Move-In/Move-Out Checklist for Minnesota landlords

Document property condition with detailed room inspection Written to MN landlord-tenant law, with the notice period counted for you.

Pay or quit
14 days
Month-to-month
30 days
Rent increase notice
30 days
Max deposit
No limit
Deposit return
21 days
Minnesota · MNCommonly used

When you need a move-in/move-out checklist.

  • Security deposit disputes
  • Property damage claims
  • Pre-existing damage documentation
  • Professional inspection process

Minnesota rules that apply here.

Rent control applies in parts of Minnesota. Where a local ordinance is stricter than state law, the local rule governs.

  • 14-day notice for nonpayment
  • St. Paul has 3% rent cap
  • Tenant screening fee limits apply

Rent control areas
St. Paul

What landlords ask about this in Minnesota.

What should be on a move-in checklist?
Every room, and within each room the floors, walls, ceiling, windows, doors, fixtures and any appliance. Record the condition, not just that the item exists. Include meter readings and key counts, date it, and photograph everything you note.
Should the tenant sign the checklist?
Yes, and give them a copy. An unsigned checklist is your word against theirs. A signed one the tenant helped fill in is close to unarguable when the deposit is settled.
Can I charge for damage without a checklist?
You can try, but you carry the burden of showing the damage was not already there, and without a move-in record that is hard. Minnesota gives you 21 days to return the deposit with an itemised statement, and a disputed deduction with no baseline usually fails.
How detailed should the inspection be?
Detailed enough that a stranger reading it in a year can tell what the unit looked like. Timestamped photos do most of the work. Over-documenting costs you an hour; under-documenting costs you the deposit dispute.

This is general information about Minnesota landlord-tenant law, not legal advice. Local ordinances can be stricter than the state rule, and if a dispute is already underway it is worth an hour of a lawyer’s time.

Related MN forms

This form in other states

The document is the same; the notice period is not. Pick the state the property is in, not the one you live in.

Generate your Minnesota move-in/move-out checklist.

Free, no account, and dated against MN rules. Create an account only when you want the tenant details reused next month and the copies kept.