Minneapolis, MN Holiday Decorations: Holiday Light Rules (2026)

Minneapolis does not regulate the duration, brightness, or schedule of residential seasonal holiday lighting through municipal ordinance. Single-family and duplex homeowners can display holiday lights without permit or notification, subject to a few practical rules: (1) Electrical compliance — outdoor circuits must be GFCI-protected under the Minnesota Electrical Code (NEC 2020 with MN amendments), and light strings must be UL-listed for outdoor use; (2) Noise compliance — sound-synchronized 'spectacular' displays must respect Minneapolis Code Title 17 Chapter 389 (Noise), which establishes a 55 dBA daytime and 50 dBA nighttime residential limit (nighttime is 10 PM to 7 AM Sunday-Thursday, 11 PM to 7 AM Friday-Saturday); (3) Property maintenance — damaged or hazardous displays can be cited under Code Chapter 244 (Maintenance Code) and Chapter 227 (Nuisances). Snow and ice are significant concerns — heavy ice loads can pull down gutters; cables damaged by snow plows can create electrocution hazards. Minneapolis has designated Historic Preservation Districts (Milwaukee Avenue, St. Anthony Falls, Warehouse, Healy Block) where permanent mounting clips or fixtures may require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Heritage Preservation Commission. Condo and HOA covenants under Minnesota's Common Interest Ownership Act (Minn. Stat. Ch. 515B) commonly restrict the dates and types of permitted displays.