Mayor Frey vetoes Minneapolis plan to extend eviction filing notice from 30 to 60 days temporarily

Veto blocks temporary change to Minneapolis pre-eviction filing timeline

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has vetoed a City Council-approved ordinance that would have temporarily doubled the city’s required pre-eviction filing notice period from 30 days to 60 days. The measure passed the council March 5 on a 7-5 vote and would have applied to evictions filed for nonpayment of rent.

The veto keeps in place Minneapolis’ current 30-day pre-eviction filing notice requirement, a renter protection that took effect March 1, 2025 after the city increased the notice period from 14 days. Under the existing rule, a landlord must provide a written notice and wait 30 days before filing an eviction case for nonpayment in court.

What the ordinance would have changed, and for how long

The rejected ordinance would have required a 60-day waiting period before an eviction filing could be initiated for nonpayment of rent, rather than the current 30 days. The council’s action was framed as a temporary intervention tied to recent economic disruptions affecting tenants; council materials described a multi-month window for expanded notice, with proposed end dates ranging from late July through late August 2026 in different public descriptions of the policy.

City Council proponents argued that the additional time would help renters gather funds, apply for assistance, or secure legal help before an eviction filing is made. Opponents raised concerns that a longer notice period could increase rent arrears and complicate property operations, particularly for smaller landlords and affordable housing providers.

Rental assistance emphasized as alternative approach

In parallel with the debate over notice timelines, city leaders have moved to increase emergency rental assistance. The council previously approved a $1 million allocation intended to support emergency rental assistance administered through Hennepin County. The mayor’s veto message also coincided with an announcement of an additional $1 million investment in emergency rental assistance, reflecting a strategy focused on helping tenants resolve nonpayment rather than extending the time before a court filing can occur.

Key facts and what happens next

• Minneapolis currently requires a 30-day pre-eviction filing notice for nonpayment cases, effective since March 1, 2025.
• The City Council voted 7-5 on March 5, 2026 to temporarily extend that notice period to 60 days.
• Mayor Frey vetoed the ordinance on March 11, 2026, leaving the 30-day requirement in place.
• The council may attempt to override the veto under city procedures, which require a supermajority vote.

The central policy question remains whether delaying filings through a longer notice period prevents displacement by buying time for problem-solving, or whether it risks increasing unpaid balances that can make housing loss more likely once cases proceed.

The veto sets up a renewed council debate over whether tenant protections should be expanded through timing requirements, direct financial assistance, or a combination of both as eviction filings continue in 2026.