Duluth Rescinds Local Sick Leave Ordinance in Favor of Minnesota State Law

What Changed

The Duluth City Council unanimously voted to rescind its local Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) Ordinance, determining it was no longer necessary given Minnesota's statewide ESST law that takes effect January 1, 2024. The statewide law provides comprehensive sick and safe time protections that overlap with and largely supersede Duluth's local ordinance.

The repeal became effective January 17, 2024.

Who Is Affected

Employers with employees in Duluth, Minnesota who were previously subject to the local ESST ordinance. These employers are now solely governed by the Minnesota statewide ESST law (and federal leave requirements, where applicable).

Where It Applies

Duluth, Minnesota. Note that other Minnesota cities — Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Bloomington — still maintain their own local ESST ordinances, which may contain requirements that differ from or exceed the state law.

When It Takes Effect

The repeal became effective January 17, 2024. The statewide Minnesota ESST law has been in effect since January 1, 2024.

Why It Matters

For Duluth employers, this simplifies compliance by eliminating a layer of local regulation. Rather than tracking both local and state ESST requirements, employers now only need to comply with the Minnesota statewide law. However, employers with employees in multiple Minnesota cities should not assume all local ordinances have been repealed — Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Bloomington ordinances remain in effect.

The Humareso Take

This is one of those rare compliance updates that actually makes life easier. Duluth recognized that the state law covers the same ground and eliminated the redundancy. If you have Duluth employees, you can simplify your leave tracking to focus on the state ESST requirements. Just make sure you are not conflating this with other Minnesota cities where local ordinances still apply.

Recommended Action Steps

Update your leave policies to remove references to the Duluth local ESST ordinance and align with Minnesota's statewide ESST requirements.
Verify compliance with the Minnesota statewide ESST law for all Duluth-based employees.
Confirm whether any other Minnesota city ordinances apply to your workforce (Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington).
Contact your Humareso representative if you need help streamlining your Minnesota leave compliance across multiple jurisdictions.