Minneapolis Eviction Court Steps 2026–27: The 30-Day Notice, Hennepin County Housing Court, Your Free Lawyer and the 24-Hour Writ
Minneapolis tenants who fall behind on rent get more warning than most renters in Minnesota. A landlord in the city has to give you a 30-day written notice before filing an eviction for unpaid rent. Most of the state only requires 14 days. Once a case is filed, though, it moves quickly. The first hearing in Hennepin County Housing Court comes 7 to 14 days after the summons is issued, and if you're late, you lose automatically.
The good news is that help is there if you show up. Hennepin County's Housing Court offers free lawyers, free mediation and rent-help referrals. Many cases end in a settlement that lets the tenant stay. This guide walks through each step. It isn't legal advice.
Last checked October 2026. Sources: the Minnesota Legal Services Coalition's 2026 "Evictions" fact sheet (LawHelpMN.org); the Hennepin County District Court's Housing Court page; Hennepin County's eviction prevention page; and Minnesota Statutes section 504B.321.
The Short Version
Step 1, the notice: for unpaid rent in Minneapolis, a written notice 30 days before filing. There's no required notice for a lease-violation case.
Step 2, the summons: you must get the court papers at least 7 days before the hearing. The hearing is 7 to 14 days after the summons is issued.
Step 3, the hearing: be on time. Ask for a free lawyer when you arrive. Bring the rent and fees if you can pay.
If you lose: you can ask for up to 7 days to move. The writ gives 24 hours. You have 15 days to appeal.
Help: Adult Representation Services 612-348-7012, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid 612-334-5970, Hennepin County Tenant Resource Connection 612-767-9737.
Step 1: The Notice
Unpaid rent
According to the 2026 LawHelpMN fact sheet, most Minnesota landlords must give tenants 14 days' notice before filing an eviction for unpaid rent. In Minneapolis, it's 30 days. The same applies in St. Louis Park and Brooklyn Center.
The notice must be in writing, delivered in person or by first-class mail, and attached to the eviction complaint. It must include:
the total amount due and a breakdown of what's owed;
the name and address of the person who can accept rent for the landlord;
a statement about your right to legal help and LawHelpMN.org;
a statement about where to apply for financial help: your county or Tribal social services office, MNbenefits.mn.gov, or United Way 211 (800-543-7709); and
a statement that the landlord can file if you don't pay the full amount or move out in time.
If the landlord didn't give you this notice, left something out, or filed before the notice period ended, the fact sheet says you can ask the court to dismiss and expunge (erase) the case.
Lease violations and move-out notices
Lease violation: no advance notice is required. The landlord must give specific details and prove the violation was material.
End of tenancy ("holding over"): if you paid your rent and didn't break the lease, you need a proper written move-out notice. Without a written lease, it has to arrive at least a month and a day before the move-out date.
Use the notice period
Hennepin County suggests you:
check RentHelpHennepin to see if you're eligible for rent assistance;
get help working out a payment plan. Community Mediation's Hennepin court line is 612-200-3551, hennepincourt@communitymediationmn.org; and
call the county's Tenant Resource Connection at 612-767-9737. Leave a message and someone will call you back.
Step 2: The Summons and Complaint
The landlord files with the court, and the court issues a Summons and Complaint with the time and place of your hearing. Under Minnesota law, the first appearance must be 7 to 14 days after the summons is issued.
How you must be served: the fact sheet says the landlord must try to hand you the papers at least twice, on two different days, with one attempt between 6 and 10 p.m. If the landlord usually talks to you by text or email, they must also send the papers that way. Only if they can't find you can they mail and post the papers, filing proof of each step. You must get the papers at least 7 days before the hearing. If service wasn't done right, you can ask for the case to be dismissed and expunged.
Lost your summons? Look up your case on the Minnesota Courts website, or call 612-348-6000.
Step 3: The Hearing
Hennepin County Housing Court is a specialty court with three referees. It's on the 3rd floor of the C Tower at the Hennepin County Government Center.
Show up, and on time
The fact sheet is blunt: if you're late, you lose automatically. Go even if you think you have no defense, and even if your landlord says you don't need to. The court warns that if you're out of the room when your case is called, the landlord may get a 24-hour eviction notice.
If your summons says the hearing is in person, you have the right to ask for a remote hearing. The court has instructions and forms for that.
The court also says to arrange child care, because you may be there several hours. If you need an interpreter, call 612-348-6000 right away.
Ask for a free lawyer
At court: the Volunteer Lawyers Network says to ask for a free lawyer when you arrive at your first hearing. You'll be screened there.
Before court: Adult Representation Services, 612-348-7012 or ContactARS@hennepin.us; Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, 612-334-5970; or Volunteer Lawyers Network, 612-752-6677.
The Housing Court Project offers legal advice at the courthouse.
Bring the money if you can
If the case is about unpaid rent, the fact sheet says to bring all the rent owed, plus late fees, the landlord's filing fee and the service fee. The filing fee runs about $280 to $400 depending on the county, and service fees must be reasonable. The court may give you up to 7 days to pay the fees, but you have to ask. A guarantee letter from an agency that promises to pay the landlord can also work.
For rent help before the hearing, the court lists Hennepin County Economic Assistance (612-596-1300) and United Way 211 (612-335-5000).
Common defenses
The fact sheet lists several:
Wrong amount. Bring your receipts. Late fees can't be more than 8% of the unpaid rent for that month.
Repairs. You can ask the court to lower the rent, but most judges won't consider this unless you bring all the rent money, which may need to be deposited with the court clerk.
Partial rent accepted. If the landlord took part of what you owed, they may have given up the right to evict for nonpayment. Check your lease, though.
Retaliation. For example, a move-out notice within 90 days after you called a housing inspector.
Disability or domestic violence connected to a lease violation.
An Answer form is optional in Minnesota, but the court website has a Hennepin County Answer form. If you file one, bring 3 copies.
Settle, and ask for expungement
Many cases settle, sometimes with the help of free court mediation. If you make a deal, get it in writing, signed, and approved by the court. Don't agree to anything you can't do. An agreement becomes a court order, and breaking it can get you removed.
Ask for expungement as part of the deal. Eviction records are public, and tenant screening companies can report them for 3 years or more. The court must expunge a case if you win, if it's dismissed, if both sides agree, or if you complete a settlement and file a motion.
Step 4: If You Lose
Ask for time. You can ask the court for up to 7 days to move out. Explain why, especially if children, seniors or people with disabilities live with you. You only get it if you ask.
The writ. A sheriff or police officer delivers or posts a writ that gives you 24 hours to move out. If you don't, the landlord schedules a move-out with the sheriff and must tell you when it will be.
Appeal. You have 15 days to appeal. If a referee decided the case, you can also ask a judge to review it, but you have to act fast.
Expungement later. It's harder after a loss, but still possible. If your eviction is 3 or more years old, ask the court to expunge it.
What we couldn't confirm: Minneapolis's 30-day notice ordinance itself wasn't fetched (the rule comes from the LawHelpMN fact sheet). Adult Representation Services' income limits and RentHelpHennepin's eligibility rules weren't on the pages we checked. Housing Court hours aren't listed.
A Quick Checklist
Got a rent notice? In Minneapolis, check that it gave you 30 days and has every required statement.
Apply for rent help right away through RentHelpHennepin or 211.
Got a summons? Note the date and get to the C Tower, 3rd floor, early.
Ask for a free lawyer when you arrive.
Bring the rent and fees if you can, along with receipts, photos and your lease.
Settling? Put expungement in the agreement.
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