HISTORIC DESIGN REVIEW

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances tit. 23, ch. 599, art. X

in effect

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 599.1000 Description.

599.1000. - Description. This article is established to protect landmarks, historic districts, and potential historic landmarks under interim protection, by providing the planning director and heritage preservation commission with authority to review and approve or deny all proposed alterations to a landmark, property in a historic district, or potential historic landmark under interim protection. (Ord. No. 2025-053, § 1, 11-20-2025)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 599.1010 Historic design review required.

599.1010. - Historic design review required. All alterations to designated landmarks, properties which are part of a designated historic district and potential historic landmarks under interim protection shall be reviewed pursuant to this chapter. (Ord. No. 2025-053, § 1, 11-20-2025)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 599.1020 Administrative preservation reviews, generally.

599.1020. - Administrative preservation reviews, generally. (a) Purpose. Certain preservation decisions may be made, and preservation permits issued, following a review that does not involve a formal application form or process. However, based on the degree of complexity or city staff time involved in the review of certain uses, buildings, or structures, the planning director may develop administrative review processes and applications that lead to decisions about compliance with the heritage preservation ordinance and comprehensive plan. The heritage preservation ordinance does not list every such scope of work which may require an administrative application. Forms for preservation applications are provided by the planning director. Where a fee is charged, such fee is listed in Table 599-1, Fees. (b) Procedures and decision-makers. Following submittal of information required by this ordinance and any applicable application forms, the planning director shall make decisions on administrative reviews and applications, subject to appeal to the heritage preservation commission as specified in section 599.400. (c) Required findings or criteria. Unless specific findings or criteria are listed elsewhere in the heritage preservation ordinance or in the application form provided by the planning director, administrative reviews include a review for compliance with the applicable provisions of the heritage preservation ordinance and any applicable design guidelines or recommendations within the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. (Ord. No. 2025-053, § 1, 11-20-2025)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 599.1030 Preservation permit.

599.1030. - Preservation permit. (a) Purpose. A preservation permit shall be obtained from the planning director prior to any of the following: (1) The construction, addition, relocation, demolition in whole or in part, and installation of features, systems, or material changes, including signs and awnings, affecting the exterior of a landmark, property in a historic district or property under interim protection, or the designated or nominated interior of any building or structure. (2) Any site work that affects the character-defining features of a designated landscape, landscape associated with a designated property or property under interim protection or identified archaeological resource. (b) Procedure and decision-making body. An application for a preservation permit shall include a plan dimensioned or annotated as to accurately show the proposed building, structure, or alteration as well as any materials specifications, photos, or other information required by the planning director to determine heritage preservation compliance. The planning director shall make decisions on preservation permits and shall affix their stamp on approved plans. Such stamp shall serve as the preservation permit. Where a building permit has been reviewed and approved by the planning director for the purpose of compliance with this heritage preservation ordinance, such approval shall serve as the preservation permit. (c) Required findings or criteria. The permit includes a review for consistency with the regulations of this heritage preservation ordinance and any applicable design guidelines or recommendations within the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. In such instances where the permit requires additional land use review by the planning director, board of adjustment, city planning commission, heritage preservation commission, or city council, the planning director shall not grant the preservation permit until the applicable review body grants approval, the appeal period has expired, and such plans are consistent with the approval granted by the applicable decision-making body. (d) Revocability of preservation permit. Any permit, document, or approval issued by the planning director may be revoked upon a violation of this heritage preservation ordinance or any conditions under which it is issued, subject to the provisions of Article XIV, Enforcement. (Ord. No. 2025-053, § 1, 11-20-2025)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 599.1040 Administrative preservation application.

599.1040. - Administrative preservation application. (a) Purpose. Administrative preservation applications are administrative applications established to evaluate compliance with applicable historic design guidelines and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation for alterations that affect historic materials and will have a visual impact on designated properties or properties under interim protection. This application may review partial demolitions of non-historic buildings or structures and substantial rehabilitation projects that have an approved part 2 historic rehabilitation tax credit application by the State Historic Preservation Office and the National Park Service. (b) Procedure and decision-making body. An administrative preservation application shall be filed by any person having a legal or equitable interest in a property on a form approved by the planning director and shall be accompanied by all required supporting information as determined by the planning director. The planning director shall make decisions on administrative preservation applications, subject to appeal to the heritage preservation commission as specified in section 599.400. (c) Required findings or criteria. The planning director shall approve the administrative preservation application upon making each of the following findings: (1) The alteration is consistent with the applicable design guidelines. (2) The alteration is consistent with the applicable recommendations within the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. (3) The alteration is consistent with the spirit and intent of the preservation ordinance and the applicable policies of the comprehensive plan. (Ord. No. 2025-053, § 1, 11-20-2025)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 599.1050 Commission preservation application.

599.1050. - Commission preservation application. (a) Purpose. Commission preservation applications are public hearing applications established to evaluate compliance with applicable historic design guidelines and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation for new construction of primary or accessory buildings, substantial rehabilitation projects, and demolition of historic accessory buildings or structures on designated properties or properties under interim protection. This application shall also be used for alterations that do not meet applicable historic design guidelines and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, alterations that will result in extensive replacement of historic materials, and alterations that will have a major visual impact. (b) Procedure and decision-making body. A commission preservation application shall be filed by any person having a legal or equitable interest in a property on a form approved by the planning director and shall be accompanied by all required supporting information as determined by the planning director. The heritage preservation commission shall hold a public hearing as provided in section 599.310 and make decisions on commission preservation applications, subject to appeal to the city council as specified in section 599.410. (c) Required findings or criteria. The heritage preservation commission shall approve the commission preservation application upon making each of the following findings: (1) The alteration is consistent with the applicable design guidelines. (2) The alteration is consistent with the applicable recommendations within the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. (3) The alteration is consistent with the spirit and intent of the preservation ordinance and the applicable policies of the comprehensive plan. (Ord. No. 2025-053, § 1, 11-20-2025)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 599.1060 Changes in approved plan.

599.1060. - Changes in approved plan. (a) Minor changes to administrative preservation application approvals. Minor changes to an approved administrative preservation application may be authorized by the planning director where it is determined by the planning director that the minor changes are consistent with the applicable historic design guidelines or the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. (b) Minor changes to commission preservation application approvals. Minor changes to an approved commission preservation application may be authorized by the planning director where it is determined by the planning director that the changes are unsubstantial and are consistent with the approval made by the heritage preservation commission. (c) Other changes. Changes to an approved commission preservation application other than changes determined by the planning director to be minor shall require an amendment to the approval by the heritage preservation commission. The requirements for application and approval of commission preservation application amendments shall be the same as the requirements for original approval. (Ord. No. 2025-053, § 1, 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_TIT23HEPR_CH599HEPRRE_ARTXHIDEREFetched: 11/2/2026