Minneapolis, MN Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Base height cap
- 2.5 stories, 28 feet
- Roof peak allowance
- up to 33 feet
- Neighborhood compatibility bump
- 35 ft / 40 ft peak
- Governing section
- Code § 540.410, Table 540-7
- Applies to
- all built form overlay districts
Summary
Single- and two-family homes citywide are capped at 2.5 stories and 28 feet, with gable, hip, or gambrel roof peaks allowed up to 33 feet under the zoning code's built form overlay rules.
540.410. - Maximum height for principal structures. (a) In general. The maximum height requirements of principal buildings ... shall be as set forth within Table 540-6 ... and Table 540-7 ... Single- and two-family dwellings and common lot developments with two (2) units, All districts, 2.5 stories, 28 feet. The highest point of a gable, hip, or gambrel roof shall not exceed 33 feet.
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
Minneapolis Code § 540.410, Table 540-7 sets a flat 2.5-story/28-foot height cap on single- and two-family dwellings and two-unit common lot developments in every built form overlay district citywide, with roof peaks (gable, hip, gambrel) allowed to 33 feet. Where at least half the single-, two-, and three-family homes within 100 feet already exceed the cap, the main height may rise to 35 feet and the roof peak to 40 feet. Buildings that already exceeded the cap when the ordinance took effect are legally conforming, but additions and redevelopment must still meet current standards.
Violations & Fines
Zoning violations are enforced as criminal offenses under Code § 1.30 or as administrative offenses under Title 2, and each day a violation continues after city notice counts as a separate offense (§ 525.740).
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can I build a single-family house in Minneapolis?
Can I ever build taller than 28 feet?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Minneapolis
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