Home occupations in Minneapolis are prohibited from displaying exterior signs identifying the business under Chapter 536. The ordinance explicitly requires that home businesses have no external evidence of commercial activity visible from the street or neighboring properties.
Minneapolis Code Chapter 536.50 lists the performance standards for home occupations, and one explicit requirement is that there shall be no exterior evidence of the home occupation, including no signs, window displays, outdoor storage, or advertising visible from outside the dwelling. This restriction distinguishes home occupations from commercial businesses and preserves the residential character of neighborhoods. Licensed daycare providers and cottage food operators follow the same no-exterior-sign rule. Permitted displays are limited to a standard residential mailbox marking and the street address. Vehicles used for the business may display business lettering but must be parked in compliance with residential parking rules (no commercial vehicles over one ton in residential districts under Chapter 478). Violations are handled through Regulatory Services inspections with compliance notices and administrative fines.
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact Minneapolis code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
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