income must be consideredSource: Minn. Stat. § 363A.09, subd. 1 (status with regard to public assistance)
Additional protected classescreed, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity
Holding depositPre-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)

Rules current as of 2026-09-07. 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.

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, subd. 1 (screening fee may not exceed the actual cost of the screening)).

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. 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.

Related documents

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.