How long does an eviction take in Minnesota?
For unpaid rent, expect about 4.5 weeks from the first notice to the lockout in Minnesota, and anywhere from 3.5 to 8.5 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Minnesota eviction timeline, step by step
- Notice to pay or leave 14 daysofficial source
14 days' notice (Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.321, 504B.291) source · secondary source - File the case and get a judgment about 7-14 days (typical 10)official source
Hearing 7-14 days after the summons is issued source - Judgment to lockout 3-10 daysofficial source
Writ of recovery may be stayed up to 7 days source - If the tenant appeals 15-day windowofficial source
15 days to appeal after judgment source
Timeline model: notice + filing-to-judgment window + judgment-to-lockout window; the high case adds 21 days for a contested hearing. Methodology.
Can the tenant pay and stay?
Tenant can redeem by paying rent, fees and costs before the hearing ends (Minn. Stat. § 504B.291). official source source
Eviction costs in Minnesota
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Court filing fee | $310-$322 | statewide base; county law-library fee varies: $310 plus county law library fee (Hennepin total $322) official source source |
| Serving the tenant | $30-$77 | Not verified for Minnesota; the calculator uses the national default range. unverified |
| Sheriff/marshal lockout | $75-$180 | Not verified for Minnesota; the calculator uses the national default range. unverified |
| Lawyer, uncontested | $500-$1,500 | National rough estimate, not state-specific estimate |
| Lawyer, contested | $2,000-$5,000+ | National rough estimate estimate |
| Median gross rent | $1,291/mo | Census ACS 2024 1-year (±$17) data file |
Tenant protections
| Statewide rent control | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Statewide just-cause rules | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Right to counsel for tenants | Yes | Statewide right to counsel (scope limited; enacted 2023) secondary source source |
| Seasonal or weather limits | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Required mediation / pre-filing program | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Local rules | Check | Minneapolis has a local right-to-counsel program. |
Eviction cost calculator for Minnesota
| What | Typical | Low to high |
|---|
Full timeline and sources · Total = rent × (months behind + months to evict + months to re-rent) + court fees + lawyer + turnover. How we calculate.
Tenant screening
Reserved for a tenant-screening partner (credit, eviction and background checks). No partner yet; nothing here is a recommendation.
Rent-guarantee insurance
Reserved for a rent-guarantee or landlord insurance partner that covers unpaid rent and eviction costs. No partner yet.
Landlord-friendliness score: 72/100
Timeline 39.6/50 · right to cure 7/20 · statewide protections 25/30. How the score works.
Minnesota eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Minnesota?
A nonpayment eviction in Minnesota typically takes about 4.5 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 3.5 to 8.5 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an EvictionMath estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked 2026-10-17.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Minnesota?
14 days' notice (Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.321, 504B.291).
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Minnesota by paying the rent?
Tenant can redeem by paying rent, fees and costs before the hearing ends (Minn. Stat. § 504B.291).
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Minnesota?
The filing fee we found is $310-$322 (statewide base; county law-library fee varies). That is a local example, not a statewide fee, and other courts charge different amounts. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
Is Minnesota landlord-friendly for evictions?
Minnesota scores 72 out of 100 on the EvictionMath landlord-friendliness score (timeline 39.6/50, right to cure 7/20, statewide tenant protections 25/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
| Field | Source type | Link | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice period | official source | www.revisor.mn.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Notice period (backup) | secondary source | www.nolo.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Court deadlines | official source | www.revisor.mn.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Judgment to lockout | official source | www.revisor.mn.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Appeal | official source | mncourts.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Filing fee | official source | www.mncourts.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Service fee | unverified | none yet | 2026-10-17 |
| Lockout fee | unverified | none yet | 2026-10-17 |
| Right to counsel | secondary source | civilrighttocounsel.org | 2026-10-17 |
| Median rent | official source | census.gov (ACS B25064) | 2026-10-17 |
Not yet verified for Minnesota: service fee, lockout fee. Fields we couldn't source are left blank, never guessed. Found an error? Laws change; tell us via the newsletter reply.
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