reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MN Stat § 88.195 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.195 — Penalties.

88.195 PENALTIES. Subdivision 1. Failure to extinguish fire. Any person who starts and fails to control or extinguish the fire, whether on owned property or on the property of another, before the fire endangers or causes damage to the property of another person or the state is guilty of a misdemeanor. Subd. 2. Failure to control permit fire. Any person who has a burning permit and fails to keep the permitted fire contained within the area described on the burning permit or who fails to keep the fire restricted to the materials specifically listed on the burning permit is guilty of a misdemeanor. Subd. 3. Careless or negligent fires. Any person who carelessly or negligently starts a fire that endangers or causes damage to the property of another person or the state is guilty of a misdemeanor. Subd. 4. Careless or negligent acts. Any person who participates in an act involving careless or negligent use of motor vehicles, other internal combustion engines, firearms with tracers or combustible wads, fireworks, smoking materials, electric fences, torches, flares, or other burning or smoldering substances whereby a fire is started and is not immediately extinguished before the fire endangers or causes damage to the property of another person or the state is guilty of a misdemeanor. Subd. 5. Internal combustion engines. Any person who operates a vehicle in a wildfire area when the ground is not snow-covered with an open exhaust cutout, without a muffler, without a catalytic converter if required, or without a spark arrestor on the exhaust pipe; or any person who operates a tractor, chainsaw, or other internal combustion engine not equipped to prevent fires is guilty of a misdemeanor. History:   1993 c 328 s 29
MN Stat § 88.20 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.20 — Railroad Companies To Provide Patrol Officers.

88.20 RAILROAD COMPANIES TO PROVIDE PATROL OFFICERS. (a) After making a judgment that there is danger of the setting and spreading of fires from locomotive engines, the commissioner of natural resources shall order any railroad company to provide patrol officers with the necessary equipment to follow each train throughout such fire patrol district or districts as the commissioner deems necessary to prevent fires. When the commissioner has so notified a railroad company to provide such a patrol after trains, the railroad company shall immediately comply with the requirements of this notice throughout the territory designated; and, upon its failure so to do, the commissioner may employ patrol officers with the necessary equipment to patrol the rights-of-way of the railroad, and the expense shall be charged to the railroad company and may be recovered in a civil action in the name of the state of Minnesota; and in addition thereto the company shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. All money so recovered shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the appropriation from which expenses were paid. (b) The commissioner may prescribe such other measures as are considered by the commissioner to be essential for the immediate control of fire. (c) It is made the duty of any railroad company, acting independently of the commissioner, to patrol its right-of-way after the passage of each train when necessary to prevent the spread of fires and to use the highest degree of diligence to prevent the setting and spread of fire, to cause the extinguishment of fires set by locomotives or found existing upon their respective rights-of-way. History:  (4031-26) 1925 c 407 s 26; 1939 c 427 s 1; 1967 c 207 s 1; 1969 c 1129 art 10 s 2; 1986 c 444
MN Stat § 88.22 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.22 — Wildfire Prevention; Restrictions And Penalties.

88.22 WILDFIRE PREVENTION; RESTRICTIONS AND PENALTIES. Subdivision 1. Imposition of restrictions. (a) Road closure. When the commissioner of natural resources shall determine that conditions conducive to wildfire hazards exist in the wildfire areas of the state and that the presence of persons in the wildlife areas tends to aggravate wildfire hazards, render forest trails impassable by driving thereon during wet seasons and hampers the effective enforcement of state timber trespass and game laws, the commissioner may by written order, close any road or trail leading into any land used for any conservation purposes, to all modes of travel except that considered essential such as residents traveling to and from their homes or in other cases to be determined by the authorized forest officers assigned to guard the area. (b) Burning ban. The commissioner may also, upon such determination, by written order, suspend the issuance of permits for open fires or prescribed burns, revoke or suspend the operation of a permit previously issued and, to the extent the commissioner deems necessary, prohibit the building of all or some kinds of open fires or prescribed burns in all or any part of a wildfire area regardless of whether a permit is otherwise required; and the commissioner also may, by written order, prohibit smoking except at places of habitation or automobiles or other enclosed vehicles properly equipped with an efficient ash tray. Subd. 2. Dumping ban. The commissioner may close any public or private dumping area, by posting such area as closed to dumping, whenever the commissioner deems it necessary for the prevention of wildfires. Thereafter no person shall deposit refuse of any kind within or adjacent to such closed area, or along the road leading thereto. The commissioner shall establish such minimum standards governing public and private dumping areas as the commissioner deems necessary for the prevention of wildfires. Subd. 3. Penalty. Any violations of this section is a misdemeanor. History:  (4031-34a) 1937 c 114 s 1; 1957 c 201 s 1; 1959 c 37 s 1; 1969 c 1129 art 10 s 2; 1978 c 735 s 5; 1986 c 444; 1993 c 328 s 30; 2016 c 189 art 3 s 29
MN Stat § 88.28 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.28 — Law Divided Into Parts.

88.28 LAW DIVIDED INTO PARTS. Sections 88.28 to 88.46 are hereby divided into three parts. Sections 88.28 to 88.41 relate exclusively to counties. Sections 88.42 and 88.43 relate exclusively to towns and cities. Sections 88.44 to 88.46 contain provisions relating both to counties and to towns and cities. History:  (4031-36) 1925 c 263 s 1; 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7
MN Stat § 88.29 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.29 — County Boards; Jurisdiction, Powers.

88.29 COUNTY BOARDS; JURISDICTION, POWERS. It is hereby proposed to grant to the county boards of the several counties of this state jurisdiction within their respective counties to exercise all the powers and authority of sections 88.28 to 88.46 relative to the prevention and abatement of forest fires and the clearing and improvement of land by the removal from such land of trees, brush, stumps, and all other similar substances which contribute to the danger of forest fires; including the power to make any given area of improvement under sections 88.28 to 88.46 impervious to fire by any means now known or hereafter invented or discovered. History:  (4031-37) 1925 c 263 s 2
MN Stat § 88.30 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.30 — Clearing And Improving Lands.

88.30 CLEARING AND IMPROVING LANDS. Before any improvement authorized by sections 88.28 to 88.46 shall be ordered or caused to be constructed by the county board of any county, there shall first be filed with the auditor of the county a petition signed by two or more parties owning land in the county, which land shall be described in the petition. The petition shall describe each tract of land, of which any portion is to be improved, by 40-acre tracts or by number of lots as designated under government survey; specify the number of acres of each tract that it is proposed to improve, which shall be not less than five, nor more than 20, acres in each 40-acre tract and a proportionate amount in smaller subdivisions; and set forth the nature of the title of the petitioners to each particular tract, in general terms, specifying whether the land is held by the petitioners as owners or under contract, and if the latter, with whom, and the balance remaining unpaid of the purchase price. The lands described in the petition must be situated in the same locality or part of the county, but not more than 40 acres in any quarter-section owned by the same petitioner shall be improved under sections 88.28 to 88.46 except by unanimous consent of the members of the county board. The petition shall further set forth a general description of the proposed improvement. Upon the filing of the petition, duly verified, with the auditor of the county, together with a bond by the petitioners, or by one or more of them, or some one in their behalf, with sufficient security, in a sum of not less than $500, conditioned to hold the county harmless from all expense in the event the improvement petitioned for is not granted, the auditor shall designate the proceeding as "County Land Improvement No. ................," and in all subsequent proceedings in relation thereto the same may be designated and referred to by such title and number. Any petition heretofore filed under Laws 1921, chapter 155, and any proceedings taken thereunder, may be continued and completed in conformity with the provisions of sections 88.28 to 88.46, at the discretion of the county board. No lands shall be so improved under sections 88.28 to 88.46 except upon petition of the owner or owners thereof. History:  (4031-38) 1925 c 263 s 3
MN Stat § 88.31 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.31 — Surveys And Plats.

88.31 SURVEYS AND PLATS. Upon the filing of the petition and bond, as provided in section 88.30, with the auditor of any county, the auditor shall notify the county board of the county, and the county board shall, within 30 days thereafter, appoint a competent civil engineer and direct the engineer to proceed to examine the land described in the petition and make the necessary surveys to enable the engineer to report and file with the auditor a plat, therein describing each 40-acre tract or governmental lot covered by the petition and marking thereon the portion of the land proposed to be cleared and improved. The engineer shall, as a part of the report, describe the kind of trees, brush, stumps, or other similar materials or debris located upon the land and proposed to be removed by the proceedings, together with an estimate of the cost thereof, and the probable value of the material, if any, when removed, and shall accompany the report with specifications as to the manner of performing and completing the improvement. The engineer shall specifically describe the nature of the soil of each tract and any other conditions affecting the value, location, or use of the land. This report shall be in tabulated form and furnish the county board with an estimate of the cost of the improvement of each particular tract of land described, which report by the engineer shall be filed with the auditor within 30 days after appointment of the engineer, unless for good cause shown further extension of 30 days is granted by the auditor. This engineer before entering upon duties shall execute to the county board a bond in the sum of $1,000, conditioned for the faithful performance of the duties. History:  (4031-39) 1925 c 263 s 4; 1986 c 444
MN Stat § 88.32 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.32 — Appraisers; Assessing Benefits And Damages; Statements And Reports.

88.32 APPRAISERS; ASSESSING BENEFITS AND DAMAGES; STATEMENTS AND REPORTS. At the time of the appointment of the engineer, as provided in section 88.31, by the county board, or within 30 days thereafter, the board shall appoint three appraisers, residents of the state, but not interested in any of the land described in the petition or affected by the proposed improvement, who, upon the filing of the engineer's report, or within ten days thereafter, shall be furnished by the auditor with a copy of the report; and, after taking oath as such appraisers to faithfully perform their duties in making these appraisals and report, shall personally visit the several tracts of land and examine the trees, brush, timber, or similar material thereon to be removed, and especially examine the nature and quality of the soil and the benefits or damages resulting or to result from the improvement. These appraisers within 30 days from the date of their appointment or from the date of filing the engineer's report, shall make and file in the office of the auditor a tabulated statement and report, therein describing each 40-acre tract or governmental lot described in the petition, reporting the condition thereof and the amount thereof already cleared or under cultivation; the amount proposed to be cleared; the value of the land at the time of the appraisal; the value after the completion of the improvement; and the aggregate benefits or damages that will result to each 40-acre tract or governmental lot in consequence of the improvement; and shall, by their report, show the total cost of the improvement and the total benefits or damages that will result therefrom, together with any other facts affecting the value or use of the land or the advisability of the proposed improvement. History:  (4031-40) 1925 c 263 s 5
MN Stat § 88.33 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.33 — Hearings; Notice; Service; Date; Adjournments.

88.33 HEARINGS; NOTICE; SERVICE; DATE; ADJOURNMENTS. Upon the filing of this report, the auditor shall, within ten days thereafter, fix a date for final hearing on the petition and the engineer's and appraisers' reports and call a special meeting of the county board for that date by giving notice, as required by law therefor, which hearing shall be not less than 30 days from the date of the notice. The notice shall specify the time and place for the hearing upon the petition and the reports of the engineer and the appraisers, and shall notify and require all parties in any manner interested to show cause before the county board, at the time and place specified in the notice, why an order should not be made confirming the reports of the engineer and the appraisers and ordering and directing that the improvement petitioned for be made, and fixing and determining the amount and extent of the improvement and the amount and value of the benefits or damages resulting to any land in consequence of the improvement. This notice shall contain the names of the owners of the land as shown in the petition, together with a description of the land by 40-acre tracts or governmental lots, the amount of the estimated benefits and damages to each tract or parcel, and state that the engineer's and the appraisers' reports have been filed in the office of the auditor subject to inspection by any parties interested. Copies of this notice shall be mailed by the auditor to all parties named in the petition, if their addresses are known to the auditor, at least 15 days prior to the date of the hearing. This notice shall also be served by publication for three successive weeks in any legal newspaper published in the county, which newspaper shall be designated by the auditor. In all cases in which for any cause the notice shall not be given or is legally defective, as given, the auditor shall fix another date for hearing in accordance with sections 88.28 to 88.46, so that the hearing upon the petition and the engineer's and the appraisers' reports may be held at the earliest possible date, at either a special or a regular meeting of the county board. When any final order of the county board in any case shall have been set aside, annulled, or declared void by any court by reason of failure to give proper notice of the hearing, the county board may, at any time within one year after the rendering of such judgment, upon application of the petitioners, order a special hearing before it upon the petition and the reports; and, thereupon the auditor shall cause a new and proper notice to be published and mailed, as hereinbefore specified, for rehearing upon the petition and these reports. At the rehearing the county board may proceed as in cases of original hearing. Any hearing may be adjourned from day to day until completed. History:  (4031-41) 1925 c 263 s 6; 1986 c 444
MN Stat § 88.34 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.34 — Hearing On Petition; Elimination Of Lands.

88.34 HEARING ON PETITION; ELIMINATION OF LANDS. Upon due publication and mailing of notice of hearing, the county board shall have jurisdiction of all matters named or referred to in the petition as originally presented, or as afterwards amended, and of each tract of land and of all parties in any manner interested therein, as named or described in the petition and in the engineer's and the appraisers' reports. The county board may, at the time and place specified in the notice, receive all evidence offered relative to matters contained in the petition and these reports, including the amount of benefits and damages reported by the appraisers; and the county board shall have authority to amend or modify these reports, and may amend or permit the amendment of the petition to conform to any requirements of the statute, and may order stricken therefrom, and from the reports of the engineer and the appraisers, any land found by the county board not suitable for the required purposes or for other reasons not suitably adapted to the improvement. The elimination of any such land or the names of any such petitioners or the withdrawal thereof shall not in any manner affect the jurisdiction of the county board; but the original petitioners, at any time before the date of hearing, may cause the dismissal of the proceedings upon the payment of all costs and expenses. History:  (4031-42) 1925 c 263 s 7
MN Stat § 88.35 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.35 — Rereference Of Petition.

88.35 REREFERENCE OF PETITION. If, at such hearing, after the presentation of the evidence on behalf of all parties interested, it shall appear to the satisfaction of the county board that the appraisers have made unequal or improper assessments or estimates of benefits or damages, or for any reason the estimates of benefits or damages, as reported by the appraisers, are not fair and just, or are not in the proper proportion, or that the engineer's report is incorrect or for any reason not according to facts, it may refer back to the appraisers and to the engineer, or to either of them, their reports for correction and amendment; or, at the hearing, it may order them amended to conform to the facts and, upon the amendments being made, the amended reports shall be treated as the final reports of the engineer or the appraisers, as the case may be. History:  (4031-43) 1925 c 263 s 8
MN Stat § 88.36 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.36 — Order For Improvements.

88.36 ORDER FOR IMPROVEMENTS. If, at the final hearing, or adjournment thereof, the county board, after due consideration of the original or amended reports of the engineer and the appraisers and of such other evidence as may be produced, shall find that the proposed improvements will be of public benefit and aid in preventing or abating forest fires, it may order such improvements to be made in accordance with the petition and these reports. This order shall fix and determine the rights of all persons connected with or affected by the proposed improvements, subject to the right of appeal, as provided in section 88.37. History:  (4031-44) 1925 c 263 s 9
MN Stat § 88.37 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.37 — Appeals From Orders For Improvements.

88.37 APPEALS FROM ORDERS FOR IMPROVEMENTS. (a) Any person aggrieved thereby may appeal from any such order of the county board upon any of the following matters: (1) the amount of benefits to any property in which such person so appealing is interested; (2) the amount of any damages allowed in which such person so appealing is interested; or (3) the refusal of the county board to establish or order the improvement to be made. (b) The appeal shall be made and taken to the district court in and for the county, under the conditions and in the manner provided by law for like appeals in county ditch proceedings, particular reference being made to General Statutes 1923, Section 6687, and the appeal shall be determined with like effect as provided therein. History:  (4031-45) 1925 c 263 s 10
MN Stat § 88.38 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 88 - 91 — Forestry|Chapter 88 — Division Of Forestry|Section 88.38 — Contracts For Improvements; Duties Of County Auditor; Seeding Of Cleared Lands.

88.38 CONTRACTS FOR IMPROVEMENTS; DUTIES OF COUNTY AUDITOR; SEEDING OF CLEARED LANDS. Within ten days after the filing in the office of the auditor of the order of the county board establishing and ordering any improvement under the provisions of sections 88.28 to 88.46, the auditor shall give notice of a time and place for receiving bids for the making of the improvement in accordance with the provisions of General Statutes 1923, section 6689, and the provisions of that section, so far as applicable, shall govern the receiving of bids and the letting of contracts for the making of the improvement. The auditor may let separate contracts for each separate tract upon which any part of the improvement is to be made, or may let one contract for the whole thereof, or for the clearing of land on the whole or on any number of such tracts. The contract shall specifically provide for the removal of the trees, brush, stumps, and other similar material located on the tracts of land covered by the contract, and shall specify what disposition shall be made of all such clearing debris in accordance with the direction of the county board. The county board may order and require that the contract shall contain provisions for the burning or destruction of all such debris or materials, or for the removal thereof, or for the use of that material where use can be made thereof. Where the material removed from any tract of land can be utilized for any purposes that will result in advantage to the owner of the land, the county board in the contract may provide for making such use of the trees or other products, and the assessments against such tract of land shall be lessened accordingly. To prevent the return of the land to its wild state and the consequent danger of forest fires, the county board may require that the land so cleared shall be seeded to grasses and clover, when it appears that the owner does not contemplate cropping the land so cleared at the next planting season following the completion of the clearing thereof. History:  (4031-46) 1925 c 263 s 11