Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 550.1500 Purpose.
550.1500. - Purpose.
Standards governing fences are established to promote the public health, safety, and welfare, and allow for privacy, while maintaining access to light and air.
FENCES
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances tit. 20, ch. 550, art. X
in effectMinneapolis Code of Ordinances § 550.1510 Fence location on a zoning lot.
550.1510. - Fence location on a zoning lot.
Fences may be erected, placed, or maintained along or adjacent to a lot line. The fence owner shall be responsible for properly locating all property lines before construction of any fence.
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 550.1520 Fence encroachment onto public property.
550.1520. - Fence encroachment onto public property.
No portion of any fence shall encroach upon or project into any public right-of-way or other public property without the fence owner first obtaining an encroachment permit.
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 550.1530 Prohibited fence locations.
550.1530. - Prohibited fence locations.
No person shall place, construct, maintain, or cause to be placed any fence that may endanger the public safety, including but not limited to the following:
(1) Fire hydrant access. No fence shall obstruct free access to any fire hydrant.
(2) Sight triangle. No fence shall be constructed or maintained within a distance of fifteen (15) feet from any street or alley intersection.
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 550.1540 Fence maintenance.
550.1540. - Fence maintenance.
Every fence shall be kept in good repair, consistent with the design thereof. The property owner shall be responsible for maintaining the area between the property line and the owner's fence.
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 550.1550 Fence height.
550.1550. - Fence height.
Fence height shall be limited by its location as specified below. In no case shall a fence exceed eight (8) feet in height, regardless of location.
(1) Front yard. Fences located in the required front yard shall not exceed four (4) feet in height. Fences located in a required front yard shall be constructed of open, decorative, ornamental fencing materials that are less than sixty (60) percent opaque.
(2) Corner side yard. Fences located in the required corner side yard shall not exceed four (4) feet in height. In addition, the maximum height may be increased to six (6) feet beginning at the point of intersection of the corner side wall and the rear wall of the principal structure to the rear lot line. For the purpose of this section, open decks and porches shall not be considered part of the principal structure. Where the structure includes an entrance facing the corner side yard, the zoning administrator may further authorize a fence up to six (6) feet in height between the structure and the corner side property line, extending as far toward the front of the lot as reasonably necessary to incorporate the entrance within the fenced area.
Figure 550-2 Maximum Fence Height
[image omitted; see the official code]
(3) Interior side yard. Fences located in the required interior side yard shall not exceed four (4) feet in height. The maximum height may be increased to six (6) feet if the fence is located not less than five (5) feet from the structure on the adjoining property or if the entire fence is constructed of open, decorative, ornamental fencing materials that are less than sixty (60) percent opaque. In addition, the maximum height may be increased to six (6) feet between the rear wall of the principal structure on the adjoining property and the rear lot line.
(4) Rear yard. Fences located in the required rear or side yard and extending along the rear lot line shall not exceed six (6) feet in height, except that a rear yard abutting a required side yard shall be considered an interior side yard and shall be subject to the regulations for interior side yards.
(5) Along public streets. Fences not located in required yards, but located within five (5) feet of a public street or public sidewalk, shall not exceed six (6) feet in height.
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 550.1560 Fence design.
550.1560. - Fence design.
Fences shall be constructed, designed and maintained as follows:
(1) Permitted materials. Fences shall be constructed of wood, metal, bricks, masonry or other permanent materials designed for permanent fencing. No more than two types of related fencing materials shall be used in any fence and wall. Fences constructed of wood shall be resistant to decay.
(2) Hazardous and prohibited materials. Fences shall not be constructed of electrically charged wire, razor wire, chain link with slats, chicken wire, rope, cable, railroad ties, landscape timbers, utility poles or any other similar materials or materials not specifically manufactured for permanent fencing. The cut or selvage end of wire or metal fencing materials may not be exposed at the top of a fence if the height of the fence is less than six and one-half (6½) feet. Barbed wire may be permitted at the top of a fence if the height of the barbed wire is not less than six and one-half (6½) feet and the fence is located in a production district not less than one hundred (100) feet from an urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use district.
(3) Posts and supporting members. All fence posts and related supporting members of the fence shall be erected so that the finished side or sides of the fence shall be facing the adjacent property or public right-of-way.
(4) Snow fences. Institutional and civic uses may erect snow fences exclusively for control of snow between November 1 and April 15.
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_CH550DEST_ARTXFEFetched: 11/2/2026