ADU rules in Blaine, MN — also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances — cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Blaine allows accessory dwelling units under its own zoning ordinance (Section 33.25 / recodified Section 129-23), but with tight standards: owner-occupancy, shared utilities, three off-street parking spaces, one ADU per lot, and a two-bedroom cap. Attached ADUs need an administrative permit; the City has moved to ban detached units.
Blaine regulates ADUs through its own zoning ordinance, not just state law. Section 33.25 (recodified as Section 129-23, Standards for Accessory Dwelling Units) requires that either the home or the ADU be occupied by the property owner, with the owner-occupancy requirement recorded against the property. Utilities cannot be separately metered, and water and sewer must connect to the same lines as the home. The home and ADU together must provide at least three off-street parking spaces (garage or paved spaces; a spot in front of a garage does not count). An ADU may have no more than two bedrooms, occupancy is limited to two adults plus their children, only one ADU is allowed per property, and it must sit on a permanent foundation and match the home's color and materials. Attached ADUs are a permitted use in the R-1, R-1A, R-1AA, R-1B, RE, FR, and DF districts with an administrative permit. Maximum attached-ADU size is 50% of the primary residence's finished square footage or 960 square feet (whichever is less) in most single-family districts, rising to 1,200 square feet in RE and FR. A rental license is required if the second unit is occupied by a non-owner. Note: in 2026 the Council advanced ORD 26-2601 to remove detached ADUs from the code.
Building or occupying an ADU without the required administrative permit, violating the recorded owner-occupancy covenant, separately metering utilities, exceeding the size or bedroom caps, or renting without a license are zoning violations enforced by the City's Community Development Department and may require correction or removal.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Blaine's adu rules rules stack up against other locations.
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