November 19, 2025 | Mark Luis Foster
Photo: Joe LeBlanc | HOA Ombudsman for Minnesota.
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One of the few pieces of HOA reform legislation passed this year by the Minnesota Legislature was the HOA Ombudsperson Office, a new function that is part of the Minnesota Department of Commerce. The legislation became law on July 1 — and we’re happy to announce that the position has been filled!
The new “Mr. O” is Joe LeBlanc, and his photo is attached. Joe and I have had several phone conversations about his new role, and he’s busily working within the confines of state government to set up his office and get ready to take it on. We’ll have more from Joe and his plans in the coming weeks, and we of course hope to feature him at future live chapter meetings of the HOA Leadership Network.
If you don’t know much about this new law or office, we’ve included some refresher information below. The Ombudsman will be primarily an educational and mediation role for associations and its residents on rights, responsibilities and disputes. So Joe will also be monitoring these issues — and it’s thought that the collected data will at some point be compiled and analyzed to help discern homeowner association dispute/resolution patterns that permeate the Land of 10,000 HOAs (well, about 8,000 of them anyways).
Welcome, Joe, to your new role.
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About the MN Ombudsperson
The Common Interest Community Ombudsperson is established under Minnesota Statutes, section 45.0137. This law creates the position within the Minnesota Department of Commerce to:
- Assist unit owners, tenants, and associations in understanding their rights and responsibilities under Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 515B (the Minnesota Common Interest Ownership Act) and their governing documents.
- Facilitate informal resolution of disputes between unit owners and associations.
Services Provided
The Ombudsperson offers education, guidance, and informal dispute resolution for those involved in common interest communities (CICs) such as condominiums, townhomes, and cooperatives.
Services include:
- Education and Guidance
Helping residents, associations, and property managers understand their rights and obligations under state law and governing documents. - Information and Referrals
Connecting individuals with resources on dispute resolution, governing documents, and applicable laws. - Public Information Website
Providing easy access to:- Links to statutes and rules affecting CICs
- Plain-language explanations of HOA and CIC rules
- Details on Ombudsperson services and contact information
- Mediation and conflict resolution resources
- Helpful homeowner and association links
- Informal Mediation
Offering voluntary assistance to help unit owners, tenants, and associations resolve disagreements outside of formal legal channels. - Complaint Tracking
Reviewing and analyzing complaints to identify patterns or recurring issues within Minnesota’s CICs. - Legislative Reporting
Providing reports and recommendations to the Legislature on trends and potential improvements to common interest community laws.
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I live in a townhouse association. My next door neighbor feeds the deer with corn on the ground and with sunflower seeds in a low bird feeder. I have a garden area that they will browse in. It became significantly worse when the started feeding the deer. When I objected using nuisance and annoyance (per our covenents) as the reason the board sided with my neighbor. I live in New Brighton, Ramsey county, where there in no prohibitions feeding wild animals. Any suggestions?
Dan, check your governing documents carefully. Make certain that there are no restrictions regarding feeding of deer or animals. Many HOAs have such restrictions built into their covenants. If not, and if your board permits such activity, you could meet with your board to indicate that the feeding of the animals is causing some disruptions to garden planting. Your board may be receptive to some changes or precautions if you can provide some perspective on the issue. Always best to provide good solid perspective, photos, and other proof to a board to allow them to weigh the topic carefully. We hope that helps.