General provisions.
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 560.320
in effect560.320. - General provisions.
The following provisions shall apply to all off-premises signs, except as otherwise provided:
(1) New and existing off-premises signs. Any off-premises sign existing on December 1, 2025, shall comply with the applicable provisions of this chapter and shall be subject to all applicable regulations of this zoning ordinance. No new off-premises sign shall be constructed or established within the billboard districts.
a. Alterations, generally. Alterations to existing, permitted off-premises signs shall be permitted, but shall not include electronic elements or conversion to a flashing or animated off-premises sign.
b. Alterations, Downtown West Entertainment Billboard District. Alterations to existing, permitted off-premises signs in the Downtown West Entertainment Billboard District shall be permitted to include electronic elements or conversion to a flashing or animated off-premises sign, subject to the provisions of Table 560-7 Downtown East and Downtown West Entertainment Billboard District Standards. Existing off-premises signs benefiting from a conversion from static to digital under this subsection shall be subject to the terms of any legislative mechanism approved providing for future revenue share or municipal tax, to the extent permitted by law.
(2) Number of off-premises signs. Only one (1) off-premises sign structure shall be allowed on a zoning lot, except as otherwise provided in this chapter. Multiple signs may be installed on a single sign structure as permitted by this ordinance.
(3) Minimum commercial mixed-use/production zoning. Except as provided in section 560.300, the following factors shall be considered in determining the roadway or roadways from which a sign is intended to be read:
a. The angle of the off-premises sign to the roadway.
b. The duration of the view of the message from the roadway.
c. The distance the off-premises sign is from the roadway.
d. Obstructions to the view of the message from the roadway.
(4) Off-premises signs next to urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use districts. Except as provided in section 560.300, no off-premises sign shall be located within the required spacing from an urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use zoning district fronting on either side of the roadway from which the off-premises sign is intended to be read. Spacing shall be measured from the closest urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use district boundary to a line projected from the nearest point of the off-premises sign perpendicular to the roadway.
(5) Off-premises signs next to parks. No off-premises sign, except where designated by the city council or where determined to be a contributing feature in an historic district, shall be located within three hundred (300) feet of a parkway or a public park of three (3) acres or more.
(6) Central riverfront. No off-premises sign shall be allowed within the area bounded by I-35W, Plymouth Avenue North, Washington Avenue and the Mississippi River, except where designated by the city council, determined to be a contributing feature in an historic district, or if located within the Downtown Opportunity Billboard District. No freestanding off-premises sign shall be located within the Central riverfront district.
(7) SH Shoreland and MR Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area Overlay Districts. All off-premises signs located within the SH Shoreland and MR Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area Overlay Districts shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 535, Overlay Districts.
(8) Measurement of spacing between off-premises signs. For the purpose of measuring spacing, the off-premises sign shall be the face displaying the copy or message and shall not include the structural members, frame or edge. The same factors shall be considered in determining the roadway or roadways and the direction or directions from which an off-premises sign is intended to be read. Required spacing shall be measured as follows:
a. General Billboard District. Required spacing between signs shall apply to all off-premises signs on either side of the roadway that are intended to be read from the same direction. Spacing shall be measured by projecting a line from the nearest points of the off-premises signs and measuring the distance between those points.
b. Limited Access Roadway Opportunity Billboard District and the Downtown Opportunity Billboard District. Required spacing between off-premises signs shall apply only to signs on the same side of the roadway that are intended to be read from the same direction. Spacing shall be measured by projecting a line from the nearest points of the off-premises signs perpendicular to the roadway or roadways from which they are intended to be read and measuring the distance along the roadway between those points.
(9) Minimum lot frontage. Minimum lot frontage shall be measured along the roadway from which the off-premises sign is intended to be read, measured between side lot lines of the zoning lot. In the Limited Access Roadway Opportunity District, lot frontage shall be measured parallel to the right-of-way of the limited access roadway. For the purposes of this chapter, a railroad right-of-way shall not constitute a zoning lot for purposes of minimum lot frontage.
(10) Maximum off-premises sign area. The maximum off-premises sign area shall apply to each side of the sign structure, whether a single-sided, back-to-back or v-type sign.
(11) Backs of signs. The back of each off-premises sign, including all parts of the off-premises sign structure and any temporary extensions, shall be painted a dark or neutral color and shall be well maintained. The structure of an off-premises sign, whether freestanding or mounted on a building or other structure, shall include a framing system consisting of painted black anodized steel. A sign that is integrated into the façade or elevation of the building such that the sign is framed by the structure is exempt from this provision.
(12) Orientation of sign faces. All off-premises signs consisting of back-to-back or parallel design shall be no greater than eight (8) feet apart. All back-to-back or parallel off-premises signs shall be designed with faces at an angle no greater than thirty-five (35) degrees. Off-premises wall signs shall be mounted parallel to the building, shall not project more than fifteen (15) inches from the building, and shall not be oriented to face urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use districts. Off-premises signs must be oriented toward the roadway along which the property has frontage. Off-premises signs shall not include more than two (2) sides and may not include more than one (1) sign face per side.
(13) Location. Freestanding off-premises signs shall conform to the yard requirements for a principal structure.
(14) Obstruction. No off-premises sign shall be located in such a manner as to obscure or otherwise interfere with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, signal or device, or obstruct or interfere with a driver's view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic.
(15) Off-premises signs on public transit infrastructure. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to off-premises signs placed on public transit, bus shelters, bike lockers and benches as specifically permitted by ordinance or franchise.
(16) Roadway classification. The classification of roadways shall be shown on the map entitled "Roadway Classification" maintained by the city engineer, as amended from time to time, which is incorporated into this chapter by reference and made a part hereof.
(17) Active uses. No off-premises sign erected after December 1, 2025, shall be permitted on any structure or lot that does not contain an active principal use. Any off-premises sign in violation of this provision shall be removed within one hundred eight (180) days unless the structure or lot is brought into active use.
(Ord. No. 2025-054, § 15, 11-20-2025)
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_TIT20ZOCO_CH560SI_ARTIIIOEMADSIBI_560.320GEPRFetched: 11/2/2026