Eden Prairie, MN Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 11.38, Heritage Preservation Sites
- Reviewing body
- Heritage Preservation Commission
- Designation authority
- City Council, by ordinance
- Permit for alteration/demolition
- Certificate of Appropriateness
- Hearing notice radius
- 350 ft of property
- Violation penalty
- misdemeanor, § 11.99
Summary
In the City of Eden Prairie, the Council designates Heritage Preservation Sites under City Code § 11.38 to protect buildings, structures and landforms with historic, aesthetic or community value. Once a property carries that designation, altering, erecting, moving or demolishing anything on it requires a Certificate of Appropriateness. The Heritage Preservation Commission reviews applications and recommends to the Council, which makes the final decision after a public hearing.
Subd. 1. Declaration of Public Policy and Purpose. The Council of the City of Eden Prairie (hereinafter the "Council") declares as a matter of public policy that the preservation, protection, perpetuation and use of areas, places, buildings, structures, and other objects have historic, aesthetic or community interest or value, benefits the health, prosperity, education and welfare of the community. ... A.A Certificate of Appropriateness is required to do any of the following to a Heritage Preservation Site:1.Remodel, alter, or substantially change the exterior appearance of a historic building, site or landmark.2.Erect a building or any structure.3.Erect signs.4.Move from or to any building.5.Demolish any building in whole or in part. This does not apply to structures to be demolished in accordance with Minnesota Statutes Chapter 463.6.Alter or remove a land form in whole or in part. ... E.No owner or any other person shall demolish or undertake to demolish a Heritage Preservation Site without a Certificate of Appropriateness.
Full Breakdown
Section 11.38 of the Eden Prairie City Code, adopted by Ordinance No. 5-2010, declares as public policy that preserving areas, places, buildings, structures and other objects of historic, aesthetic or community interest benefits the health, prosperity, education and welfare of the community. Subdivision 3.B lets the Heritage Preservation Commission recommend a site for designation when it is associated with significant historical events or persons, embodies a distinctive type, period or method of construction, or has yielded or may yield information important to prehistory or history, and the Council makes the actual designation by ordinance under Subdivision 3.F.
Once designated, Subdivision 8.A requires a Certificate of Appropriateness before anyone may remodel or substantially change the exterior of the site, erect a building or structure, erect signs, move a building to or from the site, demolish any building in whole or part, or alter or remove a land form in whole or part. Subdivision 8.E states flatly that no owner or any other person may demolish or attempt to demolish a Heritage Preservation Site without that certificate. The Heritage Preservation Commission reviews each Certificate of Appropriateness application against the Secretary of the Interior's Standards listed in Subdivision 8.C and forwards a recommendation to the Council, which holds a public hearing with notice mailed to owners within 350 feet before approving, denying or conditioning the certificate under Subdivision 8.G. A designation itself also requires a public hearing under Subdivision 6.B, with the same 350-foot mailed-notice radius.
Violations & Fines
Demolishing, altering or building on a designated Heritage Preservation Site without a Certificate of Appropriateness violates Subdivision 8.E of Section 11.38. Chapter 11 violations are misdemeanors under Section 11.99, punishable as such upon conviction, and the City can also pursue other lawful remedies to prevent or reverse unauthorized demolition or alteration of a designated site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Eden Prairie have a local historic landmark program?
What is a Certificate of Appropriateness?
Can a designated site be demolished?
Who enforces the heritage preservation rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Eden Prairie
Compare Eden Prairie to another location·View the Minnesota historic preservation overview
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Historic-Cultural Monuments in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Hennepin County handle historic-cultural monuments.