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SUBDIVISION DESIGN

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances tit. 22, ch. 598, art. III
in effect

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 598.230 Design requirements.

598.230. - Design requirements. The following requirements shall apply to all subdivisions: (1) General standards. a. All lots shall have frontage on a public street as approved by the planning commission and sufficient to provide access to it for emergency vehicles as well as for those needing access to the property in its intended use, except where specifically exempted in section 598.260, planned unit development and cluster design, or where designated as an outlot. b. A subdivision shall not result in more than one (1) zoning classification on a single lot. c. A subdivision shall not result in the creation of a nonconforming structure, use or lot. (2) Streets. a. Streets shall conform to the comprehensive plan and official map, if any, and right-of-way map, if any. Streets shall be platted as designated in Table 598-1, Street, Alley and Sidewalk Design for Plats and Registered Land Surveys. The city engineer shall review and approve any street to be platted to ensure that it is adequate to provide appropriate access to the subdivision. b. All new streets shall make connection to existing streets as approved by the city engineer. Streets shall intersect at right angles or radial to curved streets whenever practical. c. Any street designated as a major street shall be platted to the width and alignment as approved by the city engineer, but in no case shall be less than as designated in Table 598-1, Street, Alley and Sidewalk Design for Plats and Registered Land Surveys. (3) Alleys. Where proposed or required by the planning commission, alleys shall be platted as designated in Table 598-1, Street, Alley and Sidewalk Design for Plats and Registered Land Surveys. Dead end alleys shall be prohibited. (4) Sidewalks. Sidewalks shall be provided within the dedicated non-pavement right-of-way of streets as shown in Table 598-1, Street, Alley and Sidewalk Design for Plats and Registered Land Surveys. (5) Utility easements. If required by the city engineer, utility easements shall be shown on the preliminary and final plat or registered land survey. Where no alleys are provided, utility easements required by the city engineer shall be not less than five (5) feet on side lot lines and not less than ten (10) feet on rear lot lines or based upon a utility plan approved by the city engineer. (6) Floodplains. All lots within a floodplain district shall contain a building site at or above the regulatory flood protection elevation, and shall comply with the standards of the Floodplain Overlay District as specified in Chapter 535, Overlay Districts. No land shall be subdivided which is held unsuitable for development by the city planning commission for reason of flood hazard. (7) Outlots. Any lot which due to the existing grade, physical conditions, hazard of flooding, or of a size, shape or in a location not conforming to these regulations and therefore not suitable for development, may be platted as an outlot. Table 598-1 Street, Alley and Sidewalk Design for Plats and Registered Land Surveys Category | Residential Development | Non-Residential Development Streets Major | Minimum width/pavement Maximum grade* | 80/48 ft. 5% | 80/52 ft. 5% Minor | Minimum width/pavement Maximum grade** | 60/32 ft. 10% | 66/54 ft. 10% Cul-de-sac | Minimum diameter/pavement Maximum | 90/70 ft. 500 ft. | 100/80 ft. 500 ft. Alleys | Minimum width/pavement Corner cut | 16/14 ft. 10 ft. | 18/16 ft. 20 ft. Sidewalks | Minimum width | 5 ft. | 6 ft. *Maximum run of 350 ft. **Maximum run of 200 ft. (2013-Or-238, § 12, 12-13-2013; Ord. No. 2023-033, § 3, 5-25-2023)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 598.240 Residential development design.

598.240. - Residential development design. The following requirements shall apply to residential subdivisions: (1) Blocks. Blocks shall be not less than six hundred (600) feet nor more than one thousand five hundred (1,500) feet long and shall be of a minimum width to provide two (2) tiers of lots. Through lots shall be avoided. Exceptions to this prescribed block width shall be permitted in blocks adjacent to major streets, railroads or waterways. Sidewalks or pedestrianways, not less than ten (10) feet wide, may be required through the center of blocks more than eight hundred (800) feet long where deemed necessary to provide circulation or access to schools, parks, playgrounds, shopping areas, transportation or other community facilities. (2) Lot dimensions. a. Single-, two- and three-family dwellings. Lot width shall be not less than the minimum requirements set forth by the zoning ordinance, except lots shall not be less than fifty (50) feet in width where no alley is provided. Lot area shall be not less than the greater of (1) the minimum requirements set forth by the zoning ordinance or (2) the average of the single-, two-, and three-family zoning lots, including the subject zoning lot, located in whole or in part within three hundred fifty (350) feet or the average of the single-, two-, and three-family zoning lots, including the subject zoning lot, located in whole or in part within the same zoning district within three hundred fifty (350) feet, whichever is greater, where such average lot area is nine thousand (9,000) square feet or more. Where such greater minimum lot area applies, the maximum lot area requirement shall be one hundred thirty (130) percent of said average minimum lot area. No lot shall be created which has more than five (5) sides. b. Multiple-family dwellings with four (4) or more dwelling units. Lot width and lot area shall be not less than the minimum requirements set forth by the zoning ordinance except where no alley is provided, in which case the required minimum lot width shall be increased by ten (10) feet. No lot shall be created which has more than five (5) sides. (3) Solar access. All lots in subdivisions of forty (40) acres or more shall be platted in an orientation to maximize solar exposure. (4) Reverse frontage lot(s). Reverse frontage lots, those platted in reverse orientation to the rest of the block, shall be prohibited. Reverse corner lots are also reverse frontage lots. (5) Existing two-family dwelling. Notwithstanding the requirements of this chapter, lots with an existing side-by-side two-family dwelling of one (1) or more stories may be subdivided along the party wall to allow separate ownership of each side of the building provided that covenants are recorded that set forth the requirements for exterior maintenance of the building and grounds, the requirements for reconstruction if one (1) or both sides of the building are damaged or destroyed, and state that the parcels may be used separately as long as the existing building is continued and that thereafter the lots shall be combined to make a single parcel or otherwise be enlarged to conform to the requirements of these land subdivision regulations. Evidence of proper filing of the covenants shall be submitted to the zoning administrator before the approval will be in effect. (2013-Or-238, § 13, 12-13-2013; Ord. No. 2019-050, § 1, 11-8-19; Ord. No. 2023-033, § 4, 5-25-23)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 598.250 Nonresidential development design.

598.250. - Nonresidential development design. The following requirements shall apply to nonresidential subdivisions: (1) Blocks. The size and shape of blocks shall fit the intended use, but in no case shall be less than six hundred (600) feet nor more than one thousand five hundred (1,500) feet long. Sidewalks or pedestrianways, not less than ten (10) feet wide, may be required through the center of blocks more than eight hundred (800) feet long where deemed necessary to provide circulation or access to schools, parks, playgrounds, shopping areas, transportation or other community facilities. (2) Lot dimensions. Lot width and lot area shall be not less than the minimum requirements set forth by the zoning ordinance or of sufficient size and shape to fit the intended use and to provide for the off-street parking and loading facilities, bufferyards and screening required for the use as established in the zoning ordinance or other applicable regulation, whichever is greater.

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 598.260 Planned unit development and cluster design.

598.260. - Planned unit development and cluster design. Individual lots within planned unit developments and cluster developments shall be exempt from the public street frontage requirement of section 598.230 and the design requirements of sections 598.240 and 598.250. The design of a subdivision for a planned unit development or cluster development shall implement the site plan as approved by the planning commission and may include a deed restriction designating the following: (1) The relationship between all common spaces and each individual lot (rights in the common spaces and proportionate ownership accruing to the individual lot). (2) Provision for access to each lot that does not have frontage on a public street. (3) A requirement that an owners' association be created. The duties and responsibilities of the owners' association shall include maintaining the elements of the planned unit development or cluster development as authorized under the zoning ordinance or other applicable regulations. (4) A provision that the taxes, special assessments, and other charges and fees that would normally be levied against the common spaces shall be levied against the individual lot occupied or to be occupied by buildings in direct proportion to the interest that is stated in the deed restriction and shall provide that such levies shall be a lien against the individual lots. (5) A requirement that any disposition of any of the common property situated within the planned unit development or cluster development shall not be made without the prior approval of the planning commission. (Ord. No. 2023-033, § 5, 5-25-23)
Source: City of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Code of Ordinances, City Charter and Park and Recreation Board Code of Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mn/minneapolis/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=MICOOR_TIT22LASU_CH598LASURE_ARTIIISUDEFetched: 11/2/2026

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