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.
Vacant parcels without structures must still be mowed and kept free of junk, construction debris, and unauthorized dumping. Grass and weeds exceeding 8 inches trigger abatement notices, and if the owner does not respond, the city contracts cutting and bills the owner with administrative fees. Vacant buildings must be registered under the Vacant Building Registration program, which carries an annual fee in the thousands of dollars and requires the property to be secured with working locks, intact windows, and a maintenance plan. Vacant lots near the Mississippi River bluff and in environmental overlay districts face additional erosion and vegetation management standards.
City-contracted abatement bills include administrative surcharges. Unregistered vacant buildings carry citations and escalating fees. Liens are placed on properties for unpaid charges.
Minneapolis, MN
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Minneapolis, MN
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Minneapolis, MN
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Minneapolis, MN
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Minneapolis, MN
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Minneapolis, MN
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See how Minneapolis's vacant lot maintenance rules stack up against other locations.
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