Pop. 429,954 · Hennepin County
Aircraft noise from MSP International Airport is regulated federally by the FAA. Minneapolis cannot enforce local noise ordinances against aircraft; complaints route to the MAC Noise Program.
Amplified music audible beyond 50 feet violates Minneapolis Chapter 389, especially during quiet hours (10 PM to 7 AM). Outdoor venues and events need a sound variance or special event permit.
Industrial noise in Minneapolis is limited by zoning-based dBA caps in Chapter 389, typically 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime at residential property lines. Complaints investigated by city Health.
Garage conversions to habitable space in Minneapolis are regulated as ADUs under Chapter 537 when creating a separate dwelling, or as additions to the principal dwelling when merging with the house. Both require full building permits and compliance with the Minnesota Residential Code including egress and insulation.
Minneapolis allows accessory sheds in rear and side yards under Chapter 535. Sheds 200 square feet or smaller and under 10 feet tall do not require a building permit but must meet setback and lot coverage rules.
Tiny homes on foundations are permitted in Minneapolis as dwellings or ADUs under Chapter 537 if they meet the 300 sq ft minimum and all Minnesota Residential Code requirements. Tiny homes on wheels (THOWs) are treated as recreational vehicles and cannot be used as permanent dwellings.
Carports in Minneapolis are regulated as accessory structures under Chapter 535 and require a building permit regardless of size because they are permanently anchored. They must meet the same setbacks and rear-yard location rules as garages and sheds.
Minneapolis is a national leader in ADU policy. The 2040 Comprehensive Plan and Chapter 537 allow accessory dwelling units in all residential districts as a permitted use, including detached, attached, and internal ADUs. The 2040 plan reinstated in 2023 after court litigation further supports ADU production.
Minneapolis does not charge general residential impact fees on ADUs because Minnesota Statutes §462.358 limits municipal impact-fee authority. Costs are limited to Construction Code Services building permit fees, plan review fees, sewer availability charges (SAC) from Met Council, and water/sewer connection fees.
ADUs in Minneapolis can be rented long-term subject to Rental Licensing under Code Chapter 244. Short-term rentals require a Minneapolis Short-Term Rental License under Chapter 339, including platform registration and host/non-host rules. Minnesota Stat. §504B preempts municipal rent control unless authorized at the state level.
Minneapolis eliminated the ADU owner-occupancy requirement in 2019 (Ordinance 2019-Or-085). Property owners may rent both the principal dwelling and the ADU to non-owner tenants without losing the ADU's legal status. Both units, however, must comply with Minneapolis Rental Licensing under Chapter 244 of the Code.
Minneapolis permits accessory dwelling units by-right in all residential zones following the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan and Chapter 535 of the Zoning Code. Detached, attached, and internal ADUs are permitted. A September 2023 Hennepin County District Court ruling vacated portions of the 2040 Plan; a 2024 Minnesota Court of Appeals decision and subsequent legislative response (2024 MN Laws Ch. 124) restored most ADU provisions citywide.
Minneapolis requires a building permit for all permanent residential swimming pools under Chapter 94 of the Construction Code and adopted Minnesota State Building Code. Pool permits include electrical, plumbing, and barrier inspections and must be issued before excavation begins.
Above-ground pools in Minneapolis are regulated the same as in-ground pools when the water depth exceeds 24 inches. A building permit, 48-inch barrier, and setback compliance are required. Removable ladders do not substitute for fencing when the pool wall is under 48 inches.
Minneapolis hot tubs and spas require an electrical permit and must either be surrounded by a 48-inch barrier or be equipped with a locking safety cover meeting ASTM F1346. Portable plug-in spas under 120 volts are exempt from building permits but not from the cover rule.
Minneapolis requires anti-entrapment drain covers meeting VGB Act standards, GFCI-protected electrical, and barrier alarms on doors leading to pools. Public and semi-public pools follow Minnesota Statute 157.22 and state Department of Health rules.
Minneapolis follows Minnesota State Building Code requirements for pool barriers. All pools with water depth greater than 24 inches must be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates and no openings larger than 4 inches.
Minneapolis is not designated a wildfire hazard zone. The humid continental climate, urban density, and lack of wildland interface mean WUI building standards do not apply.
Minneapolis is a humid continental urban area with no wildfire defensible-space ordinance. Brush clearance is handled under weed and nuisance rules in Chapter 227.
Backyard recreational fires in Minneapolis are allowed when contained, under 3 feet, 25 feet from structures, attended, burning clean wood, per Chapter 509.
Minnesota Statute 299F.362 requires smoke alarms in every sleeping area, outside each sleeping zone, and on every level. Minneapolis rentals also need carbon monoxide alarms within 10 feet of sleeping rooms.
Open burning of leaves, brush, or trash is prohibited in Minneapolis under Chapter 509. Only recreational wood fires and permitted ceremonial fires are allowed.
Minnesota State Fire Code, adopted by Minneapolis through Title 6, caps how much propane a homeowner may store, restricts storage indoors, and dictates safe distances from buildings, ignition sources, and property lines for larger cylinders.
Only non-explosive, non-aerial consumer fireworks (sparklers, fountains, snakes) are legal in Minneapolis under MN Statute 624.20. Firecrackers, bottle rockets, and aerial shells are illegal.
Minneapolis allows residential recreational fires in fire pits 3 feet in diameter or smaller, burning clean dry wood, 25 feet from structures, under Chapter 509 of the fire code.
Minneapolis Chapter 536 limits client visits to home businesses to no more than eight per day and requires that traffic and parking not exceed residential norms. Deliveries are limited to vehicles typically serving residences.
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.
Family child care in Minneapolis homes is licensed by Minnesota DHS under Statute 245A. Licensed family daycares (up to 10 children) and group family daycares (up to 14) are a permitted use in all residential zones and preempt local zoning under state law.
Cottage food producers in Minneapolis operate under Minnesota Statute 28A.152, which was expanded in 2021 to allow up to 78,000 dollars in annual gross sales. Producers must register with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and complete a food safety course but do not need a commercial kitchen or city license.
Minneapolis allows home occupations in all residential districts under Chapter 536 of the zoning code. The 2040 Comprehensive Plan expanded residential business opportunities, and most professional home offices, tutoring, art studios, and online businesses operate as permitted accessory uses without special approval.
Most Minneapolis home occupations do not require a city permit. A Home Occupation Registration with CPED is required only when clients or customers visit the home, or when the business triggers additional licensing (daycare, massage therapy, short-term rental).
STR hosts must post and enforce quiet hours matching Chapter 389 (10 PM to 7 AM). Repeated verified noise complaints can suspend or revoke a Minneapolis STR license.
Minneapolis caps STR occupancy at 2 guests per bedroom plus 2, with a hard maximum tied to the life-safety inspection. House rules must state the limit.
Minneapolis requires STR licensees to carry at least 1 million USD in liability insurance, or to confirm platform-provided coverage of equivalent amount, as part of the license application.
Minneapolis does not impose a hard annual night cap on STRs. Type B unhosted rentals operate on the host's primary residence; Type C allows year-round rental with full license.
STR guests must park legally on site or on street. Minneapolis winter parking (snow emergencies, even/odd sides) applies to guest vehicles. Listings must disclose parking.
Minneapolis Title 8 Chapter 277 distinguishes between hosted short-term rentals (host on-site) and unhosted dwelling rentals, applying different licensing tiers and operational requirements to each category.
Unlike many cities, Minneapolis does not restrict short-term rental licenses to primary residences. Investor-owned non-resident dwelling units may obtain Short-Term Rental Dwelling Licenses, subject to operational requirements.
Airbnb, Vrbo, and similar platforms must register with Minneapolis Regulatory Services, verify host licenses, remit lodging taxes, and respond to delisting requests for unlicensed listings under Title 8 Chapter 277.
Minneapolis Title 8 Chapter 277 authorizes license suspension or revocation when a short-term rental accumulates verified violations, with escalating penalties for noise, occupancy, or nuisance complaints within rolling periods.
Minneapolis STRs collect 6.875 percent MN sales tax, 3 percent Minneapolis lodging tax, 2.5 percent Minneapolis entertainment tax, plus county taxes. Platforms like Airbnb remit most automatically.
Every Minneapolis STR must display its license number on every listing. Platforms must verify the number, and the city maintains a searchable STR license database.
Minneapolis requires every short-term rental to hold a city STR license under Title 13. Licenses include Type A (hosted), Type B (unhosted, owner-occupied property), and Type C (non-owner-occupied).
Minneapolis Code Chapter 64 and MN Statutes 346.155 ban big cats, primates, bears, venomous snakes, crocodilians, and large constrictors. Small exotics like ferrets, geckos, and parrots are allowed as pets.
Minneapolis prohibits feeding deer, turkeys, and waterfowl under Code Chapter 70 and MN Statutes 97A.445, and bans feeding that attracts rodents. Bird feeders are allowed if kept clean and pest-free.
Minneapolis bans traditional livestock (cattle, horses, goats, sheep, swine) in all residential districts under Code Chapter 70. Only hens, ducks, rabbits, and bees are allowed, each with its own permit.
Minneapolis Title 5 caps household pets without a multiple-animal permit. Standard residences may keep up to three dogs and three cats combined; exceeding that requires a special permit issued by Minneapolis Animal Care and Control.
Minneapolis requires every dog and cat over four months to hold a current city license. Microchipping is strongly encouraged and embedded into the licensing workflow so impounded pets can be returned faster to verified owners.
Minneapolis requires sterilization of dogs and cats reclaimed after impound, sold, or adopted from Animal Care and Control. Owners pay a sliding fee or sign a binding sterilization agreement before the animal returns home.
Minneapolis licenses cats just like dogs and treats free-roaming cats as at-large. Owners must license cats over four months, sterilization is encouraged through reduced fees, and Animal Care and Control may impound cats running off-property.
Minneapolis treats animal hoarding as cruelty and unsanitary keeping of animals under Title 5 and Minnesota Statute Chapter 343. Animal Care and Control may seize animals, condemn premises with Hennepin County Public Health, and pursue criminal charges.
Minneapolis allows up to 30 hens with a permit but prohibits roosters. Goats, pigs, and cattle are banned in residential districts. Coop placement and neighbor consent are regulated under Code Chapter 70.
Minneapolis allows residential beekeeping with an Animal Care and Control permit and state apiary registration under MN Statutes 17.60. Hive counts depend on lot size, and setbacks or flyway barriers are required.
Minneapolis Code Chapter 64 requires dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet whenever off the owner property, with exceptions only in fenced yards and designated MPRB off-leash dog parks.
Minneapolis bans no specific breed but enforces a dangerous dog regime under Code Chapter 64 and MN Statutes 347. Owners of declared dangerous dogs face muzzle, enclosure, and liability insurance requirements.
Minneapolis requires 4-foot barriers around residential pools and spas deeper than 24 inches under MN Building Code Appendix G and Code Chapter 52. Gates must self-close, self-latch, and doors need alarms.
Minneapolis Zoning Chapter 535 limits fences to 4 feet in front yards and 6 feet 6 inches in side and rear yards, with corner-lot sight-triangle rules. Taller fences need Board of Adjustment approval.
Retaining walls over 4 feet in Minneapolis need a building permit and engineered plans under the Minnesota State Building Code. Shorter garden walls are exempt but must respect property lines and drainage.
Minneapolis does not require a permit for standard residential fences under 6 feet 6 inches. Pool-barrier fences, taller fences, and historic district fences all need permits or HPC review before installation.
Minneapolis prohibits electrified fences and razor wire in residential zones and limits barbed wire to industrial zones. Historic districts further restrict materials through HPC review to period-appropriate styles.
Minneapolis treats boundary-line fences as a civil matter between neighbors, with no cost-sharing ordinance. Owners negotiate privately, and by convention the finished side of a board fence faces the neighbor.
Minneapolis fences must sit entirely on the owner property, respect zoning height limits, and use district-appropriate materials. Historic districts need HPC review, and the owner maintains the fence.
Minneapolis follows Minnesota Statutes Chapter 168B for abandoned vehicles, tagging cars left on public property over 48 hours. Unregistered or inoperable vehicles in yards also violate Chapter 249 nuisance rules.
Minneapolis declares Snow Emergencies after about 4 inches of snowfall, triggering a three-day parking ban on Snow Routes, even sides, then odd sides. Tickets run 57 dollars plus tow and storage fees.
Minneapolis street parking is governed by Chapter 478 and includes alternate-side sweeping, permit districts, meters, and snow emergencies. Most residential streets allow parking except during posted events.
Minneapolis regulates driveway width, location, and surface under Zoning Code Chapter 541. Residential driveways need a curb cut permit, must be hard-surfaced, and cannot exceed width limits tied to lot frontage.
Minneapolis Traffic Code Chapter 478 restricts overnight parking of commercial vehicles in residential areas. Trucks over 12,000 pounds GVW cannot park on residential streets between 10 PM and 6 AM.
Minneapolis supports public EV charging through the Climate Equity Plan and allows residential and multifamily chargers under the state electrical code. EV-only stalls are enforced and non-EV vehicles can be ticketed.
Minneapolis allows RVs and boats on private driveways but restricts front-yard parking. Street parking of RVs over 21 feet is limited to 48 hours under Chapter 478.
Minneapolis uses a year-round odd-even outdoor watering schedule under Code Chapter 509, with additional drought-stage restrictions. Lawn irrigation is banned between 11 AM and 5 PM citywide to reduce evaporation.
Minneapolis Code Chapter 227 limits turf grass and weeds to 8 inches in height. Taller vegetation is treated as a public nuisance, and after a warning notice the city can mow and assess the cost to the property tax bill.
Minneapolis encourages rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation. Minnesota has no statewide permit for residential rain barrels, and the city promotes them through stormwater utility credits under Chapter 510 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances.
Minneapolis requires boulevard trees to be pruned by licensed contractors under MPRB Park Board permits. Private-yard trimming is unregulated except for power lines, oak wilt season, and EAB quarantine rules.
Minneapolis enforces strict tree removal rules tied to Dutch elm and emerald ash borer. Boulevard trees belong to MPRB. Diseased elms and infested ash must be removed under MN Statute 18G.
Minneapolis actively supports native plant landscaping through Chapter 227 (Noxious Weeds and Tall Grass) which exempts managed natural landscapes from the 8-inch grass height limit when registered with the city. The Minneapolis Pollinator Resolution and pollinator-friendly ordinances encourage prairie and native gardens.
Minneapolis does not generally prohibit artificial turf on private property, but its use in required landscaping, front yards, and boulevards is restricted under Chapter 530 (Site Plan Review) and Chapter 535 (Regulations of General Applicability). Artificial turf typically does not count toward required pervious surface or green space.
Minneapolis enforces an 8-inch vegetation limit under Chapter 227 plus the Minnesota Noxious Weed Law (Statutes 18.76 to 18.91). Wild parsnip, Canada thistle, and other listed noxious weeds must be controlled.
Minneapolis Regulatory Services enforces property maintenance. Peeling paint, broken windows, junk accumulation, and tall grass over 8 inches trigger orders to correct.
Minneapolis permits residential garage, yard, and estate sales without a permit, subject to reasonable frequency and duration limits. Sales must not create traffic hazards or extend into the public right-of-way.
Minneapolis requires owners of vacant lots to maintain them free of weeds over 8 inches, litter, and debris. Vacant structures must be registered with the city and secured against entry under the vacant building program.
Minneapolis provides garbage, recycling, and organics carts to 1-4 unit properties. Carts must be stored behind the front building line and returned from curbside by end of collection day.
Minneapolis property owners must clear snow and ice from public sidewalks within 24 hours of snowfall ending for single-family homes, and 4 daytime hours for commercial and multifamily properties. Full sidewalk width is required, and ice must be treated. The city will inspect and bill for clearance if owners fail.
Minnesota legalized recreational cannabis in 2023 under MN Statute 152.02, and adults 21 and over may cultivate up to 8 plants at home (no more than 4 flowering) in Minneapolis. Plants must be in an enclosed, locked space not visible from public areas and accessible only to adults.
Minneapolis cannabis retailers must meet distance buffers from schools, daycares, parks, and residential treatment facilities under Title 8 Chapter 280. Standards align with Minn. Stat. §342 but allow city-set distances within state caps.
Minneapolis allows licensed cannabis businesses primarily in commercial and industrial zones under the Minneapolis 2040 Plan zoning districts. Title 8 Chapter 280 sets local registration; zoning code controls allowed uses and parcel-level standards.
Cannabis delivery in Minneapolis is regulated by the state Office of Cannabis Management under Minn. Stat. §342, with city-level operating standards in Title 8 Chapter 280. Drivers must be 21+ and verify age at handoff.
Adults 21+ in Minneapolis may grow up to eight cannabis plants per residence, with no more than four mature, under Minn. Stat. §342. Plants must be in a secure, enclosed, non-public location and cannot be visible to neighbors.
Minneapolis regulates cannabis retail and commercial cannabis businesses through zoning amendments under Chapters 535 and 549. Retail cannabis businesses are allowed in commercial and mixed-use districts with 300-foot buffers from schools and day cares as permitted by state law.
Minn. Stat. 342.17 grants priority cannabis licensing to social equity applicants including residents of high-cannabis-enforcement areas, veterans, and prior cannabis-offense individuals across Hennepin County.
Minneapolis allows temporary garage sale signs on private property with owner consent but prohibits them in the public right-of-way, on utility poles, trees, and traffic structures.
Minneapolis sets no specific dates for residential holiday decorations. Displays are allowed year-round on private property if they do not block sight lines or trespass light.
MN Stat 211B.045 preempts local regulation of noncommercial political signs on private property from 46 days before the state primary through 10 days after the general election.
Minnesota Statute 500.215 voids HOA covenants that unreasonably restrict solar energy systems. Minneapolis condo and townhome boards cannot ban rooftop solar outright.
Minneapolis requires building and electrical permits for solar PV systems. Solar is an allowed accessory use in all zoning districts subject to setback, height, and fire-pathway standards.
Minneapolis is not a certified Dark Sky city, but the zoning code requires full-cutoff fixtures for commercial lots, caps light at property lines, and restricts upward lighting.
Minneapolis addresses light trespass through zoning illuminance limits and nuisance rules. Light crossing onto residential property above 0.5 foot-candles can trigger enforcement.
Minnesota 2023 reforms in SF 2909 expanded tenant notice protections. Minneapolis applies state rules and requires written reasons for many non-renewals on licensed rentals.
Minneapolis requires a Rental Dwelling License for any residential rental. Licenses are tiered 1-3 by violation history, and unlicensed rentals face fines and rent rebate orders.
Minneapolis Ordinance 244 prohibits landlord retaliation, threatening conduct, illegal lockouts, and harassment intended to force tenants to vacate, with civil and criminal remedies enforced by the city.
Minneapolis Civil Rights Ordinance Title 7 bans landlord discrimination based on source of income, including Section 8 housing vouchers, SSI, child support, and other lawful income, mirroring 2023 statewide expansion.
Minneapolis landlords must accept Housing Choice Vouchers administered by Minneapolis Public Housing Authority and Metro HRA, treating voucher holders identically to other applicants under local and state source-of-income laws.
Minnesota Statute Section 504B.178 caps rental security deposits and mandates return within 21 days after lease end, with itemized deductions and 1% monthly interest accrual on deposits held over a year.
Minneapolis tenant protections require written disclosure of tenant rights before any cash-for-keys buyout agreement, including the right to consult counsel and rescind within a statutory cooling-off period.
Minneapolis Ordinance 244 restricts landlords from non-renewing or terminating tenancies without one of the just-cause reasons enumerated in city code, eliminating arbitrary no-fault eviction at lease end.
Minneapolis requires landlords to pay displaced tenants three months of rent in relocation assistance when terminating tenancy for owner move-in, substantial rehabilitation, or rental withdrawal under Ordinance 244.
Minnesota's COVID-era eviction moratorium ended June 2022 under a phased wind-down statute; Minneapolis followed state schedule. Pre-pause arrears must follow standard collection procedures, not summary eviction.
MN Stat 471.9996 preempts local rent control absent voter approval. Minneapolis voters approved a 2021 charter amendment enabling rent rules, but no binding ordinance has been enacted.
Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling collects garbage, single-stream recycling, and organics weekly on assigned route days. Carts must be at the curb or alley by 6 a.m. on collection day, with lids closed.
Minneapolis residents store carts on their own property, out of front-yard view, between collections. Carts at the curb must not block sidewalks, alleys, or driveways.
Minneapolis offers scheduled bulk-item pickup for large items and appliances for a fee. Hennepin County drop-off centers accept HHW and electronics. Illegal dumping is a misdemeanor.
Minneapolis operates mandatory curbside recycling for 1-4 unit properties and opt-in organics collection citywide. Multifamily buildings of 5+ units use private haulers.
Commercial drone work in Minneapolis requires an FAA Part 107 certificate, LAANC authorization for MSP Class B airspace, and MPRB permits for Park Board property operations.
FAA rules govern drones in Minneapolis. Recreational pilots must pass the TRUST test, register drones 0.55 lb or more, and get LAANC authorization for MSP Class B airspace.
Drone operators in Hennepin County must follow FAA rules near MSP Airport, HCMC's helipad, and other controlled airspace, including LAANC authorization and special use restrictions.
Minneapolis Chapter 52 (Erosion and Sediment Control) requires a plan and permit for any land disturbance over 10,000 square feet or any grading within 200 feet of a waterbody. Silt fencing, inlet protection, and stabilized construction entrances are mandatory throughout the project.
Minneapolis requires a grading permit for any change in grade exceeding 50 cubic yards or grading within drainage easements or the Shoreland Overlay District. All grading must maintain existing drainage patterns and cannot divert runoff onto neighboring properties.
Minneapolis participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and regulates Special Flood Hazard Areas under Chapter 551 (Floodplain Overlay Districts). Construction within the 100-year floodplain requires elevation or floodproofing to at least 2 feet above the Base Flood Elevation.
Minneapolis restricts unnecessary vehicle idling under air-quality provisions, with tighter limits near schools, hospitals, and environmental-justice neighborhoods identified in the 2023 Climate Equity Plan.
Minneapolis limits gas-powered leaf blower use through noise, emissions, and time-of-day restrictions, with city operations transitioning to battery-electric equipment under the 2023 Climate Equity Plan.
Minneapolis declared a climate emergency and adopted the 2023 Climate Equity Plan, committing to carbon neutrality by 2050 with interim 2030 targets and dedicated environmental-justice investments.
Minneapolis encourages reflective cool-roof assemblies through the Minnesota Energy Code, Climate Equity Plan incentives, and B3 sustainable building guidelines for city-funded projects, particularly low-slope commercial and multifamily roofs.
Minneapolis addresses urban heat islands through tree-canopy expansion, cool-pavement pilots, green-roof incentives, and stormwater-integrated landscaping, with priority investments in North Minneapolis and Phillips identified by the Climate Equity Plan.
Minneapolis follows MPCA MS4 permit requirements and Chapter 54 (Stormwater) of the city code. Projects disturbing one acre or more require a state NPDES construction permit, and sites disturbing 10,000 square feet or more must meet city stormwater management rules including infiltration or filtration of the first inch of runoff.
Minneapolis aggressively addresses lead-based paint in pre-1978 housing through Regulatory Services inspections, Hennepin County Public Health case management, and Minnesota Department of Health rules requiring certified abatement contractors and lead-safe renovation practices.
Minneapolis Regulatory Services enforces a rat-stoppage and vermin abatement program citywide. Property owners must keep buildings rodent-resistant and eliminate harborage, with Hennepin County Public Health joining when food, sanitation, or multifamily issues are involved.
Minneapolis follows the Minnesota State Building Code and State Fire Code, which require automatic fire sprinklers in most new multifamily, commercial, and large single-family structures, plus retroactive sprinklers in many high-rise existing buildings within Minneapolis.
Minneapolis 2040 zoning controls oversized homes through floor area ratio caps, lot coverage limits, height ceilings, and setbacks rather than a separate mansionization ordinance, with most residential districts capped well below typical California-style mansion thresholds.
Minneapolis layers a Sustainable Building Policy on city-supported projects with the state energy code and the Climate Equity Plan target of carbon neutrality by 2050, pushing efficiency, electrification, and emissions disclosure for large commercial buildings.
Elevators in Hennepin County buildings are regulated under Minnesota Statutes 326B.184 and inspected by the MN Department of Labor and Industry. Annual inspections, valid certificates, and licensed mechanics are required for residential and commercial elevators.
Minneapolis Title 11 prohibits obstructing public sidewalks and unlawful lodging in public spaces, but enforcement follows the Minnesota Homeless Bill of Rights mandating shelter-availability before citation.
Minneapolis closes unauthorized encampments using a notice-and-outreach protocol coordinated with Hennepin County Continuum of Care, providing shelter referral, belongings storage, and service connection before clearance.
Minneapolis supports sanctioned bridge-housing sites including Avivo Village indoor tiny-home community, providing low-barrier shelter alternatives connected to wraparound services and pathways to permanent supportive housing.
Minneapolis rental owners must treat bed bug infestations promptly under Title 10 housing maintenance rules. Tenants must cooperate with prep and inspections, and landlords cannot pass routine treatment costs to tenants.
Minneapolis Health Department inspects food establishments under Title 10 and posts inspection results online. Critical violations require correction or closure; Minneapolis does not use a letter-grade placard system like Los Angeles.
Property owners must keep premises free of rats, mice, and other rodents under Title 10. Minneapolis Animal Care and Control and the Health Department respond to complaints, and owners are responsible for abatement costs.
Used syringes and sharps must be placed in rigid puncture-resistant containers and dropped at approved sites. Hennepin County operates household sharps collection, and improper disposal in trash or recycling is prohibited.
Each licensed Minneapolis food establishment must employ a Certified Food Protection Manager under Minnesota Food Code. The manager completes an ANSI-accredited course, and proof of certification must be available during inspection.
Minneapolis requires retailers to charge at least five cents per single-use carryout bag under Title 7. Minnesota partially preempts new local bag bans under Minn. Stat. §471.9998 but allows pre-2021 ordinances like Minneapolis to remain.
Minneapolis prohibits food establishments from using expanded polystyrene foam containers under Title 7 Chapter 244. The ban has been in effect since 2015 and requires recyclable, compostable, or reusable alternatives instead.
Minneapolis food establishments may only provide single-use plastic straws, stirrers, and utensils when customers request them, under Title 7 Chapter 244 environmentally acceptable packaging rules. Bundled defaults are not allowed.
Minneapolis prohibits the sale of tobacco, vape, and nicotine products to anyone under 21 under Title 8 Chapter 281. The local rule predates Minn. Stat. §609.685 statewide T21 enacted in 2020 and remains the operative licensing standard.
Minneapolis restricts the sale of flavored tobacco and vape products to adult-only tobacco shops under Title 8 Chapter 281. Menthol and mint flavors are included, removing flavored products from gas stations and general convenience stores.
Vape and e-cigarette retailers in Minneapolis need a tobacco license under Title 8 Chapter 281 and must comply with T21, flavor restrictions, and a license density cap. New licenses are limited and tied to a citywide cap.
Minneapolis enforces an odd-even outdoor watering schedule from May through September. Properties may water lawns only on days matching the last digit of the address, with no watering 11am to 5pm.
Minneapolis and Hennepin County partner with the Metropolitan Council and watershed districts to offer rebates and cost-share programs for replacing turf with native plantings, raingardens, and pollinator habitat.
Minneapolis Water Works requires customers to repair leaks on private service lines and plumbing promptly after notice, with high-bill leak adjustments available once for qualifying repairs documented and submitted.
Minneapolis 2040 Plan and Title 20 zoning allow density bonuses for affordable housing, reduced parking, and transit-proximate sites. Combined with the 2018 abolition of single-family-only zoning, projects may add height and units when affordability is provided.
Minneapolis 2040 Plan designates Transit 30 and Transit 20 zones along Metro Transit BRT (A, C, D Lines) and LRT corridors, allowing taller buildings, no parking minimums, and mixed-use development by right.
Hennepin County's Comprehensive Plan guides countywide infrastructure, while individual cities adopt zoning consistent with Met Council Thrive MSP 2040 and forthcoming Imagine 2050 frameworks.
Minneapolis operates an expanding network of protected and conventional bike lanes guided by the Vision Zero plan to eliminate traffic deaths by 2027, with parking and turning rules adjusted along bike facilities.
Minneapolis licenses shared e-scooter and bikeshare operators through Public Works, requiring permits, insurance, geofencing, equity zones, and parking compliance. Nice Ride operates seasonally as the citywide bikeshare partner.
Minneapolis requires permits before removing boulevard trees, park trees, or trees on city property, administered by MPRB. Private trees on residential lots generally do not need permits, but development sites do.
Minneapolis Title 20 zoning and Title 16 require tree preservation during development, identifying significant or heritage trees by size and species, with replacement requirements for any removed during construction.
MPRB plants and maintains all boulevard trees in Minneapolis. Residents may request a tree, choose from approved species, and water during establishment. Planting by residents requires advance MPRB permission.
Hennepin County and its cities require replacement plantings when trees are removed for development, supporting the Climate Action Plan canopy and equity targets.
Hennepin County prioritizes tree planting and forest investments in historically underserved neighborhoods, addressing canopy gaps tied to redlining and heat-island disparities.
Massage businesses in Minneapolis must hold a Massage Therapy Enterprise license, and individual practitioners must hold a separate Massage Therapist license under Title 8 of the city code.
Minneapolis requires every retailer selling tobacco, electronic cigarettes, or related products to hold a city tobacco license, with a state-mandated minimum purchase age of 21 under Minn. Stat. 609.685.
Minneapolis requires secondhand goods dealers, including thrift stores buying inventory and electronics resellers, to hold a license and report transactions to the Automated Pawn System used by police.
Pawnbrokers in Minneapolis must hold a city license, charge fees within state-capped limits, and electronically transmit every pawn transaction to police through the Automated Pawn System on the day of receipt.
Minneapolis prohibits commercial auto repair from residential zoning districts and limits non-commercial home vehicle work to occupants' own vehicles, with no customer traffic, signage, or stored parts.
Tattoo and body-piercing technicians in Hennepin County must hold a Minnesota Department of Health license under Minn. Stat. 146B, with shop inspections and bloodborne-pathogen training.
Minneapolis prohibits public urination and defecation in public places, on public property, or on private property visible from public view, treating violations as administrative offenses or misdemeanors.
Minneapolis restricts aggressive solicitation, including blocking pedestrians, following someone after refusal, and panhandling near ATMs or after dark, while preserving passive panhandling as protected speech.
Minneapolis allows police to declare a gathering an unlawful loud party after a noise complaint, with host liability for the property occupant or owner and possible cost recovery for repeat responses.
Minneapolis bans smoking and vaping in city parks, on outdoor restaurant patios, near building entrances, at transit shelters, and in many public events, building on the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act.
Minneapolis prohibits open containers of alcohol on streets, sidewalks, parking lots, and in city parks unless served by a licensed concessionaire or under a special event liquor permit issued by the city.
Adults 21 and older may possess cannabis in Hennepin County under Minn. Stat. 342, but smoking or vaping it in public, schools, and most workplaces remains a petty misdemeanor.
Hotel and short-term lodging stays in Minneapolis carry a combined tax burden of about 13 percent: 6.875 percent Minnesota sales tax, 3 percent Minneapolis lodging tax, and 2.625 percent Minneapolis Convention Center tax.
Minneapolis has not enacted a citywide hotel worker retention ordinance. Successor employers follow Minnesota's general labor law, the WARN Act, and any collective bargaining agreement with unions like UNITE HERE Local 17.
Hennepin County has no countywide hotel living-wage law, but Minneapolis and St. Paul require hotel workers to be paid the local large-employer minimum wage, which exceeds the Minnesota state floor.
Minneapolis businesses pay property taxes through Hennepin County under Minnesota's classification system. There is no separate Minneapolis gross receipts business tax; instead, businesses pay licensing fees and Minnesota state taxes.
Hennepin County has no mansion or high-value real estate transfer tax. Minnesota's deed transfer tax under Minn. Stat. 287.21 is a flat 0.33 percent on all sales statewide.
Minneapolis enacted a Sick and Safe Time ordinance in 2017 requiring employers to provide paid leave. Minnesota's statewide Earned Sick and Safe Time law (Minn. Stat. 181.9445) took effect in 2024, layering on top.
Minneapolis enacted a local minimum wage ordinance in 2017, phasing in to $15 per hour for all employers by July 2024. The wage rises annually with inflation and applies to anyone working two or more hours per week in the city.
Minnesota does not preempt local scheduling laws, allowing cities like Minneapolis to enforce predictive scheduling and wage theft ordinances on top of state wage standards in chapter 177.
Minneapolis Park Board ordinances close most city parks from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Presence during closed hours without a permit is a petty misdemeanor enforced by park police.
Minneapolis juvenile curfew sets staggered times by age: under 12 at 9 p.m., ages 12-14 at 10 p.m. weekdays, and ages 15-17 at 11 p.m. weekdays, with later times on weekends.
Minneapolis has no specific City ordinance regulating residential inflatable holiday displays. The principal restrictions come from HOA and condo covenants under Minnesota's Common Interest Ownership Act, the Minneapolis noise ordinance for blower/music sound, and property maintenance code for damaged or chronically deflated displays.
Minneapolis has no citywide ordinance restricting residential holiday lights at single-family homes. Restrictions arise principally from HOA and condo covenants under Minnesota's Common Interest Ownership Act (Minn. Stat. Ch. 515B), the Minneapolis noise ordinance (Title 17 Ch. 389), Heritage Preservation Commission review for permanent fixtures in historic districts, and property maintenance code for damaged displays.
Minneapolis's zoning and property maintenance codes do not restrict residential lawn ornaments, statuary, or religious displays at single-family homes. Political signs are protected as free speech. HOA covenants under Minnesota's Common Interest Ownership Act may impose private rules. Heritage Preservation Commission review may apply to permanent installations in designated historic districts.
Minneapolis has no specific ordinance regulating residential offset smokers or pellet grills at single-family homes. Multi-unit balcony smokers face the same IFC §308.1.4 prohibition as other open-flame cooking. Smoke crossing property lines can be addressed under Code Ch. 227 (Nuisances). The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency air-quality alerts are advisory.
Minneapolis enforces the Minnesota State Fire Code (Minn. Rules Ch. 7511), which adopts the International Fire Code. IFC §308.1.4 prohibits open-flame cooking devices and LP-gas grills on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction in any building with 3 or more dwelling units. Minneapolis Fire Marshal enforces strictly given high apartment density.
Outdoor kitchens in Minneapolis require separate trade permits from Construction Code Services: building permit for structural elements, mechanical permit for gas lines, plumbing permit for water/sinks, and electrical permit for outdoor outlets. Minneapolis enforces the 2020 Minnesota State Building Code with frost-depth and energy-code requirements.
Hennepin County is a Welcoming County that limits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. State law under Minn. Stat. 626.8474 bars local police from making civil immigration arrests.
Minnesota does not require private employers to use E-Verify, and the state has not enacted a general E-Verify mandate, leaving federal I-9 verification as the universal standard for hiring.
Minnesota issues permits to carry pistols under the Minnesota Citizens' Personal Protection Act, codified at Minn. Stat. 624.714, with sheriffs administering shall-issue permitting for qualified applicants.
Minnesota statute 471.633 broadly preempts local firearms regulation, reserving authority over the lawful sale, transfer, possession, carrying, transportation, storage, and use of firearms to the state legislature.
Minnesota law treats open carry of a pistol the same as concealed carry, requiring a permit under Minn. Stat. 624.714, while long-gun open carry is generally lawful absent local discharge or trespass issues.
Minnesota requires a permit to carry a pistol on or about the person or in a vehicle under Minn. Stat. 624.714, with state preemption barring stricter local rules under Minn. Stat. 471.633.
Minnesota agricultural zoning combines local authority under chapter 394 county planning with state feedlot rules in Minn. Stat. 116.07, while Right to Farm protections in 561.19 limit nuisance challenges.
Minnesota's Right to Farm law in Minn. Stat. 561.19 protects established agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits when they have operated for at least two years and comply with applicable laws.