Minneapolis, MN Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- City engineer
- Permit fee
- $50 residential-adjacent / $75 nonresidential
- Amendment fee
- $25
- Liability insurance
- $500,000 minimum, city as insured
- Appeal path
- Transportation and Public Works Committee
Summary
Minneapolis requires a city engineer-issued encroachment permit before any structure, projection, or areaway extends into a street, alley, or public right-of-way, with fees of $50 to $75 and mandatory liability insurance.
No portion of a building or other structure, including but not limited to steam lines, conduits, lighting standards, areaways, retaining walls, parking bays, etc., but excluding signs, as stated in Chapter 560, signs, shall for any length of time encroach upon or project into, upon, over or under any street or alley, right-of-way, park or other public property without a permit having been issued by the city engineer, except as specifically stated in this 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
The city engineer must approve an encroachment permit before any building projection, areaway, retaining wall, parking bay, or similar structure extends into or under a Minneapolis street, alley, or public right-of-way. Applicants pay a nonrefundable $50 fee for property adjoining residential use or $75 for nonresidential, plus $25 to amend an existing permit, and must carry public liability insurance naming the City of Minneapolis as additional insured. The city engineer can deny an application that would endanger public health, safety, or welfare, though denials can be appealed to the transportation and public works committee and then the full city council.
Violations & Fines
Building without a permit or letting required liability insurance lapse triggers permit revocation, forced removal of the encroachment, and city-billed removal costs assessed against the property as a special assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build an areaway under the sidewalk in Minneapolis?
What happens if I don't remove an encroachment the city orders taken down?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Minneapolis
Compare Minneapolis to another location·View the Minnesota sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
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