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Minneapolis, MN Accessory Structures: ADU Owner Occupancy (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Applies to
Internal accessory dwelling units only
Owner obligation
Must occupy principal home or ADU
Filing
Covenant recorded with Hennepin County
Attached/detached ADUs
No covenant required after March 2021

Summary

Minneapolis requires owner-occupancy for internal accessory dwelling units only: the owner must live in the principal home or the ADU itself, per city zoning code Section 550.1440.

The owner(s) of the property that includes an accessory dwelling unit that is internal to a principal residential structure, and where the accessory dwelling unit is not a separate dwelling unit under the Minnesota State Building Code, must occupy at least one (1) dwelling unit on the zoning lot as their primary place of residence. If an owner is unable or unwilling to fulfill the requirements of this section, the owner shall remove those features of the accessory dwelling unit that make it a dwelling unit. Failure to do so will constitute a violation of this section.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).

Full Breakdown

Under Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 550.1440(5), the owner of a property with an internal accessory dwelling unit must occupy at least one dwelling unit on the zoning lot as their primary residence before a permit issues, and must file a recorded covenant with the Hennepin County recorder committing to that requirement and notifying future buyers. If the owner won't comply, they must strip the features that make the space a dwelling unit: failure to do so is a code violation. The owner-occupancy mandate applies only to internal ADUs; attached and detached ADUs built after March 6, 2021 carry no such covenant, though pre-2021 attached/detached units remain bound by their existing covenants until released.

Violations & Fines

Occupying neither the principal home nor the internal ADU as your primary residence violates the covenant; the zoning administrator can require removal of the unit's kitchen or other dwelling features until compliance is restored.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to live in my Minneapolis ADU?
Only if it's an internal ADU. You must occupy either the main house or the internal unit as your primary residence and record a covenant saying so before the city issues your building permit.
Does a detached ADU require owner-occupancy in Minneapolis?
Not anymore. Detached and attached ADUs built after March 6, 2021 have no owner-occupancy covenant; only older units established before that date, and internal ADUs, remain covenant-bound.

Sources & Official References

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All Minneapolis rules

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