Minneapolis, MN Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard, Interior districts
- 20 feet minimum
- Front yard, Corridor/Transit districts
- 15 feet minimum
- Front yard, goods and services corridor
- 10 feet minimum
- Interior side/rear yard
- 5 to 20 feet by height
- Governing chapter
- Zoning Code Chapter 540, Article IX
Summary
Minneapolis sets minimum front yards by Built Form Overlay District, 20 feet in Interior districts, 15 feet in Corridor and Transit districts, dropping to 10 feet along goods and services corridors, under the zoning code's yard regulations in Chapter 540.
Table 540-18 Minimum Front Yard Requirements in Urban Neighborhood and Residential Mixed-Use Districts Built Form Overlay District Minimum Front Yard (Feet) Interior 1, Interior 2, Interior 3, Parks 20 Corridor 3, Corridor 4 15 Corridor 6, Transit 10, Transit 15, Transit 20, Transit 30A and Transit 30B 15, except where fronting on a goods and services corridor in which case the front yard requirement shall be 10
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
Front yard minimums in Minneapolis's urban neighborhood and residential mixed-use zoning districts are set by Built Form Overlay District under Chapter 540, Article IX of the zoning code: 20 feet in Interior 1, Interior 2, Interior 3 and Parks districts; 15 feet in Corridor 3, Corridor 4, Corridor 6 and the Transit districts; and just 10 feet where the lot fronts a goods and services corridor. Interior side and rear yards are set separately under Section 540.870's Table 540-20, scaling from 5 feet for buildings under 42 feet tall up to 20 feet for buildings 120 feet or taller. Corner side yards follow a similar height-based scale under Section 540.860.
Violations & Fines
Building within the required yard without an approved variance is a zoning code violation subject to enforcement action and required correction; relief from the standard requires a formal variance application under Chapter 525, Administration and Procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum front yard setback in Minneapolis?
Are side and rear yard setbacks the same as front yard setbacks?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Minneapolis
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