St. Paul Council adopts tenant protections ordinance after months of debate

The St. Paul City Council adopted Ordinance 25-31, a tenant protections ordinance, after a public hearing and extended debate, voting 7-0 in favor.

The ordinance updates local tenant protections to require longer notice periods in certain circumstances, limit some security deposit practices, and add other screening and notice requirements intended to give renters more time and information to find housing, the chief sponsor, identified in the record as Council Member Johnson, told the council before the final vote.

Council Member Johnson, who led the measure, described it as a multi-year effort to restore protections that had been considered and discussed in prior council sessions. She thanked staff from the city attorney’s office and local advocates for drafting and refining the ordinance. Council members across the chamber expressed support during debate; several emphasized the ordinance’s role in stabilizing housing access for low-income and disproportionately affected communities.

Speakers during the public hearing included renters, landlords, and housing advocates. Testimony ranged from support for stronger renter protections and fair housing testing to concerns from small property owners and landlords about unintended consequences. City staff and sponsor offices told the council they had reviewed public comments submitted earlier and during the hearing; the ordinance was unchanged from its previous published form before the adoption vote.

The council completed the required public hearing and took a voice vote followed by a formal adoption announcement: “7 in favor and none opposed,” the clerk recorded, and the ordinance was declared adopted.

What the ordinance does and next steps

Ordinance 25-31 (tenant protections) sets notice standards, modifies certain screening practices, and places limits on some upfront move-in costs. It directs city staff to implement enforcement mechanisms and to publish guidance for residents and landlords. The ordinance will require administrative setup by city departments before enforcement begins; the council and sponsor offices said implementation timelines will be clarified by the administration.

The city attorney’s office and sponsor staff were credited repeatedly for negotiating text with community groups and for making the ordinance workable across the city’s diverse neighborhoods.

Ending

Council members and community speakers framed the adoption as a step toward housing stability for renters across St. Paul; the council directed staff to proceed with implementation steps and to provide materials to the public on the ordinance’s effective dates and enforcement mechanisms.