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Blaine's noise ordinance restricts repairing or servicing vehicles overnight if the noise carries beyond the property line. On-road vehicle noise (loud exhaust, mufflers, modified vehicles) is governed by Minnesota state law, Minn. Stat. 169.69 and 169.693 and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency rules.
Industrial and commercial noise in Blaine is subject to the city's noise ordinance (Blaine City Code Sec. 50-201 to 50-203) and to Minnesota's statewide noise standards (Minn. R. 7030.0040), which set higher dBA limits for commercial (NAC-2) and industrial (NAC-3) areas than for residential.
Blaine's noise ordinance (Blaine City Code Sec. 50-201 through 50-203) sets nighttime quiet hours from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. During this period, electronic or audio sound plainly audible 50 feet away and noisy parties or gatherings audible 50 feet away are restricted, along with most noisy outdoor activity.
Blaine restricts exterior construction or remodeling noise during the city's nighttime noise window of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. under Blaine City Code Sec. 50-201 through 50-203. Construction-related power tools and equipment fall under the same restriction.
Under Blaine City Code Sec. 14-144 it is unlawful to keep a barking dog. A dog that barks, bays, cries, or howls continuously for 10 minutes, or barks intermittently for 30 minutes or more, qualifies as a barking dog, with exceptions for provocation or trespass.
Blaine does not publish a leaf-blower-specific ordinance. Lawn and yard equipment falls under the general noise ordinance (Blaine City Code Sec. 50-201 to 50-203), which restricts operating tools and domestic maintenance equipment from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Blaine's noise ordinance (Blaine City Code Sec. 50-201 to 50-203) restricts the use of electronic or audio sound if it is plainly audible at 50 feet or more, and noisy parties or gatherings audible at 50 feet, during the nighttime period of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Blaine's local noise ordinance uses a plainly-audible-at-50-feet standard rather than its own decibel limits. Measured decibel limits come from Minnesota state rules (Minn. R. 7030.0040): residential daytime L10 65 / L50 60 dBA and nighttime L10 55 / L50 50 dBA.
Outdoor music in Blaine is governed by the noise ordinance (Blaine City Code Sec. 50-201 to 50-203), which restricts electronic or audio sound plainly audible at 50 feet and noisy parties or gatherings audible at 50 feet during the 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. quiet period.
Aircraft noise in Blaine, near the Anoka County-Blaine Airport (ANE), is regulated by federal and regional authorities, not the city. The airport is operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), which runs a voluntary Fly Neighborly noise-abatement program and a 24-hour noise hotline at 612-726-9411.
Short-term rentals owe Minnesota's 6.875% state sales tax on lodging under 30 days (Revenue Notice 17-06). Cities may add a local lodging tax of up to 3% under Minn. Stat. 469.190. Blaine's rental license fee is $180 per property plus $10 per unit, with reduced and late-fee amounts set in the city fee schedule.
Blaine has no dedicated short-term rental permit. A short-term rental of an entire dwelling falls under the city's general Rental Maintenance Code (Chapter 18, Article VIII), which requires every rental dwelling to be licensed before tenants occupy it. There is no separate STR or vacation-rental approval.
Blaine has no separate STR registry. Renting a dwelling requires an annual rental license obtained from Housing Services before tenants occupy the unit. The license year runs January 1 through December 31, with renewals mailed to owners each December and inspections scheduled by the city.
Blaine sets no short-term-rental-specific guest cap. Occupancy is governed by the Rental Maintenance Code (Chapter 18, Article VIII) and the property maintenance/building standards it adopts, which tie maximum occupancy to dwelling-unit size, sleeping-room area, and the city's residential zoning definition of family.
Blaine has no STR-specific parking standard. Guests must follow the city's general parking and zoning rules, including off-street parking requirements for residential dwellings and city restrictions on parking on yards, blocking sidewalks, and storing vehicles, enforced citywide regardless of whether a home is rented nightly.
Blaine has no STR-specific noise rule. Short-term rental guests must comply with the city's general nuisance and noise provisions, enforced by Community Standards. Disturbing, excessive, or late-night noise can be cited as a public nuisance regardless of whether the home is rented nightly.
Blaine imposes no primary-residence requirement on short-term rentals. The city's rental code licenses both owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied rental dwellings, so a short-term rental need not be the host's primary home. Minnesota does not preempt cities from adding such a rule, but Blaine currently has none.
Blaine requires no host or owner presence during a short-term stay. The rental code allows non-owner-occupied rentals, so whole-home, unhosted rentals are permitted if licensed. The owner must, however, attend the city's interior rental inspection, which occurs every three years.
Blaine sets no annual night cap or rented-nights limit on short-term rentals. The rental code does not restrict how many nights per year a licensed dwelling may be rented. The only length-of-stay line in play is the state tax 30-day threshold, not a city booking cap.
Blaine's code imposes no specific liability-insurance requirement on short-term rental operators. The rental dwelling license does not publish a minimum coverage amount. Hosts should still carry appropriate landlord or short-term rental liability coverage, but no city ordinance mandates a set policy limit.
Backyard recreational fires are allowed in Blaine without a fire department permit if you burn only natural firewood, keep flames under 36 inches in a pit no more than three feet wide, maintain a 25-foot setback (10 feet for a covered manufactured pit), avoid winds over 10 mph, and keep an adult and garden hose on hand.
Blaine follows Minnesota law: only non-explosive, non-aerial consumer items such as wire/wood sparklers, cones, fountains, and snakes are legal. Anything that flies or explodes (bottle rockets, Roman candles, firecrackers, mortars) is banned statewide. Legal items must be used only on private property by adults 18 and older.
Blaine allows backyard recreational fires without a fire department permit if the fire is in a manufactured pit/ring or a pit no larger than three feet in diameter, flames stay under 36 inches, and it sits at least 25 feet from structures (10 feet for a manufactured pit with screen and cover). Only natural firewood may be burned.
Open burning of leaves, yard waste, lumber, pallets, scrap wood, cardboard, paper, and garbage is prohibited in Blaine. Burning brush and tree trimmings is allowed only with an open pile burn permit from the Fire Inspection Division. Recreational fires of natural firewood are handled separately.
Blaine treats overgrown vegetation as a nuisance. Turf grasses, pollinator lawns, and weeds taller than eight inches are a public nuisance subject to abatement. Noxious weeds are governed by state law. A land management plan can authorize approved native lawns with a five-foot setback from property lines.
Blaine enforces the Minnesota State Fire Code and Minn. Stat. 299F.362, which require a smoke alarm in every dwelling unit. For rentals, the owner maintains the alarms and tenants must report a non-working alarm within 24 hours. Blaine's rental licensing program inspects for working detectors, and alarms older than 10 years must be replaced.
Blaine enforces the Minnesota State Fire Code (which adopts NFPA 58) for LP gas. Cylinders over one pound may not be stored indoors at homes, including attached or detached garages. Storage areas must be kept clear of combustibles and weeds, and city LP gas guidance requires proper container markings and a 10-foot clearance.
Blaine is a developed Twin Cities suburb and is not designated as a wildland-urban interface or high wildfire-hazard zone. There is no city ordinance establishing defensible-space requirements. Wildfire risk is managed through seasonal DNR fire danger ratings and periodic Anoka County burning restrictions rather than mapped wildfire zones.
Blaine prohibits parking or storing junk, stock, or race vehicles; all vehicles must be operable, currently licensed, and licensed to occupants or guests (BCO 34-322). On public property, Minnesota Statutes Ch. 168B treats a vehicle as abandoned after 48 hours (4 hours if posted). Vehicles in violation may be impounded and removed at the owner's expense.
Blaine's Residential Guide to Community Standards (BZO 33.13(j) and BCO 82-151) allows currently licensed and operable RVs, trailers, boats, and toppers to be parked on paved driveways in the front and corner side yards. Side and rear yard storage is permitted only if setbacks are met. No vehicle over 12,000 lb GVW is allowed in residential areas.
Under Blaine City Code, no vehicle may be parked or left standing on any highway, street, or alley for more than 48 consecutive hours at any time. From November 1 to April 1, no on-street parking is allowed between 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. without an emergency permit. Vehicles in violation may be ticketed and towed at the owner's expense.
Blaine bans overnight on-street parking seasonally: from November 1 to April 1, no vehicle may be parked on any public street, highway, or alley between 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. (BCO 82-151) without an emergency permit. Residents needing overnight parking can request an emergency permit from the Blaine Police Department. Violations are fined and vehicles may be towed.
Blaine's Residential Guide to Community Standards limits vehicles in residential areas by weight: no vehicle in excess of 12,000 lb GVW is permitted in residential areas. Residential vehicle repair businesses are not allowed (BCO 34-323). The general street rules (48-hour limit and the winter 2 a.m.-7 a.m. ban) also apply to commercial vehicles parked on Blaine streets.
Blaine requires all driveways and approaches to be hard-surfaced with concrete or blacktop. Driveways cannot exceed 45% of the combined front yard and corner side yard area, with a maximum width of 36 feet beyond the right-of-way. Vehicles in the front and corner side yards must park on paved driveways only.
Blaine's clearest oversized-vehicle rule is a weight cap: no vehicle in excess of 12,000 lb GVW is permitted in residential areas (Residential Guide to Community Standards). Large recreational vehicles must be currently licensed, operable, and parked on paved or setback-compliant surfaces. On streets, oversized vehicles are subject to the 48-hour limit and the winter overnight ban.
Blaine has no dedicated residential loading-zone ordinance; loading on public streets is governed by Chapter 82 (Traffic and Vehicles) and posted signage. General street limits apply: no vehicle may stand on a street or alley more than 48 consecutive hours, plus winter overnight restrictions. Off-street loading for commercial sites is set through zoning.
Blaine has no dedicated EV-charging parking ordinance in the materials reviewed. Home charging is governed by general driveway and parking standards: vehicles in the front and corner side yards must be parked on paved driveways. There is no published city rule reserving or restricting EV charging spaces, so standard residential parking and electrical-permit requirements apply.
Under BCO 82-152, it is unlawful to park any vehicle on a street after two inches or more of snowfall until plowed curb to curb. Blaine also bans on-street parking from 2:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. between November 1 and April 1. Residents must clear sidewalks within 48 hours after snow stops and may not push snow into the street.
Blaine's Zoning Ordinance (BZO 33.08) limits fences to 4 feet in front yards and 6 feet in side and rear yards. A front corner side yard fence may reach 6 feet only with a 1-foot setback. Rear yards fronting a public right-of-way are limited to 4 feet at the line or 6 feet set back 1 foot.
Blaine requires a permit to build a new yard fence or substantially alter an existing one (BZO 33.08). Seasonal snow or garden fences are exempt. Fences up to 7 feet need a zoning/engineering permit; fences over 7 feet require a building permit and a Conditional Use Permit from the Planning Department. Owners must locate property corner markers first.
Blaine requires that fence post framework sit within the owner's own property line, with the finished (good) side facing the street or adjacent property (BZO 33.08). The City does not adjudicate boundary disputes. Minnesota law (Statutes 561.02) treats a fence maliciously erected to annoy a neighbor as a private nuisance.
In Blaine, a retaining wall not over 4 feet (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall) does not require a permit unless it supports a surcharge. Walls over 4 feet, or any wall supporting a surcharge such as a building, pool, driveway, or parking area, require a permit. This follows Minnesota Rules 1300.0120.
Blaine fences must be built in a workmanlike manner and kept in reasonable repair (BZO 33.08). Posts must sit within the owner's line, the finished side faces outward, and a permit and site survey are required for new fences. On corner lots nothing over 30 inches may sit in the sight distance triangle (BCO 82-231/232).
Blaine's Zoning Ordinance (BZO 33.08) requires the fence material (lumber, pickets) to face the street or adjacent property and that fences be built in a workmanlike manner. The code does not publish a citywide list of banned materials, but many residential developments and HOAs add material restrictions or prohibit fences entirely.
Blaine permits standard fence materials and requires the finished side (lumber, pickets) to face the street or adjacent property, with workmanlike construction and reasonable upkeep (BZO 33.08). The city code reviewed does not enumerate approved materials, and some developments and HOAs add material rules or prohibit fences.
Minnesota State Building Code adopts the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code with state amendments, setting uniform pool barrier rules statewide. Local governments cannot adopt weaker standards, ensuring consistent fencing, gate, and entrapment protections.
Blaine requires dogs off the owner's private property to be under control and restrained on a leash. Dogs on city park land or open space must be leashed and may go unrestrained only in officially designated off-leash areas. Loose dogs ('at large') can be impounded and the owner cited.
Blaine allows backyard hens as an accessory use in several residential zones. Up to six (6) hens are permitted and no roosters are allowed. A one-time registration with a site/coop plan is required, and the coop and run must meet specific size and setback standards. Larger farm animals are limited to agricultural/farm-residential zones.
Blaine has no breed-specific ban - it cannot legally enact one. Minnesota Statute 347.51, subd. 8 prohibits any city from regulating dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs based solely on breed. Blaine instead uses the state's behavior-based dangerous/potentially dangerous dog framework, which applies to any dog regardless of breed.
Blaine restricts honey bees by zoning. According to the University of Minnesota Bee Lab's ordinance index (citing Blaine Section 14-225), areas zoned residential may not keep honey bees, while agriculturally zoned areas may. That makes backyard beekeeping in most Blaine neighborhoods prohibited.
Blaine does not permit non-domesticated, wild animals as pets, and Minnesota Statute 346.155 bans private possession of 'regulated animals' - large cats, bears, and nonhuman primates - statewide. Between the city's prohibition on wild animals and state law, dangerous exotics are off-limits in Blaine.
Farm animals such as cattle, horses, sheep, and goats are not allowed in Blaine's standard residential zones and are limited to agricultural and farm-residential zoning districts. The main residential exception is backyard hens (up to six, no roosters) permitted by separate registration in certain residential zones.
Blaine's code allows up to three dogs to be licensed at one residence. The city's community standards guidance also limits households to three domestic pets of any one type over four months of age. Backyard hens are capped separately at six per permitted property.
Blaine does not license cats and has no specific stray-cat ordinance. Cats are not subject to the dog leash and licensing rules, though the city's general limit of three domestic pets of one type still applies, and the city's wildlife-feeding ban prohibits feeding feral cats.
Blaine bans the intentional feeding of wild and feral animals. Under Section 14-228, effective April 1, 2017, no person may feed wild or feral animals or small mammals within the city. Bird feeders are allowed only if placed or designed to keep wild animals out.
Blaine has no separate 'hoarding' ordinance, but its pet limits effectively cap animal numbers - up to three dogs licensed per residence and up to three domestic pets of any one type. Excessive animals are addressed through limit enforcement, nuisance rules, and Minnesota's state animal-cruelty and neglect laws.
Blaine City Code Chapter 90, Article II (Weeds and Tall Grass) declares it a public nuisance for turf grasses, pollinator lawns, and weeds to grow taller than eight (8) inches, or to have gone or be about to go to seed, on any lot in the city. Height is measured from the ground to the tip of the blade or stem. Owners receive a written notice to abate before the city mows and bills the cost.
Blaine City Code Chapter 90, Article II declares weeds taller than eight (8) inches, or weeds gone to seed, a public nuisance subject to a notice to abate. Noxious weeds are additionally controlled under the Minnesota Noxious Weed Law (Minn. Stat. ch. 18, esp. Sec. 18.78), which requires every landowner to control listed noxious weeds when ordered by an inspector. Even approved native landscapes may not contain noxious weeds.
The City of Blaine maintains boulevard trees in the public right-of-way, typically within 15 feet of the back of curb, pruning on a seven-year rotation at no cost to homeowners. Property owners are responsible for general upkeep of their boulevard. The city advises against pruning elm, oak, or honey locust from mid-April to mid-August because it greatly increases the risk of disease. Routine pruning should occur during dormant winter months.
Blaine does not require a permit to remove a healthy tree from established private residential property, but boulevard/right-of-way trees are city-maintained and should not be cut by residents. Diseased trees declared a public nuisance under the Shade Tree Management ordinance (Chapter 90, Article III, Sec. 90-57) — such as Dutch elm, oak wilt, and emerald ash borer infestations — must be removed or abated. New construction triggers separate tree preservation requirements.
Blaine enforces year-round odd/even lawn sprinkling: even-numbered addresses water on even days, odd-numbered addresses on odd days. From May 15 through September 15 no sprinkling is allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Hand watering with a can or hose, private wells, city athletic fields, and newly installed sod/landscaping (for 30 days) are exempt. Violations carry escalating fines.
Blaine does not publish a specific ordinance restricting residential rain barrels or rainwater harvesting, and Minnesota law broadly allows capturing rainwater for outdoor reuse. Hand watering of gardens and trees — including from harvested rainwater — is exempt from the city's lawn sprinkling odd/even restrictions. Rain gardens are recognized statewide as a form of managed natural landscape under Minn. Stat. 412.925.
Blaine allows native lawns and managed natural landscapes that exceed the 8-inch grass-height limit, but only with city approval of a land management plan. The ordinance (Chapter 90, Art. II) requires consent from a majority of adjoining property owners, placement in the rear yard with a setback from property lines, screening from public view, no noxious weeds, and a posted sign during establishment. Minn. Stat. 412.925 backstops this right statewide.
Blaine does not publish a specific ordinance prohibiting residential artificial/synthetic turf, and no city rule banning it in yards was found. Practical limits come from related standards: turf does not satisfy Blaine's landscaping/sod requirements for new homes, and as an impervious or semi-impervious surface it can affect lot coverage and drainage. Check with Blaine Planning before installing, especially in front yards or large areas.
Blaine regulates backyard composting under City Code Chapter 34 (Environment), Article IV — Composting. Backyard compost sites for a single household are allowed without a state permit, consistent with Minnesota's tiered framework. Cities like Blaine commonly require compost to be in a contained bin, set back from property lines, located in the rear yard, and limited to yard/food materials. Confirm exact setbacks and bin standards with the city.
Blaine requires a building permit for almost every pool. The only exception is a prefabricated, entirely above-ground residential pool that does not exceed both 5,000 gallons and 24 inches of depth. Even exempt pools must still meet the city's barrier requirements before use.
Blaine requires every outdoor residential pool to be enclosed by a non-climbable barrier at least 48 inches (4 feet) high, with no more than a 2-inch gap at the bottom. The barrier must be substantial enough to resist a 200-pound lateral load and must be installed when the pool is installed.
Blaine's pool safety rules center on keeping pools inaccessible when not in use through a compliant non-climbable barrier, completing all required safety inspections, and following Minnesota building and electrical code. The barrier must be in place before the pool is used.
Small prefabricated above-ground pools under both 5,000 gallons and 24 inches deep are exempt from Blaine's building permit, but all other above-ground pools need a permit. Either way, the city requires a compliant non-climbable barrier at least 48 inches high.
Blaine treats hot tubs and spas as pools, but a hot tub or spa equipped with a lockable safety cover is exempt from the barrier/fencing requirement. The cover must be kept locked whenever the tub is not in use. Electrical work follows Minnesota state code.
Blaine allows a home business in a residential zone without a conditional use permit if it occupies no more than 20% of the dwelling's floor area, has no exterior storage of materials or equipment, and employs only people who live in the residence. Home occupations are regulated in the city's residential zoning chapter.
Blaine sharply limits home occupation signs. A home occupation may have one identification sign no larger than two square feet, and it may not be placed in a required yard. The overall goal is to keep the residential appearance of the property intact.
A home occupation that stays within Blaine's by-right limits, no more than 20% of floor area, no exterior storage, residents-only employment, needs no conditional use permit. A more intensive home occupation that exceeds those limits is evaluated by the Planning Department and may require a conditional use permit.
Cottage food in Blaine is governed by Minnesota's statewide cottage food law (Minn. Stat. 28A.152), not a special Blaine ordinance. Registered producers may sell non-potentially-hazardous foods and certain home-canned items from a home kitchen, up to $78,000 in gross annual receipts. The home activity must still fit Blaine's home occupation zoning limits.
In-home child care in Blaine is controlled mainly by Minnesota state law. Under Minn. Stat. 462.357, a licensed family day care serving 12 or fewer children is a permitted single-family residential use, and a licensed group family day care serving up to 14 children is also a permitted single-family use, so Blaine cannot zone these out of residential neighborhoods.
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 sheds as accessory buildings under its zoning ordinance. Sheds over 120 sq ft (or any shed with a slab or footings) need a $75 zoning permit. Setbacks scale with size, a 3-foot separation from other structures is required, and the shed cannot sit in a drainage or utility easement.
Blaine does not have a single 'garage conversion' ordinance, but converting a garage into living space is treated as a building/zoning change. Converting it into a second dwelling falls under the ADU standards (Section 33.25 / 129-23), and converting away parking can run afoul of off-street parking requirements.
Blaine has no standalone carport ordinance; a carport is regulated as an accessory building/structure under the zoning code. Like other accessory buildings it requires a zoning permit when over 120 sq ft or set on a slab/footings, must meet setbacks, and counts toward the combined accessory-building square footage cap.
Blaine has no separate 'tiny home' category. A tiny house on a permanent foundation used as a second residence is treated as an accessory dwelling unit under Section 33.25 / 129-23, and a detached backyard tiny home is being banned. Movable tiny houses on wheels are not an allowed permanent residence.
Backyard barbecuing is allowed in Blaine, but the Minnesota State Fire Code restricts where propane and charcoal grills can be used at multi-family buildings. LP cylinders over one pound may not be stored indoors or in garages. Store spare propane tanks outdoors and upright, away from building exits and combustibles.
Using a backyard smoker, pellet grill, or barbecue for cooking is allowed in Blaine and is not classified as a regulated recreational fire or open burn, since the purpose is cooking food, not burning waste. Standard fire-safety and LP gas storage rules apply, and burning prohibited materials like treated wood is never allowed.
Blaine sets principal-building setbacks by zoning district in its Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 28, Zoning Districts), so front, side, and rear minimums vary by district (R-1, R-1A, R-1AA, etc.). Accessory buildings have separate setbacks: 1 foot for sheds under 120 sq ft and 5 feet for 121-200 sq ft structures (BZO 29).
Blaine sets principal-building height by zoning district under its Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 28). Accessory structures are capped separately: sheds at 15 feet, and a shed or garage roof height may not exceed the elevation of the home's roof. Garage doors are limited to 10 feet (BZO 29). Fences over 7 feet need a Conditional Use Permit.
Blaine limits the combined floor area of accessory structures (attached and detached garages plus sheds) to 1,000 square feet in the R-1 district, and allows a maximum of two accessory buildings (BZO 29). Overall impervious-surface and principal-building lot coverage limits are set by zoning district in Chapter 28 and vary by district.
Blaine requires tree preservation for building/development sites, not for routine removals at established homes. A Forestry Evaluation must be submitted with a building permit if there are tree clumps or trees greater than 8 inches in diameter on the lot, unless all trees are over 50 feet from construction. Significant trees removed or fatally damaged must be replaced on-site or paid into the City Restoration Fund, with $300 escrow per replacement tree.
Minnesota's Heritage Tree Program under DNR forestry recognizes notable trees but does not impose statewide removal restrictions on private property. State law primarily governs shade tree disease management and public-land protections through Minn. Stat. 89 and 18G.
Blaine's Neighborhood Services division enforces exterior storage, junk-vehicle and building-surface standards. Personal property should be stored indoors, junk or inoperable vehicles are prohibited, and exterior surfaces must be kept in good repair. Violations draw a correction letter and can escalate to a municipal or county ticket.
Blaine garbage and recycling carts may not be left at the curb for more than 24 hours under BCO 62-33(b). Carts must be set out by 7 AM on the pickup day and may not obstruct the public street. Residents are also reminded to wash containers as needed to prevent nuisance odors.
Blaine requires owners to maintain platted lots and outlots, including mowing vegetation over 8 inches under the Weeds and Tall Grass article (Chapter 90, Article II). Owners fronting a street right-of-way must also maintain the boulevard (BCO 90-34b), and sidewalk snow must be cleared within 48 hours.
Under Blaine's Weeds and Tall Grass article (Chapter 90, Article II), vegetation 8 inches or greater in height, or that has gone to seed, is a public nuisance (Sec. 90-34). Owners get a 10-day notice, then 3 days for repeat violations; uncorrected nuisances are abated by the City and costs assessed.
Blaine allows garage sales without a special permit if they meet zoning standards in BZO 33.10(e)(1-8): each sale lasts no more than 3 days, no more than twice per year, no purchased or consignment resale goods, and signs limited to 2 ft by 3 ft placed only on private property with permission and removed after the sale.
Blaine uses a city-contracted (organized) collection system: Walters Recycling and Refuse is the City's selected hauler for all residential properties, with weekly garbage and bi-weekly recycling. The City bills residents directly. Any garbage hauler operating in the city must hold a $75 license with a $2,500 bond under Chapter 62.
On the pickup day, Blaine requires refuse, recyclables and yard waste to be set out immediately behind and within two feet of the curb, never in the street. Carts should be out by 7 AM and may not be left at the curb more than 24 hours (BCO 62-33(b)) or obstruct the street (BCO 70-3).
Blaine residents must pre-pay and schedule bulk and appliance pickups through Walters Recycling and Refuse before their pickup day. The premium 96-gallon service includes up to 6 bulk items per calendar year; extra items incur fees. Since 2017 the City no longer collects construction debris or carpet curbside.
Blaine has no separate city dumping ordinance for this question; illegal dumping is governed by Minnesota Statute 609.68, which makes unlawfully depositing garbage, litter or debris on public lands, waters, highways, or another's private property a petty misdemeanor. The city's street-obstruction rule (BCO 70-3) separately bars dumping items in the right-of-way.
Curbside recycling is included with every Blaine garbage service level and collected bi-weekly by Walters Recycling and Refuse. Service covers single-family homes, townhomes and condos. Apartments arrange recycling through their hauler. Expanded materials can be dropped at the Recycle Technologies site in Blaine.
Political (noncommercial) signs in Blaine are governed primarily by Minnesota Statutes 211B.045. During the protected election window, signs of any size may be posted in any number on private property. Outside that window the City's sign code applies, and Blaine treats noncommercial messages the same as any allowed sign.
Blaine's zoning sign code lists garage sale signs as an exempt sign type that does not require a permit, but they must comply with the City's sign-placement standards. No signs are allowed in the public right-of-way, and temporary signage carries a minimum 10-foot setback from property lines.
Blaine has no formal dark-sky ordinance, but it regulates exterior lighting through its zoning performance standards (Section 33.13 / recodified Section 129-2, Lighting). Lighting must be controlled so it does not create glare on neighboring property or streets; illuminated signs may not shine directly onto a residence or into the street.
Blaine addresses light trespass through its zoning Lighting performance standard (Section 33.13 / recodified Section 129-2), which is intended to keep exterior lighting from creating glare or spilling onto neighboring property and streets. The sign code specifically bars illuminated signs from shining directly onto a residence or into the street.
Minnesota Statutes section 342.13 limits how cities and counties may regulate cannabis businesses. Local governments cannot prohibit licensed cannabis retailers but may impose reasonable zoning, buffer, and operational requirements consistent with the Office of Cannabis Management.
Minnesota Statutes section 342.09 allows adults 21 and older to cultivate up to eight cannabis plants per residence, with no more than four mature, statewide. Cities cannot prohibit personal home cultivation by qualifying adults.
Commercial drone operators in Minnesota must hold an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and register their aircraft with both the FAA and the Minnesota DOT Office of Aeronautics under Minn. Stat. 360.55, paying state aircraft registration tax annually.
Minnesota Statutes Chapter 360 classifies unmanned aircraft as aircraft subject to FAA regulation and state aeronautics rules. The Department of Transportation Office of Aeronautics governs registration and operation, preempting most local airspace ordinances.
Minnesota's Fair Labor Standards Act in Minn. Stat. chapter 177 sets the state minimum wage but does not preempt local wage ordinances, allowing Minneapolis and Saint Paul to enforce higher local minimums.
Minnesota's Earned Sick and Safe Time law in Minn. Stat. 181.9445 to 181.9448 provides statewide accrual rights, while a separate state Paid Leave program under chapter 268B begins benefit payments in 2026.
Minnesota does not preempt local scheduling laws, allowing cities like Minneapolis to enforce predictive scheduling and wage theft ordinances on top of state wage standards in chapter 177.
MPCA's NPDES Construction Stormwater General Permit, authorized under Minn. Stat. Ch. 115, applies statewide to land-disturbing activities of one acre or more, requiring SWPPPs, BMPs, and inspection regardless of which city issues the building permit.
Minnesota Statutes sections 103F.101 to 103F.155 require all communities with mapped flood hazard areas to adopt DNR-approved floodplain ordinances meeting state and FEMA NFIP minimums, governing development, fill, and structure elevation.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency administers the federal NPDES MS4 general permit under Minn. Stat. Ch. 115. Regulated cities and counties must adopt construction, post-construction, and illicit discharge controls meeting statewide minimum measures.
Minnesota issues permits to carry pistols under the Minnesota Citizens' Personal Protection Act, codified at Minn. Stat. 624.714, with sheriffs administering shall-issue permitting for qualified applicants.
Minnesota statute 471.633 broadly preempts local firearms regulation, reserving authority over the lawful sale, transfer, possession, carrying, transportation, storage, and use of firearms to the state legislature.
Minnesota law treats open carry of a pistol the same as concealed carry, requiring a permit under Minn. Stat. 624.714, while long-gun open carry is generally lawful absent local discharge or trespass issues.
Minnesota requires a permit to carry a pistol on or about the person or in a vehicle under Minn. Stat. 624.714, with state preemption barring stricter local rules under Minn. Stat. 471.633.
Minnesota does not require private employers to use E-Verify, and the state has not enacted a general E-Verify mandate, leaving federal I-9 verification as the universal standard for hiring.
Minnesota's North Star Act, codified in Minn. Stat. 645.221 and related provisions enacted in 2023, limits state and local agency cooperation with federal immigration enforcement absent a judicial warrant.
Minnesota agricultural zoning combines local authority under chapter 394 county planning with state feedlot rules in Minn. Stat. 116.07, while Right to Farm protections in 561.19 limit nuisance challenges.
Minnesota's Right to Farm law in Minn. Stat. 561.19 protects established agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits when they have operated for at least two years and comply with applicable laws.
Minnesota previously preempted local plastic bag bans under Minn. Stat. 325E.045, but the legislature repealed that preemption in 2023, allowing cities like Minneapolis to enforce bag fees and bans.
Minnesota does not impose a statewide polystyrene ban, but with auxiliary container preemption repealed, cities like Minneapolis and Saint Paul restrict expanded polystyrene foam food packaging.
Minnesota has no statewide plastic straw ban, but with the 2023 repeal of Minn. Stat. 325E.045 preemption, cities may impose upon-request rules and switch to compostable alternatives.
Minnesota Statute 500.215 voids private covenants that prohibit or unreasonably restrict solar energy systems on residential property. The statute applies statewide and supersedes restrictive HOA declarations and deed restrictions.
Minnesota Statute 462.357 subdivision 1g and 500.30 protect solar access by limiting how cities and HOAs may restrict solar installations. Local permits must focus on safety, not aesthetics, under the statewide solar access framework.
Minnesota raised the minimum age to purchase tobacco and electronic delivery devices to 21 in 2020 through changes tied to Minn. Stat. 461.12 and 609.685, aligning with federal Tobacco 21 requirements.
Minnesota does not impose a statewide flavored tobacco ban, but Minn. Stat. 461.12 authorizes cities and counties to adopt stricter local rules including restrictions on menthol and flavored vape sales.
Minnesota requires a license to sell electronic delivery devices and tobacco products, with cities and counties issuing local licenses under Minn. Stat. 461.12 alongside state regulation of vape product registration.