OFF-PREMISES ADVERTISING SIGNS AND BILLBOARDS

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances tit. 20, ch. 560, art. III

in effect

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 560.300 Billboard districts.

560.300. - Billboard districts. (a) In general. The following billboard districts are established and shall have boundaries as described in this section. In addition to section 560.330, off-premises signs shall be subject to specific district standards in this section. (b) General Billboard District. (1) Boundaries. The General Billboard District shall include areas directly abutting county-state aid roadways, municipal-state aid roadways and state trunk highways and within commercial mixed-use, downtown, and production zoning districts. (2) District standards. Any off-premises sign constructed or relocated shall be located within six hundred sixty (660) feet from such county-state aid roadway, municipal-state aid roadway or state trunk highways. (c) Limited Access Roadway Opportunity Billboard District. (1) Boundaries. The Limited Access Roadway Opportunity Billboard District shall comprise areas within six hundred sixty (660) feet of limited access roadway where continuous to commercial mixed-use, downtown, or production districts and extends at least one thousand three hundred twenty (1,320) feet along and parallel to the limited access roadway without interruption by an urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use zoning district. The six hundred sixty (660) foot spacing distance shall be measured from the right-of-way for the limited access roadway perpendicular to the flow of traffic. (2) District standards. Any off-premises sign within six hundred sixty (660) feet from such limited access roadway shall comply with the applicable provisions of this chapter and shall be subject to all applicable regulations of this zoning ordinance. (d) Downtown Opportunity Billboard District. (1) Boundaries. The Downtown Opportunity Billboard District shall comprise the area bounded by the Washington Avenue, I-35W, I-94, and I-394/Third Avenue North (extended to the river), except that in no case shall an off-premises sign be constructed or structurally altered along or within three hundred (300) feet of either side of Nicollet Avenue between Washington Avenue and Ninth Street South, between LaSalle Avenue and Marquette Avenue from Ninth Street South to Grant Street, or north of Washington Avenue extending to the Mississippi River. (2) District standards. Any off-premises sign constructed or structurally altered within the Downtown Opportunity Billboard District shall comply with the provisions of this section and subject to all applicable regulations of this zoning ordinance. (e) Downtown East Entertainment Billboard District. The Downtown East Entertainment Billboard District shall comprise the following area: Commencing at the intersection of Chicago Avenue and Seventh Street South, land that is north of Seventh Street South between Chicago Avenue and Ninth Ave South, north of Sixth Street South between Ninth Ave South and Eleventh Avenue, west of Eleventh Avenue between Sixth Street South and Fourth Street South, south of Fourth Street South between Eleventh Avenue and Chicago Avenue, and east of Chicago Avenue (aka Kirby Puckett Place) between Fourth Street South and Seventh Street South. (f) Downtown West Entertainment Billboard District. The Downtown West Entertainment Billboard District shall comprise the following area: Commencing at the intersection of Sixth Street North and Hennepin Avenue, land that is south of Sixth Street North between Hennepin Avenue and Second Avenue North, east of Second Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street North, north of Seventh Street North between First and Second Avenue North, east of First Avenue North between Seventh and Eighth Street North, north of Eighth Street North between First Avenue North and Hennepin Avenue, and west of Hennepin Avenue between Sixth Street and Eighth Street North. (g) Downtown Entertainment Area. For the purposes of this section, the Downtown Entertainment Area shall comprise those properties with frontage along the north side of Hennepin Avenue between Tenth Street and Fifth Street, and those properties with frontage along the south side of Hennepin Avenue between Ninth Street and Sixth Street. (Ord. No. 2025-054, § 14, 11-20-2025)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 560.310 Height computations.

560.310. - Height computations. (a) In general. Except for rooftop signs, the height of off-premises signs shall be calculated as the vertical distance from the natural grade measured at a point either at the curb level or ten (10) feet away from the front center of the sign, whichever is closer, to the upper-most point of the sign. (b) Off-premises rooftop signs. The height of the off-premises sign above the roof shall be measured from the surface of the roof at the lowest point of mounting.

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 560.320 General provisions.

560.320. - 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)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 560.330 Specific billboard district standards.

560.330. - Specific billboard district standards. (a) In general. All off-premises signs shall conform to the applicable standards of Table 560-5, General Billboard District Standards, Table 560-6, Opportunity Billboard District Standards, Table 560-7, Downtown East and Downtown West Entertainment Billboard Districts, and all other applicable regulations of this chapter. (b) Abbreviations. For purposes of Table 560-5, General Billboard District Standards, Table 560-6, Opportunity Billboard District Standards, Table 560-7, Downtown East and Downtown West Entertainment Billboard District Standards, "sq. ft." shall mean square feet, and "ft." shall mean feet. Table 560-5 General Billboard District Standards General Billboard District Minimum commercial mixed-use or production zoning | The off-premises sign shall be located within a minimum of one thousand three hundred twenty (1,320) ft. of continuous commercial mixed-use or production zoning along and parallel to both sides of the roadway from which the off-premises sign is intended to be read. Minimum lot frontage | 50 ft. Maximum sign area | 300 sq. ft. Maximum sign height | The top of the off-premises sign shall not exceed twenty-five (25) ft. above the roof. No off-premises sign shall be placed on the roof of any building exceeding two (2) stories in height or where the roof is more than twenty-eight (28) ft. above grade. Lighted sign | Permitted subject to luminance regulation; not facing urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use districts. Luminance1 | Maximum of seven thousand (7,000) nits from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; and maximum of five hundred (500) nits from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Animated signs | Not permitted. Flashing signs | Not permitted. Freestanding signs | Permitted. Minimum sign spacing | Six hundred sixty (660) feet from an urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use district; One thousand (1,000) feet from an off-premises sign on either side of the roadway. Temporary extensions | Not permitted. ;b0; 1 Luminance is the physical measure of brightness or light emanating from an object with respect to its size. The unit of measurement for luminance is nits, which is the total amount of light emitted from a sign divided by the surface area of the sign (candela per square meter). Table 560-6 Opportunity Billboard District Standards Downtown Opportunity Billboard District | Limited Access Roadway Opportunity Billboard District Minimum commercial mixed-use, downtown or production zoning | At least one thousand three hundred twenty (1,320) feet of continuous parallel commercial mixed-use, downtown, or production zoning along both sides of the roadway from which the off-premises sign is intended to be read, or can be read. | At least one thousand three hundred twenty (1,320) feet of continuous commercial mixed-Use, downtown, or production zoning along and parallel to the limited access roadway from which the off-premises sign is intended to be read, or can be read. Minimum lot frontage | Fifty (50) feet for an off-premises sign not exceeding three hundred (300) square feet; one hundred (100) feet for an off-premises sign over three hundred (300) square feet. | Fifty (50) feet for an off-premises sign not exceeding three hundred (300) square feet; one hundred (100) feet for an off-premises sign over three hundred (300) square feet. Maximum off-premises sign area | Six hundred seventy-two (672) square feet plus up to twenty-five (25) percent temporary extension of the basic off-premises sign face. | Six hundred seventy-two (672) square feet plus up to twenty-five (25) percent temporary extension of the basic off-premises sign face. Maximum off-premises sign height | The top of the off-premises sign shall not exceed thirty-five (35) feet above the roof. No off-premises sign shall be placed on the roof of any building exceeding three (3) stories in height or where the roof is more than forty (40) feet above grade. | Thirty-five (35) feet from grade. If located on a roof, the top of the off-premises sign shall not exceed thirty-five (35) feet above the roof. No off-premises sign shall be placed on the roof of any building exceeding three (3) stories in height or where the roof surface is more than forty (40) feet above grade. 1 Freestanding off-premises signs | Not permitted. | Permitted. Lighted sign | Permitted subject to luminance provision. | Permitted subject to luminance provision. Luminance2 | Maximum of seven thousand (7,000) nits from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; and maximum of five hundred (500) nits from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. | Maximum of seven thousand (7,000) nits from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; and maximum of five hundred (500) nits from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Flashing signs | Not permitted except as provided in section 560.90. | Not permitted except as provided in section 560.90. Animated signs | Not permitted except as provided in section 560.90. | Not permitted. Minimum off-premises sign spacing | Two hundred (200) feet from an urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use district; one thousand (1,000) feet from an off-premises sign on the same side of the roadway, except as described in this section. In order to allow structural alteration or reconstruction of existing off-premises signs in the Downtown Opportunity Billboard District that may not meet the one thousand (1,000) foot spacing requirement of the district, the required spacing between existing off-premises signs may be reduced by one (1) foot for each two (2) square feet, or four (4) square feet in case of electronic signs, of nonconforming off-premises sign face area removed by the applicant from qualifying locations, pursuant to the provisions of section 560.80. In no case may the required spacing be reduced to less than five hundred (500) feet. This special spacing provision applies only where the structurally altered or reconstructed off-premises sign is located on or within one hundred (100) feet of the zoning lot where the original off-premises sign was located immediately before such alteration or reconstruction. | Six hundred (600) feet from an urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use district located along and on the same side of the limited access roadway; one thousand (1,000) feet from an off-premises sign on the same side of the roadway; two thousand five hundred (2,500) feet from an off-premises flashing sign reading to the same directional traffic. Temporary extensions | Off-premises signs in the Opportunity Billboard Districts may have temporary extensions of not more than six (6) feet from the top, eighteen (18) inches from the sides, and fifteen (15) inches from the bottom, up to a maximum of twenty-five (25) percent of the sign, provided that temporary extensions shall be completely removed not later than ninety (90) days after installation and the total combined period of temporary extensions for a sign shall not exceed one hundred eighty (180) days per year. ;b0; 1 A sign in excess of height limits may be allowed as a conditional use in the Limited Access Roadway Opportunity Billboard District, subject to the provisions of Chapter 525. 2 Luminance is the physical measure of brightness or light emanating from an object with respect to its size. The unit of measurement for luminance is nits, which is the total amount of light emitted from a sign divided by the surface area of the sign (candela per square meter). Table 560-7 Downtown East and Downtown West Entertainment Billboard District Standards General Standards | Additional Standards for Off-Premises Signs on a Regional Sports Arena Maximum number of off-premises signs per zoning lot | None. Maximum off-premises sign area | The off-premises sign shall not exceed the square footage equal to ten (10) times the building perimeter as measured at the foundation wall. Off-premises signs lawfully existing at the time of the adoption of this ordinance shall not be included in the calculation of the total amount of off-premises signage allowed this section. | Signs applied flat on the roof and which are intended to be primarily viewed from above shall not be included in calculating the total sign area of the site. Maximum off-premises sign height | If located on a roof, the top of the off-premises sign shall not exceed forty-five (45) feet above the roof. No off-premises sign shall be placed on the roof of any building exceeding four (4) stories in height or where the roof is more than fifty-six (56) feet above grade. | Signs attached to the wall or roof of a regional sports arena may extend as high as twenty (20) feet above the top of the building wall. Lighted signs | Permitted subject to luminance provision. Freestanding Signs | Not permitted | One (1) freestanding sign not exceeding thirty-five (35) feet in height shall be allowed. The sign may have signage on up to two (2) sides with a maximum of one thousand two hundred (1,200) square feet of signage on each side. If the sign includes both on-premises and off-premises advertising, the total amount of signage shall not exceed one thousand two hundred (1,200) square feet on each side. Luminance1 | Maximum of seven thousand (7,000) nits from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; and maximum of five hundred (500) nits from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Animated signs | Permitted, subject to the provisions of section 560.90. Animated signs on billboards placed on lots located on the south side of Sixth Street South shall face north. Flashing signs | Permitted, subject to the provisions of section 560.90. Flashing signs on billboards placed on lots located on the south side of Sixth Street South shall face north. Signs with moving or swinging parts | Permitted. Off-premises signs with moving or swinging parts or elements shall not project beyond the zoning lot. Minimum sign spacing | None. 1 Luminance is the physical measure of brightness or light emanating from an object with respect to its size. The unit of measurement for luminance is nits, which is the total amount of light emitted from a sign divided by the surface area of the sign (candela per square meter). (Ord. No. 2025-054, § 16, 11-20-2025)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 560.340 More restrictive provisions to apply.

560.340. - More restrictive provisions to apply. If a provision of this chapter conflicts with any other ordinance or other provision of law, the more restrictive provision shall apply.

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 560.350 Billboard permitting, installation, and maintenance.

560.350. - Billboard permitting, installation, and maintenance. (a) Billboard erectors to be licensed. No person shall install, reconstruct, alter, repair or remove any billboard or submit a sign permit application without first having secured a license from the licensing official. (b) Permits required. No person shall paint or install any billboard without first obtaining a permit from the zoning administrator. An application for a sign permit shall be filed on a form approved by the zoning administrator along with all supporting documentation including the permit fee. The fee for such permit shall be as set forth in Chapter 91, Permit Fees, of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances. (c) Exceptions. No sign permit shall be required for the installation of the following signs: (1) Replacement of the changeable copy portion of a billboard having a stationary framework or structure. (2) Repainting any legal, existing billboard when there is no change in copy or size for which previous permits had been issued.

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_ARTIIIOEMADSIBIFetched: 11/2/2026