Bloomington MN rent increase 2026

Rent control status: None

Bloomington has no local rent control ordinance and — critically — is legally prohibited from enacting one. Minn. Stat. §471.9996, as strengthened by the 2023 Minnesota Legislature, expressly prohibits any Minnesota city, county, or municipality from adopting a rent control or rent stabilization ordinance. The statute grandfathers only two jurisdictions: Minneapolis (Chapter 244, voter-approved November 2, 2021) and Saint Paul (voter-approved November 2, 2021). No other Minnesota city — including Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Plymouth, Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Eagan, Burnsville, or any other suburb — may enact rent restrictions.

For Bloomington landlords, this means:

• No cap on annual rent increases — Bloomington landlords may raise rent to any market-rate amount between tenancies
• No rent registration or rent board
• No petition process required for capital improvements or operating cost pass-throughs
• No limits on vacancy reset — the unit may be re-let at market rate after each tenancy
• No notice requirements beyond standard Minn. Stat. §504B lease requirements

This framework stands in sharp contrast to Minneapolis, where the 3% hard vacancy control cap means rent ceilings never reset at turnover. A Minneapolis landlord who charged $1,200/month in 2022 can now charge at most approximately $1,275/month in 2026 (4 years × 3%/year compounded) regardless of market rents. A Bloomington landlord faces no such constraint.

Minnesota §504B framework

All Bloomington residential tenancies are governed by Minn. Stat. Chapter 504B (“Landlord and Tenant”). Key provisions:

Lease requirements

Minnesota does not mandate a specific lease form, but all residential leases must comply with §504B. Written leases are strongly recommended for all Bloomington tenancies. If a written lease does not exist, the tenancy is presumed to be month-to-month with rent payment dates as established by course of dealing. Leases in Minnesota may be oral for terms of one year or less; any residential lease for more than one year must be in writing to be enforceable under the Statute of Frauds (Minn. Stat. §513.05).

Rent payment and late fees

Rent is due as specified in the lease. Minnesota law does not impose a mandatory grace period before late fees may be charged; however, many Bloomington landlords include a 3–5 day contractual grace period in their leases. Late fees must be reasonable and clearly specified in the written lease to be enforceable. There is no statutory cap on late fees in Minnesota.

Landlord entry

Minn. Stat. §504B.211 governs landlord entry. Landlords must give “reasonable notice” before entering for non-emergency purposes. Although the statute does not define “reasonable notice” in days, 24 hours advance written or verbal notice is widely accepted as the standard in Minnesota courts. Emergency entry (fire, burst pipe, gas leak, etc.) requires no advance notice. Bloomington landlords should document all entries in writing to establish a consistent compliance record.

Habitability and repair

Minnesota imposes a statutory warranty of habitability (Minn. Stat. §504B.161). Bloomington landlords must maintain the property in compliance with the applicable building, housing, and health codes; keep the premises in a reasonable state of repair; and maintain essential services (heat, water, electrical systems). Significant: Minnesota law (§504B.385) gives tenants the right to “rent escrow” — if the landlord fails to maintain habitability, tenants may deposit rent into a court-supervised escrow account and file for a court order requiring repairs. Tenants who successfully pursue a rent escrow action are not considered delinquent in rent during the escrow period. Bloomington landlords should address maintenance requests promptly to avoid triggering §504B.385 proceedings.

Security deposits (Minn. Stat. §504B.178)

Practice note: the 21-day clock starts when BOTH conditions are met. If a tenant vacates without providing a forwarding address, the clock does not begin. Bloomington landlords should include a forwarding address clause in move-out instructions and document the date the address was received. Sending the deposit return to the last known address is advisable if the tenant fails to provide a forwarding address after a reasonable period.

Eviction process & court location

Jurisdiction trap: There is no District Court courthouse in Bloomington. All Bloomington residential evictions must be filed at the Hennepin County District Court, 4th Judicial District, 300 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55487. Landlords new to the market sometimes mistakenly search for a local Bloomington courthouse — there is none for District Court civil matters.

Non-payment eviction process

1. Rent past due: Minnesota does not require a mandatory pre-filing statutory notice period for non-payment. The landlord may file as soon as rent is past due under the lease. Best practice: give the tenant a written 14-day cure notice and document the delivery before filing — this creates a paper trail and often resolves the matter without court.
2. File Eviction Complaint: File at Hennepin County District Court, 300 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis MN 55487. Current filing fee: approximately $285–$310 (verify at mncourts.gov before filing). Complete the Eviction Complaint form (available at mncourts.gov/selfhelp).
3. Hearing scheduled: Hennepin County typically schedules an eviction hearing within 7–14 calendar days. The court mails or serves notice of the hearing date on the defendant (tenant).
4. Hearing: Both parties appear before a judicial officer. Tenant may raise defenses. For non-payment cases: under Minn. Stat. §504B.341, if the tenant pays all rent due plus reasonable attorney’s fees before or at the hearing, the court MUST dismiss the eviction action — this is a tenant right. This is sometimes called the “right of redemption.”
5. Judgment and Writ: If the landlord prevails, the court enters judgment for possession and may issue a Writ of Recovery of Premises. The Hennepin County Sheriff (Civil Division, 350 South Fifth Street, Minneapolis MN 55415) executes the lockout, typically within 1–2 weeks of the writ issuance.

Total uncontested timeline: approximately 3–5 weeks from filing to Sheriff-supervised lockout in Hennepin County.

Month-to-month termination

To terminate a Bloomington month-to-month tenancy, the landlord must provide written notice of at least one full calendar month, expiring on the last day of a rental period (Minn. Stat. §504B.135). No cause is required in Bloomington. See the FAQ for details.

Major employers in Bloomington MN

Mall of America — Bloomington’s largest employer

Mall of America (5 West Market Street, Bloomington MN 55425) is the United States’ largest retail and entertainment complex, with approximately 5.6 million total square feet, roughly 520 retail stores, a full indoor amusement park (Nickelodeon Universe), a 1.2 million-gallon aquarium (SEA LIFE), multiple hotels, and an office tower. MOA directly and indirectly employs approximately 12,000–13,000 people in its tenant stores, food service operations, entertainment venues, security, facilities maintenance, and corporate management. MOA attracts approximately 40 million visitors annually, generating continuous service and hospitality employment. Pay ranges: retail associates $15–$22/hour; food and beverage management $45,000–$70,000; store managers at national retailers $60,000–$110,000+. MOA workers are a core rental demand segment for south and central Bloomington, particularly in the $1,200–$1,800/month range.

Donaldson Company (NYSE: DCI)

Donaldson Company (1400 West 94th Street, Bloomington MN 55431) is a global industrial filtration manufacturer — engines, industrial processes, specialty filtration — with approximately 14,700 employees worldwide and roughly 2,000–3,000 at its Bloomington headquarters and R&D center. Donaldson generates revenues exceeding $3.5 billion annually (FY2024–2025) and is a Fortune 1000 company (NYSE: DCI). The Bloomington headquarters employs engineers (mechanical, chemical, manufacturing; $90,000–$160,000+), financial analysts, IT professionals, and executives ($150,000–$300,000+). This demographic drives demand for upper-tier Bloomington rentals in the Normandale Lake office park corridor and south Bloomington residential neighborhoods, where 2BR and 3BR units in the $1,700–$2,500/month range are in consistent demand from Donaldson employees relocating from other states or transitioning from ownership.

Toro Company (NYSE: TTC)

Toro Company (8111 Lyndale Avenue South, Bloomington MN 55420) is a manufacturer of outdoor maintenance equipment — commercial and consumer lawn mowers, snow management equipment, grounds maintenance vehicles, irrigation systems, and the Dingo compact utility loader — with approximately 6,000 global employees and its corporate headquarters and product design center in Bloomington. Toro revenues exceed $4.5 billion annually (FY2024), supported by a mix of commercial (golf, sports fields, landscaping) and consumer markets. The Bloomington campus employs engineers ($80,000–$160,000+), product designers, supply chain specialists, and corporate finance professionals. Toro’s Lyndale Avenue South headquarters is in central Bloomington, making adjacent south-Minneapolis and central Bloomington rentals the primary residential targets for Toro employees.

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)

MSP Airport (4300 Glumack Drive, St. Paul MN 55111) is located at the Bloomington/Richfield/Minneapolis junction, and while its official address falls within St. Paul municipal limits, the overwhelming majority of airport-adjacent employment, commercial development, and transportation infrastructure is on the Bloomington/Richfield side of the airport. MSP employs approximately 15,000–20,000+ workers directly (airlines, TSA, ground handling, concessions, Metropolitan Airports Commission) and tens of thousands more in adjacent hospitality, logistics, and cargo operations. Delta Air Lines is the dominant carrier at MSP with its Midwest operational hub; Delta mechanics, ramp agents, flight attendants (based out of MSP), and customer service agents ($55,000–$110,000) represent a significant and growing Bloomington-area renter segment. Proximity to the airport (5–10 minutes via the Hiawatha/Cedar interchange) is a significant draw for MSP-based workers choosing Bloomington over Minneapolis for housing.

Other Bloomington employers

• DoubleTree by Hilton / Marriott / Hyatt Regency (multiple hotel properties near I-494 and MOA): hospitality employment ($35,000–$70,000 for management)
• Normandale Community College (9700 France Avenue South): ~1,000–1,500 faculty and staff; student rental demand in adjacent neighborhoods
• Wells Fargo Home Mortgage (Bloomington operations campus): financial services employment
• Ceridian HCM / Dayforce (formerly based at Bloomington operations; now partially relocated): HR technology

2026 rent ranges by submarket

Bloomington occupancy rates have remained consistently above 95% in the 2022–2026 period, driven by strong employment anchors (MOA, Donaldson, Toro, MSP) and the absence of rent control artificially suppressing supply investment. The Normandale Lake office park area has seen the most new apartment development, with several mixed-use projects delivering units in the $1,800–$2,500/month range for one-bedroom.

Bloomington MN landlord checklist 2026

1. Confirm no rent control applies: Verify the property address is within Bloomington city limits (not Minneapolis or Saint Paul). Use the Hennepin County GIS property search at gis.hennepin.us to confirm the municipality.
2. Prepare a written lease: Use a Minnesota-compliant lease form (available from the Minnesota Multi Housing Association or a licensed real estate attorney). Include rent due date, late fee schedule, entry notice policy, and pet policy in writing.
3. Document the deposit in writing: Provide a written receipt at move-in specifying the deposit amount, interest rate (if applicable), and the 21-day return timeline under §504B.178.
4. Conduct a move-in inspection: Complete a written inspection report with both landlord and tenant signatures and date-stamped photographs. This is the primary defense against deposit dispute claims.
5. Confirm court location for evictions: All Bloomington evictions file at Hennepin County District Court, 300 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis MN 55487 (not in Bloomington).
6. Serve rent increase notices properly: No statutory notice minimum for rent increases in Bloomington beyond the lease terms; best practice is 30–60 days written notice before any increase takes effect.
7. Understand the tenant right of redemption: In a non-payment eviction, the tenant can cure at or before the first hearing by paying all amounts due plus attorney’s fees. Factor this into timelines when planning cash flow.
8. Check SCRA status for military tenants: Verify military status via scra.dmdc.osd.mil before proceeding with any eviction of a tenant who may be on active duty. SCRA violations carry federal penalties.
9. Maintain habitability to avoid rent escrow: Respond to repair requests promptly in writing. Minnesota §504B.385 allows tenants to escrow rent if the landlord fails to maintain habitable conditions — this can create significant cash flow disruption.
10. Provide forwarding address instructions at move-out: Remind tenants in writing (at notice of non-renewal) to provide a forwarding address; the 21-day deposit return clock does not begin until you have both vacating AND the forwarding address.

FAQ — Bloomington MN rent increase 2026