Want to skip straight to checking your own building? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.
Cloquet is a city of roughly 13,000 residents in Carlton County in northeastern Minnesota, situated along the St. Louis River. While smaller than the Twin Cities metro, Cloquet has a meaningful renter population that relies on Minnesota's statewide tenant protections. Renters here most commonly seek information about security deposit returns, what repairs landlords must make, and the rules around eviction notice.
All residential rentals in Cloquet are governed by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 504B — the state's comprehensive landlord-tenant law. This statute covers security deposits, habitability obligations, eviction procedures, anti-retaliation protections, and the prohibition on self-help evictions. Cloquet has not enacted any additional local ordinances beyond what state law provides.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws can change, and your specific situation may involve facts that affect how the law applies to you. If you need legal guidance, contact a qualified attorney or a free tenant legal aid organization.
Cloquet does not have a rent control or rent stabilization ordinance. Under Minn. Stat. § 471.9996, Minnesota cities are legally permitted to enact local rent stabilization policies, and two cities — Minneapolis and St. Paul — have done so with 3% annual caps. However, Cloquet has not passed any such ordinance, and no Carlton County-wide rent control rule exists.
In practice, this means that in Cloquet, a landlord may raise rent by any amount at the end of a lease term, provided the tenant receives proper written notice before the increase takes effect. For month-to-month tenants, at least one full rental period of written notice is required before a rent increase becomes enforceable (Minn. Stat. § 504B.135). For fixed-term leases, the landlord must wait until the lease expires to implement an increase unless the lease itself allows mid-term changes.
Renters who believe a rent increase is being used to retaliate against them for requesting repairs or exercising other legal rights may have protections under Minn. Stat. § 504B.441, which prohibits landlord retaliation. But absent a retaliatory motive, there is no ceiling on how much rent can increase in Cloquet.
Minnesota's Chapter 504B provides a comprehensive set of protections for all renters in Cloquet. Key protections include:
Habitability (Minn. Stat. § 504B.161): Landlords must keep rental units fit for human habitation, including maintaining adequate heat, water, electrical systems, and structural safety. If a landlord fails to make required repairs after being notified, a tenant may seek a rent escrow remedy through district court under Minn. Stat. § 504B.385, allowing rent to be deposited with the court until repairs are completed.
Security Deposit Rules (Minn. Stat. § 504B.178): Landlords must return the security deposit — along with accrued interest — and an itemized written statement of any deductions within 21 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant vacates. Failure to comply entitles the tenant to damages of up to $500 plus double the amount of any deposit wrongfully withheld in bad faith, as well as attorney's fees.
Notice to Terminate (Minn. Stat. § 504B.135): Either a landlord or a tenant must give at least one full rental period of written notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy. For most month-to-month renters who pay rent on the first of the month, this means notice must be given before the first of the month to be effective at the end of that month.
Anti-Retaliation (Minn. Stat. § 504B.441): A landlord may not evict, increase rent, reduce services, or otherwise retaliate against a tenant for reporting housing code violations, complaining to the landlord about habitability issues, or exercising any rights under Minnesota law. If a landlord takes an adverse action within 90 days of such protected activity, retaliation is presumed.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Minn. Stat. § 504B.225): Self-help eviction is illegal in Minnesota. A landlord may not remove a tenant by changing locks, removing doors or windows, shutting off utilities, or removing the tenant's personal property. Any such action entitles the tenant to recover possession plus damages.
Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. § 504B.178) governs security deposits for all Cloquet rentals. There is no statutory cap on how large a security deposit a landlord may charge, so the deposit amount is set by the terms of your lease.
Return deadline: The landlord must return the full deposit — plus interest accrued at the rate required by Minn. Stat. § 504B.178, subd. 2 — along with a written, itemized statement of any deductions, within 21 calendar days after the tenancy ends and the tenant has vacated the unit. If a tenant provides a forwarding address in writing, the clock starts on the date the tenant vacates. If no forwarding address is provided, the 21-day period begins when the landlord receives the forwarding address.
Allowable deductions: Landlords may deduct for unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, and other lease-specified charges. Normal wear and tear — such as minor scuffs on walls or carpet worn from regular use — may not be deducted.
Penalties for wrongful withholding: If a landlord fails to return the deposit within 21 days without a valid itemized explanation, the tenant may sue in conciliation court (small claims court) and recover up to $500 in statutory damages plus double the amount of the deposit wrongfully withheld if the withholding was in bad faith, plus reasonable attorney's fees (Minn. Stat. § 504B.178, subd. 7). Even a technical failure — such as missing the deadline or omitting the itemized statement — can support a damages claim.
Evictions in Cloquet are governed by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 504B. A landlord must follow the legal court process to remove a tenant; self-help eviction is strictly prohibited under Minn. Stat. § 504B.225.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing an eviction (called an 'eviction action' or 'unlawful detainer' in Minnesota), the landlord must provide proper written notice:
Step 2 — Court Filing: If the tenant does not vacate or remedy the violation, the landlord files an eviction action in Carlton County District Court. The tenant is served with a summons and complaint and given a hearing date, which is typically set 7–14 days after service.
Step 3 — Hearing: Both parties appear before a judge. The tenant has the right to present a defense, including wrongful withholding of security deposit, habitability issues, or retaliation. If the court rules for the landlord, a Writ of Recovery is issued.
Step 4 — Writ of Recovery: The sheriff — not the landlord — enforces the writ and supervises the tenant's removal. Landlords who take matters into their own hands by changing locks, removing belongings, or cutting utilities face civil liability under Minn. Stat. § 504B.225, including tenant damages and recovery of possession.
No Just-Cause Requirement: Cloquet has no just-cause eviction ordinance. At the end of a fixed-term lease, a landlord may decline to renew without stating a reason, provided proper notice is given. However, an eviction may not be filed in retaliation for tenant complaints or protected activity (Minn. Stat. § 504B.441).
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information presented here reflects Minnesota law as understood in April 2026 and is intended to help Cloquet renters understand their general rights. Laws change, local ordinances may be enacted, and individual circumstances vary. Nothing on this page creates an attorney-client relationship. If you have a specific legal problem or need advice about your situation, please contact a licensed Minnesota attorney or a qualified legal aid organization such as HOME Line or Legal Aid Twin Cities.
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
Use the Address Checker →We'll email you if the rent cap, coverage rules, or tenant protections change — no spam, unsubscribe any time.