GENERAL PROVISIONS

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances tit. 20, ch. 520

in effect

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 520.10 Designated zoning ordinance.

520.10. - Designated zoning ordinance. Chapter 520 through Chapter 570 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances, as originally adopted and as subsequently amended, shall be known and referred to collectively as the "zoning code" or "zoning ordinance."

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 520.20 Authority.

520.20. - Authority. This zoning ordinance is enacted pursuant to the authority granted to the municipality by Minn. Statutes, Sections 462.351 through 462.365 and the Minneapolis City Charter, Chapter 13.

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 520.30 Purpose.

520.30. - Purpose. This zoning ordinance is adopted for the following purposes: (1) To implement the policies of the comprehensive plan. (2) To promote and protect public health, safety, aesthetics, economic viability, equity, and general welfare. (3) To encourage the most appropriate use of land and prevent inappropriate use of land throughout the city. (4) To promote unique and high-quality urban development appropriate to the planned form, scale, and density of each district. (5) To promote and protect the desirable characteristics and patterns of the city's residential, mixed-use, commercial, industrial areas, and parks and open space areas, and to promote the orderly and beneficial development of those areas. (6) To provide adequate light, air, privacy, and convenience of access to property, and to secure property from fire, flood, and other dangers. (7) To protect and conserve the value of land, buildings, and other improvements throughout the city. (8) To promote resilience as well as environmentally sustainable practices, including reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. (9) To provide for the safe and efficient circulation of all modes of transportation with a higher priority given to environmentally sustainable modes. (10) To preserve and increase the amenities of the city. (11) To provide for the fair and consistent administration of this title, including providing clarity regarding the powers and duties of officials and bodies charged with such administration, the standards for land use approvals, and the procedures for its enforcement.

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 520.40 Scope of regulations.

520.40. - Scope of regulations. (a) In general. All uses of land or structures, all alterations, expansions or relocations of existing structures, and all expansions, relocations or intensifications of existing uses shall be subject to all applicable regulations of this zoning ordinance. (b) Exceptions. A complete land use application submitted prior to July 1, 2023, shall be reviewed utilizing the zoning regulations and review processes in place at the time the complete application was submitted and buildings or uses may be established and completed in accordance with the regulations of the 1999 zoning code. However, such buildings and uses shall not be subject to the 1999 zoning code in perpetuity. An applicant may avail themselves of less restrictive requirements provided by the zoning regulations in effect on July 1, 2023, or later. Any zoning approval granted by the city planning commission, board of adjustment or city council that becomes unnecessary through the adoption of less restrictive regulations is void, and the building or use is no longer subject to the former regulations. Changes to the approved building or use shall be regulated by the applicable regulations governing such changes in this zoning ordinance effective at the time such changes are proposed. Changes to the approved building or use may require new or additional land use applications as described in Chapter 525, Administration and Procedures and Chapter 550, Development Standards. (Ord. No. 2024-044, § 1, 11-14-2024)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 520.50 Requirements declared minimum.

520.50. - Requirements declared minimum. In their interpretation and application, the provisions of this zoning ordinance shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, aesthetics, economic viability, and welfare. The City may impose additional requirements where deemed reasonable and necessary to protect the public interest and to ensure compliance with the standards and purposes of this zoning ordinance and the policies of the comprehensive plan.

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 520.60 Other city, local, regional, state, and federal regulations.

520.60. - Other city, local, regional, state, and federal regulations. (a) Compliance required. In addition to the requirements of this zoning ordinance, all uses and development shall comply with all other applicable city, local, regional, state and federal regulations. If a provision of this zoning ordinance conflicts with any other provision of this zoning ordinance, the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances, or with any other provision of law, the more restrictive provision shall apply, except as otherwise provided. (b) References to other regulations. All references in this zoning ordinance to other city, local, regional, state, or federal regulations are for informational purposes only, and do not constitute a complete list of such regulations. These references do not imply any responsibility by the City for enforcement of other local, regional, state, or federal regulations. (c) Current versions and citations. All references to other city, local, regional, state, or federal regulations in this zoning ordinance are intended to refer to the most current version and citation for those regulations. If such references are no longer valid due to repeal or renumbering, the new regulations intended to replace those cited, regardless of the citation, shall govern, unless otherwise specified.

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 520.70 Essential infrastructure.

520.70. - Essential infrastructure. The following uses, being essential for the operation of any zoning district, are permitted in any district: (1) Wires; (2) Cables; (3) Conduits; (4) Vaults; (5) Pipelines; or (6) Any other similar distribution equipment of a public utility, except as otherwise provided in this zoning ordinance or other federal, state, or local regulation.

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 520.80 Reasonable accommodation.

520.80. - Reasonable accommodation. This zoning ordinance shall not be applied so as to prevent the City from making reasonable accommodation as required by the Federal Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 pursuant to the procedure set forth in Sections 525.650 to 525.690.

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 520.90 Private easements or covenants.

520.90. - Private easements or covenants. This zoning ordinance is not intended to abrogate any easement, covenant, or any other private agreement, provided that where the regulations of this zoning ordinance are more restrictive or impose higher standards or requirements than such easements, covenants or other private agreements, the regulations of the zoning ordinance shall govern. The existence of a private agreement shall not excuse any failure to comply with this zoning ordinance. The City shall not be responsible for monitoring or enforcing private agreements.

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 520.100 District boundaries.

520.100. - District boundaries. The following shall apply with respect to the boundaries of the various districts, as shown on the zoning district maps: (1) District boundaries. District boundary lines are the centerlines of highways, streets, alleys, easements, right-of-way lines of limited access roadways, lot lines, or such lines extended unless otherwise indicated. In the event of closure of a street or alley, the district boundary shall be construed as the centerline of such vacated street or alley unless a specific amendment is made otherwise. (2) Unsubdivided districts. In areas not subdivided into lots and blocks, where a district is indicated as a strip adjacent and parallel to a street or highway, the depth of such strip shall be in accordance with dimensions shown on the map, measured at right angles from the centerline of the street or highway, and the length of such frontage shall be in accordance with dimensions shown on the map from the centerline of the street or highway, unless otherwise indicated. (3) Interpretation. Where interpretation is needed as to the exact location of the boundaries of a district, as shown on the official zoning map, as for example, where there appears to be a conflict between a mapped floodway or flood fringe district boundary and actual field conditions, the zoning administrator shall make the necessary interpretation. (4) Changes in jurisdictional area. If territory is removed from the limits of the city, affected district boundaries shall be construed as moving with city limits. If territory is annexed to the city, it shall be construed as being in the UN1 District until formally amended. (5) Unclassified areas. Unless areas are classified on the zoning map, or unless classification can be established by rules for construing the map as stated above, such areas shall be considered to be classified as being in the UN1 District for purposes of this zoning ordinance.

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 520.110 Zoning ordinance not to be deemed a consent or license.

520.110. - Zoning ordinance not to be deemed a consent or license. Nothing contained in this zoning ordinance shall be deemed to be a consent, license, or permit to use any property, or to locate, construct or maintain any building, structure, or facility, or to carry on any trade, industry, occupation, or activity.

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 520.120 District use provisions.

520.120. - District use provisions. The districts in this zoning ordinance set forth the uses allowed in a district. Uses allowed in a zoning district shall not be carried over into succeeding districts unless specifically so stated in the district regulations.

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 520.130 Severability.

520.130. - Severability. (a) Severability of text. If any portion of this zoning ordinance is determined to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, that portion shall be deemed severed from the zoning ordinance, and such determination shall not affect the validity of the remainder of the zoning ordinance. (b) Severability of application. If the application of any provision of this zoning ordinance to a particular property is determined to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such determination shall not affect the application of said provision to any other property.

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 520.140 Existing uses.

520.140. - Existing uses. (a) Uses made nonconforming. A permitted or conditional use, lawfully existing on the effective date of this zoning ordinance or on the effective date of an amendment to this zoning ordinance, which does not comply with one (1) or more of the regulations applicable in the zoning district in which it is located shall be deemed a legal nonconforming use. Said use shall be subject to the applicable provisions of Chapter 545, Article VI, Nonconforming Uses and Structures. (b) Uses made conditional. A permitted use, lawfully existing on the effective date of this zoning ordinance or on the effective date of an amendment to this zoning ordinance, which is reclassified as a conditional use in the zoning district in which it is located shall be deemed a legal conditional use. Said use shall be subject to the applicable provisions of Chapter 525, Administration and Procedures.

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 520.150 Illustrations.

520.150. - Illustrations. Illustrations in this zoning ordinance are provided for purposes of describing, clarifying, or providing examples. Such illustrations are not to scale and do not replace, limit, or expand the meaning of the text.

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 520.160 Rules of construction.

520.160. - Rules of construction. In the construction of this zoning ordinance, the following rules shall be observed and applied, except where the context clearly indicates otherwise: (1) The present tense shall include the future. (2) The singular number shall include the plural, and the plural the singular. (3) The word "shall" is mandatory and not discretionary. (4) The word "may" is permissive. (5) The word "lot" shall mean "zoning lot," unless otherwise specified in this ordinance. (6) The phrases "used for," "arranged for," "designed for," "intended for," "maintained for," and "occupied for" may be used interchangeably. (7) The word "person" includes, but is not limited to, individuals, partnerships, corporations, clubs, associations, and other business, social, religious, or charitable entities. (8) The words "lot," "parcel," "premises," or "property" may be used interchangeably. (9) The words "parking area" and "parking facility" may be used interchangeably. (10) In computing the period of time within which an act is to be done, the first calendar day from which the designated period of time begins to run shall not be included. The last day of the period shall be included, unless it is a Saturday, a Sunday, or a legal holiday, in which case the period shall run until the end of the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or City holiday. (11) Distance shall be measured in a straight line, from lot line to lot line, except as otherwise provided in this zoning ordinance.

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_CH520GEPRFetched: 11/2/2026