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Minneapolis, MN Privacy & Surveillance: License Plate Readers (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Council approval
Public hearing plus full Council vote
Hearing notice
20 to 45 days published
ICE data-sharing
Barred absent judicial warrant
Governing sections
§§ 18.190, 19.20

Summary

Minneapolis requires a public hearing and City Council approval before any license plate reader contract takes effect, and bars using LPR data or technology to help enforce federal immigration law.

(c) City Council approval required. ... the City shall not enter into any new surveillance technology contract without affirmative approval of the contract by formal action of the City Council, subject to City Charter § 4.4. ... city employees, representatives, and contractors shall not use city ... data, technology (e.g. license plate recognition, surveillance video, computers) ... for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws.

View official code

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

Any city contract for surveillance technology, defined to include tech that captures photographic or digital recordings for law enforcement, which covers automated license plate readers, needs a public hearing with 20 to 45 days' published notice plus a public summary, then affirmative City Council approval under City Charter § 4.4 (§ 18.190). Separately, § 19.20 bars city employees, contractors, and representatives from using city data or technology, "e.g. license plate recognition, surveillance video, computers," to help enforce federal immigration law, except where a judicial warrant or other legal process requires disclosure.

Violations & Fines

Entering a license plate reader contract without the required public hearing and Council vote, or using LPR data to assist federal immigration enforcement, violates §§ 18.190 and 19.20.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Minneapolis need City Council approval to deploy license plate readers?
Yes. Any surveillance technology contract, including LPR systems, requires a public hearing with 20-45 days' notice and formal City Council approval under § 18.190 before the city can sign it.
Can Minneapolis police share license plate reader data with ICE?
No. City Code § 19.20 bars using city data or technology, including license plate recognition, to enforce federal immigration law, unless a judicial warrant or other compulsory legal process requires it.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Minneapolis

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