Minneapolis's Accessory Structures: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles accessory structures a little differently. In Minneapolis, Minnesota, there are 9 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Garage Conversions

Garage conversions to habitable space in Minneapolis are regulated as ADUs under Chapter 537 when creating a separate dwelling, or as additions to the principal dwelling when merging with the house. Both require full building permits and compliance with the Minnesota Residential Code including egress and insulation.

Key details: Treated As: ADU under Chapter 537. Insulation: R-20 walls, R-49 ceiling. Frost Depth: 42 inches foundation. Ceiling Height: 6 ft 8 in minimum. Parking: 1 space ADU, replacement needed.

Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact [Minneapolis code enforcement](https://www2.minneapolismn.gov/government/departments/cped/accessory-dwelling-units/) directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.

Shed Rules

Minneapolis allows accessory sheds in rear and side yards under Chapter 535. Sheds 200 square feet or smaller and under 10 feet tall do not require a building permit but must meet setback and lot coverage rules.

Key details: No-Permit Size: 200 sq ft or less and 10 ft tall. Setbacks: 3 ft side/rear, 5 ft from house. Lot Coverage: 10 percent or 676 sq ft. Location: Rear yard or rear 40 percent. Use Limit: No dwelling, no business.

Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact [Minneapolis code enforcement](https://library.municode.com/mn/minneapolis/codes/code_of_ordinances) directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.

The rules around shed rules in Minneapolis lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Tiny Homes

Tiny homes on foundations are permitted in Minneapolis as dwellings or ADUs under Chapter 537 if they meet the 300 sq ft minimum and all Minnesota Residential Code requirements. Tiny homes on wheels (THOWs) are treated as recreational vehicles and cannot be used as permanent dwellings.

Key details: Foundation Tiny Home: ADU under Chapter 537. Minimum Size: 300 sq ft. THOW Status: RV, not dwelling. RV Stay Limit: 14 days per year. Ceiling Height: 6 ft 8 in.

Carport Rules

Carports in Minneapolis are regulated as accessory structures under Chapter 535 and require a building permit regardless of size because they are permanently anchored. They must meet the same setbacks and rear-yard location rules as garages and sheds.

Key details: Permit: Required for all carports. Snow Load: 50 psf ground, 35 psf roof. Footings: 42 inch frost depth. Setbacks: 3 ft side/rear. Temporary Fabric: Not permitted year-round.

Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact [Minneapolis code enforcement](https://www2.minneapolismn.gov/business-services/permits-licenses-inspections/) directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.

ADU Rules

Minneapolis is a national leader in ADU policy. The 2040 Comprehensive Plan and Chapter 537 allow accessory dwelling units in all residential districts as a permitted use, including detached, attached, and internal ADUs. The 2040 plan reinstated in 2023 after court litigation further supports ADU production.

Key details: Code: Chapter 537 ADU. Size: 300 to 1000 sq ft (1300 max). Types: Detached, attached, internal. Owner Occupancy: Not required. Parking: 1 space, transit exempt.

Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact [Minneapolis code enforcement](https://minneapolis2040.com/) directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Minneapolis gives residents more flexibility on adu rules.

ADU Impact Fees

Minneapolis does not charge general residential impact fees on ADUs because Minnesota Statutes §462.358 limits municipal impact-fee authority. Costs are limited to Construction Code Services building permit fees, plan review fees, sewer availability charges (SAC) from Met Council, and water/sewer connection fees.

Key details: Impact Fees: None (Minn. Stat. §462.358). Building Permit: Per Code Ch. 91 schedule. Met Council SAC: ~$2,485 per SAC unit (2025). Park Fee: Not for ADU additions. Property Tax: Hennepin Co reassessment.

Building without permits avoids upfront fees but exposes the project to Construction Code Services stop-work orders, double permit fees on after-the-fact applications, and Met Council enforcement for unpaid SAC. Unauthorized sewer connections may face City disconnection.

Minneapolis is more permissive than most cities when it comes to adu impact fees. That said, there are still limits.

ADU Rental Restrictions

ADUs in Minneapolis can be rented long-term subject to Rental Licensing under Code Chapter 244. Short-term rentals require a Minneapolis Short-Term Rental License under Chapter 339, including platform registration and host/non-host rules. Minnesota Stat. §504B preempts municipal rent control unless authorized at the state level.

Key details: Rental License: Required (Code Ch. 244). STR Threshold: <30 days (Code Ch. 339). STR Non-Host Cap: 90 nights/year non-primary. Lodging Tax: 6.875% + 3% Mpls + Co. Rent Control: Not adopted in MPLS (2021 vote).

Unlicensed long-term rental: Ch. 244 violation, administrative penalty, possible Tenant Anti-Harassment claim. Unlicensed STR: $500 per night under §339.220, license revocation, platform delisting. Failure to collect lodging tax: Minnesota Department of Revenue enforcement.

ADU Owner Occupancy

Minneapolis eliminated the ADU owner-occupancy requirement in 2019 (Ordinance 2019-Or-085). Property owners may rent both the principal dwelling and the ADU to non-owner tenants without losing the ADU's legal status. Both units, however, must comply with Minneapolis Rental Licensing under Chapter 244 of the Code.

Key details: Required: No (repealed 2019). Authority: Ord. 2019-Or-085. Both Units Rentable: Yes. Rental License: Required (Code Ch. 244). Homestead: Owner must reside for exemption.

Not applicable — owner-occupancy is not required. Renting either unit without a Minneapolis Rental License: Chapter 244 violation, administrative penalty, and potential prohibition on collecting rent until licensed.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Minneapolis gives residents more flexibility on adu owner occupancy.

ADU Permits

Minneapolis permits accessory dwelling units by-right in all residential zones following the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan and Chapter 535 of the Zoning Code. Detached, attached, and internal ADUs are permitted. A September 2023 Hennepin County District Court ruling vacated portions of the 2040 Plan; a 2024 Minnesota Court of Appeals decision and subsequent legislative response (2024 MN Laws Ch. 124) restored most ADU provisions citywide.

Key details: Authority: MPLS Code Ch. 535; 2040 Plan. Max Detached: 1,000 sq ft. Max Height: 20 ft / 1.5 stories. Setback: 6 ft side/rear. Parking: None required (2021 reform).

Building an ADU without a permit: Chapter 547 zoning violation, administrative citation, daily fines, and stop-work orders from Construction Code Services. Unpermitted units may not be rented under Minneapolis Rental Licensing (Code Ch. 244).

The rules around adu permits in Minneapolis lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Minneapolis gives residents more room on accessory structures. 5 of the 9 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

Keep in mind that Minneapolis can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.