Uncontested: 30–60 days ·
Contested: 60–150 days · Under Minn. Stat. § 504B (Landlord and Tenant)
The Minnesota eviction process requires a court-ordered judgment before a landlord can remove a tenant. Timeline figures below begin after the pre-filing notice period expires and the landlord files the complaint with the court. Add 3–60+ days for the applicable pre-filing notice period (pay-or-quit, cure-or-quit, or no-fault) depending on the eviction reason.
Each row's day-label is the cumulative start of that stage on the worst-case clock.
Pre-filingNoticeFileCourtLockout
14–60d
1
Stage 1 · Gate
Serve the notice period required by your city
Day 1
Statewide 14 days; Minneapolis/Saint Louis Park/Brooklyn Center 30; Saint Paul 60 (30 starting 2027). Service by certified mail or hand-delivery.
1–3d
2
Stage 2 · Serve
File the eviction action
Day 61
Housing Court for Hennepin and Ramsey counties; District Court elsewhere. Filing fee $285-$355.
7–14d
3
Stage 3 · File
Service and 7-14 day hearing
Day 64
Sheriff or process server delivers summons. Hearing within 7-14 days.
0–7d
4
Stage 4 · Court
Hearing and judgment
Day 78
Bench trial. Common defenses: wrong notice period for the city, habitability, retaliation, missing rental license. Same-day judgment in uncontested cases.
5–14d
5
Stage 5 · Lockout
Writ of recovery and sheriff lockout (with redemption right)
Day 85
No statutory post-judgment grace period. Tenant may redeem the tenancy up to the moment the sheriff arrives by paying full arrears plus $5 attorney fee (Minn. Stat. § 504B.291(2)).
Day 99
✓
Possession recovered
Worst case · Day 99
Timelines begin at court filing, not notice service.
The Minnesota timelines above start when the landlord files the eviction complaint with the court.
Add pre-filing notice periods (3–60 days depending on eviction reason) to get the full end-to-end timeline.
Self-help eviction, changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities, is illegal in Minnesota and exposes the landlord to significant damages.
