YARDS

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances tit. 20, ch. 540, art. IX

in effect

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 540.800 Purpose.

540.800. - Purpose. Yard controls provide for the orderly development and use of land and to minimize conflicts among land uses by regulating the dimension and use of yards in order to provide adequate light, air, open space and separation of uses. Yard controls also play a role in stormwater management, defining public and private spaces, and creating a landscape buffer for ground level residential uses.

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 540.810 Required yards.

540.810. - Required yards. (a) In general. Yard requirements shall be as specified in this article. Yards provided for an existing structure or use shall not be reduced below, or further reduced if already less than, the minimum requirements of the zoning code for equivalent new construction, except as otherwise provided in Chapter 545, Article VI, Nonconforming Uses and Structures. All yards and other open spaces allocated to a structure or use shall be located on the same zoning lot as such structure or use. No required yards or other open spaces allocated to any structure or use shall be used to satisfy yard or other open space requirements for any other structure or use. (b) Landscaping. Except as otherwise allowed in Table 540-22, Permitted Obstructions in Required Yards, required yards at the ground level shall be covered with turf grass, native grasses or other perennial flowering plants, vines, shrubs, trees, or edible landscaping. Wood mulch, other organic mulches and landscape rock may be used in planting beds and in maintenance strips adjacent to a building, but are not a suitable alternative to plant cover. Areas wider than two (2) feet with wood mulch, other organic mulches or landscape rock shall contain plantings spaced not less than two (2) feet apart or as specified per the planting instructions. Landscape rock that is easily disturbed shall be at least five (5) feet or more from a public sidewalk or a shared property line.

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 540.820 Yard requirements for outdoor uses.

540.820. - Yard requirements for outdoor uses. Where a lot is to be occupied for a use without buildings, the required front, side and rear yards shall be provided and maintained, except as otherwise provided in this zoning ordinance.

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 540.830 Reverse corner lots.

540.830. - Reverse corner lots. On a reverse corner lot, both lot lines that abut the street shall be considered front lot lines. The required front yard shall be provided and maintained along the front lot line aligned with the original platting orientation of the parcel, and the reverse corner front yard shall not be less than the established front yard of the closest principal building originally designed for residential purposes located on the same block face for the first twenty-five (25) feet from a shared property line, as shown in Figure 540-1. Reverse corner front yard setbacks shall not be applied when crossing an alley or other public right-of-way. This section does not authorize a reverse corner front yard that is less than the minimum corner side yard requirement. Figure 540-1 Reverse Corner Lots [image omitted; see the official code]

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 540.840 Through lots.

540.840. - Through lots. On a through lot, both lot lines that abut the street shall be considered front lot lines. The required front yard shall be provided and maintained along each front lot line. (Ord. No. 2025-023, § 23, 5-15-2025)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 540.850 Front yard requirements in urban neighborhood and residential mixed-use districts.

540.850. - Front yard requirements in urban neighborhood and residential mixed-use districts. (a) In general. The minimum front yard requirements for uses located in the urban neighborhood and residential mixed-use districts shall be as set forth in Table 540-18, Minimum Front Yard Requirements in Urban Neighborhood and Residential Mixed-Use Districts, except as otherwise required in this section. (b) Front yard increased, interior built form overlay districts. The required front yard shall be increased in the interior built form overlay districts where the established front yard of the closest principal building originally designed for residential purposes located on the same block face on either side of the property exceeds the front yard required by the zoning district. In such case, the required front yard shall be not less than such established front yard, provided that where there are principal buildings originally designed for residential purposes on both sides of the property, the required front yard shall be not less than that established by a line joining those parts of both buildings nearest to the front lot line, not including any obstructions allowed by Table 540-22, Permitted Obstructions in Required Yards. In determining an increase in the required front yard, one (1) of the nearest principal residential structures may be removed from consideration where such structure exceeds the established front yard of any other such building on the same block face by twenty-five (25) feet or more and there are no fewer than four (4) principal residential structures on the block face, including the proposed structure. In such instance, the next-nearest principal building originally designed for residential purposes shall be incorporated in determining the increased front yard. (c) Front yard decreased, in general. The required front yard may be decreased where the established front yard of the majority of the principal structures on the same block face are less than the front yard required by the urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use zoning district, provided the decreased front yard shall not be less than the established front yard of the principal structures on either side of the property. The front yard is established by a line joining those parts of both buildings nearest to the front lot line, not including any obstructions allowed by Table 540-22, Permitted Obstructions in Required Yards or attached garages. (d) Front yard decreased in residential mixed-use districts. In addition to section (c) above, the minimum front yard requirement may be eliminated where adjacent to a goods and services corridor in the residential mixed-use districts when the mixed-use commercial and residential floor area ratio premium standards are met provided an unobstructed site triangle of not less than twenty (20) feet from a street or alley intersection is maintained. Only the required front yard adjacent to the goods and services corridor may be eliminated via this provision. Table 540-18 Minimum Front Yard Requirements in Urban Neighborhood and Residential Mixed-Use Districts Built Form Overlay District | Minimum Front Yard (Feet) Interior 1, Interior 2, Interior 3, Parks | 20 Corridor 3, Corridor 4 | 15 Corridor 6, Transit 10, Transit 15, Transit 20, Transit 30A and Transit 30B | 15, except where fronting on a goods and services corridor in which case the front yard requirement shall be 10 (Ord. No. 2025-023, § 23, 5-15-2025; Ord. No. 2025-057, § 12, 12-11-2025)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 540.860 Corner side yard requirements in urban neighborhood and residential mixed-use districts.

540.860. - Corner side yard requirements in urban neighborhood and residential mixed-use districts. (a) In general. The minimum corner side yard requirements for uses located in the urban neighborhood and residential mixed-use districts shall be as set forth in Table 540-19, Minimum Corner Side Yard Requirements in Urban Neighborhood and Residential Mixed-Use Districts, except as otherwise required in this section. (b) Corner side yard decreased in residential mixed-use districts. When the mixed-use commercial and residential floor area ratio premium standards are met in the residential mixed-use districts, the corner side yard requirement may be eliminated where adjacent to a goods and services corridor provided an unobstructed site triangle of not less than twenty (20) feet from a street or alley intersection is maintained. Only the required corner side yard adjacent to the goods and services corridor may be eliminated via this provision. (c) Corner side yard decreased, goods and services corridors. In the BFC6 Corridor 6, BFT10 Transit 10, BFT15 Transit 15, BFT20 Transit 20, BFT30A Transit 30A, and BFT30B Transit 30B Built Form Overlay Districts, the corner side requirement may be reduced to ten (10) feet where fronting on a goods and services corridor. Table 540-19 Minimum Corner Side Yard Requirements in Urban Neighborhood and Residential Mixed-Use Districts Building Height* (Feet) | Minimum Corner Side Yard (Feet) Less than 42 | 8 42—52.99 | 10 53—63.99 | 12 64—74.99 | 14 75 or greater | 15 *Not including authorized height exemptions in Article V, Height of Principal Buildings. (Ord. No. 2025-023, § 24, 5-15-2025; Ord. No. 2025-057, § 13, 12-11-2025)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 540.870 Interior side and rear yard requirements in urban neighborhood and residential mixed-use districts.

540.870. - Interior side and rear yard requirements in urban neighborhood and residential mixed-use districts. (a) In general. The minimum interior side and rear yard requirements for uses located in the urban neighborhood and residential mixed-use districts shall be as set forth in Table 540-20, Minimum Interior Side and Rear Yard Requirements In the Urban Neighborhood and Residential Mixed-Use Districts, except as otherwise required in this section. (b) Interior side yard increased. Increased interior side yard requirements shall be provided in the urban neighborhood and residential mixed-use districts in the following circumstances: (1) When the length of a building along an interior side property line exceeds seventy-five (75) percent of the depth of the lot, the required interior side yard shall be increased by an additional two (2) feet. (2) Where a side lot line in the BFC6 Corridor 6 Built Form Overlay District or any transit built form overlay district abuts a side lot line in an BFI1 Interior 1 or BFI2 Interior 2 Built Form Overlay District, the required interior side yard shall be increased by an additional five (5) feet for any building sixty-four (64) feet or taller in height. (3) The minimum width of interior side yards for residential uses with a principal entrance facing the interior lot line, shall be not less than fifteen (15) feet, unless a greater width is required by the regulations governing interior side yards in the district in which the structure is located. The increased interior side yard requirement shall not apply to the following: a. Converting a single-family dwelling to a two- or three-family dwelling, or converting a two-family dwelling to a three-family dwelling, where a side-facing entrance existing on the effective date of this ordinance becomes a principal entrance. b. Subdividing a property in a manner that that would result in less than a fifteen (15) foot side yard adjacent to a side-facing entrance existing on the effective date of this ordinance. (c) Institutional and civic uses. In the BFI1 Interior 1 and BFI2 Interior 2 Built Form Overlay Districts, the minimum interior side yard requirement for institutional and civic uses exceeding twenty-eight (28) feet in height shall be seven (7) feet. Table 540-20 Minimum Interior Side and Rear Yard Requirements In the Urban Neighborhood and Residential Mixed-Use Districts Building Height* (Feet) | Minimum Interior Side and Rear Yard (Feet) Less than 42 | 5 42—52.99 | 7 53—63.99 | 9 64—74.99 | 11 75—85.99 | 13 86—96.99 | 15 97—107.99 | 17 108—119.99 | 19 120 or greater | 20 *Not including authorized height exemptions in Article V, Height of Principal Buildings.

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 540.880 Yard requirements in commercial mixed-use, downtown, production, and transportation districts.

540.880. - Yard requirements in commercial mixed-use, downtown, production, and transportation districts. (a) In general. Except as otherwise required in this section, uses located in the commercial mixed-use, downtown, production and transportation districts shall not be subject to minimum yard requirements. Where ground level yards are required, such yards shall be landscaped as specified in Chapter 550, Article V, Site Plan Review Standards and shall be otherwise unobstructed from the ground level to the sky, except as allowed as a permitted obstruction in this article. (b) Front yard requirements. Front yard requirements shall apply as follows, except no front yard requirement shall apply where the front lot line abuts a goods and services corridor. (1) Where a street frontage includes property zoned as an urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use district and property zoned as a commercial mixed-use, downtown, production and transportation district, a front yard equal to the lesser of the front yard required by such urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use district or the established front yard of any structure used only for permitted or conditional residential purposes shall be provided in the commercial mixed-use, downtown, production and transportation district for the first twenty-five (25) feet from such urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use district boundary as shown in Figure 540-2. (2) Where a street frontage includes an adjacent structure used only for permitted or conditional residential purposes in a commercial mixed-use, downtown, production and transportation district, a front yard equal to the lesser of the front yard required by the district or the established front yard of such residential structure shall be provided in the commercial mixed-use, downtown, production and transportation district for the first twenty-five (25) feet from such residential property as shown in Figure 540-2. Figure 540-2 Front Yard Requirement for Nonresidential Districts that Share Frontage with Residential Districts and Structures [image omitted; see the official code] (c) Interior side yard requirements. (1) Where a side lot line abuts a side or rear lot line in an urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use district, then the applicable side yard requirements of the adjacent district shall apply as shown in Figure 540-3. Where a side lot line in the BFC6 Corridor 6 Built Form Overlay District or any transit built form overlay district abuts a side lot line in the BFI1 Interior 1 or BFI2 Interior 2 Built Form Overlay District, the required interior side yard shall be increased by an additional five (5) feet for any building sixty-four (64) feet or taller in height. (2) Where a side lot line abuts a commercial mixed-use, downtown, production and transportation zoning district, no minimum side yard shall apply, except that a structure shall not be constructed within ten (10) feet of a window facing the shared lot line and serving a residential use on the adjacent property as shown in Figure 540-4. In such instance where the adjacent use includes a residential window within ten (10) feet of the side lot line, the ten (10) feet clearance shall also be open to the sky without obstruction above. Figure 540-3 Interior Side Yard Requirement for Nonresidential Districts Abutting Residential Districts [image omitted; see the official code] [image omitted; see the official code] Figure 540-4 Interior Side and Rear Yard Window Clearance Requirement [image omitted; see the official code] [image omitted; see the official code] (d) Rear yard requirements. (1) Where a rear lot line abuts a side or rear lot line in an urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use district, then the applicable side yard requirements of the adjacent district shall apply as shown in Figure 540-5. (2) Where a rear lot line abuts a commercial mixed-use, downtown, production and transportation zoning district, no minimum rear yard shall apply, except that a structure shall not be constructed within ten (10) feet of a window facing the shared lot line and serving a residential use on the adjacent property as shown in Figure 540-4. In such instance where the adjacent use includes a residential window within ten (10) feet of the side lot line, the ten (10) feet clearance shall also be open to the sky without obstruction above. Figure 540-5 Rear Yard Requirement for Nonresidential Abbuting Residential Districts [image omitted; see the official code] [image omitted; see the official code] (e) Reverse corner side yard requirements. Where the extension of a corner side lot line coincides with a front lot line in an adjacent urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use district, or with a front lot line of a structure used only for permitted or conditional residential purposes, a yard equal to the lesser of the front yard required by such urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use district or the established front yard of such residential structure shall be provided along such side lot line for the first twenty-five (25) feet from such urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use district boundary or residential property, as shown in Figure 540-6. Such front yard requirement in commercial mixed-use, downtown, production and transportation districts shall not apply where the front lot line abuts a goods and services corridor. Figure 540-6 Reverse Corner Side Yard Requirement in Nonresidential Districts [image omitted; see the official code] (f) Yard requirements for single- and two-family dwellings and state credentialed care facilities serving six (6) or fewer persons. The minimum yard requirements for single- and two-family dwellings and state credentialed care facilities serving six (6) or fewer persons shall be as set forth in Table 540-21, Yard Requirements for Single- and Two-family Dwellings and State Credentialed Care Facilities Serving 6 or Fewer Persons in the Commercial Mixed-Use, Downtown, Production and Transportation Districts. Table 540-21 Yard Requirements for Single- and Two-family Dwellings and State Credentialed Care Facilities Serving 6 or Fewer Persons in the Commercial Mixed-Use, Downtown, Production and Transportation Districts Yard | Feet Front | 15 Corner side | 8 Interior side | 5 Rear | 5 (Ord. No. 2025-023, § 25, 5-15-2025)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 540.890 Obstructions in required yards.

540.890. - Obstructions in required yards. (a) In general. All required yards shall remain open and unobstructed from ground level to the sky, except as otherwise provided below. (b) Permitted obstructions. Accessory uses and structures and projections of the principal structure may be located in a required yard only as indicated by a "P" for permitted in Table 540-22, Permitted Obstructions in Required Yards. (c) Nonresidential uses. Notwithstanding Table 540-22 Permitted Obstructions in Required Yards, required interior side yards for nonresidential uses shall remain unobstructed from the ground level to the sky, except that fencing and retaining walls shall be allowed. Where a rear yard abuts a required side yard, such rear yard shall remain unobstructed from the ground level to the sky, except that fencing shall be allowed. (d) Additional limitations. In no case shall any permitted obstruction be located closer than one (1) foot from the property line, except for driveways, walkways, fences, detached accessory buildings, the storage of firewood and containers for the removal of household refuse, subject to the provisions of this section. (e) Interior side yards for detached buildings accessory to residential uses. The interior side yard requirement for a detached accessory building may be reduced to one (1) foot when the entire accessory building is located in the rear forty (40) feet or rear twenty (20) percent of the lot, whichever is greater, provided that the accessory building shall be located not less than ten (10) feet from any habitable portion of a principal structure on the adjoining lot. Where vehicle access doors face the interior side lot line, no reduction of the required yard is permitted on the side with the vehicle access doors. Further, the required side yard for a detached accessory building may be eliminated where adjoining property owners construct detached garages sharing a common wall and which are located in the rear forty (40) feet. Where the interior side yard is reduced, eaves, including gutters, shall not be less than six (6) inches from the property line, except where a common wall is allowed. (f) Rear yards for detached buildings accessory to residential uses. The rear yard requirement for a detached accessory building may be reduced to one (1) foot, except where vehicle access doors face the rear lot line, in which case no reduction of the required yard is permitted. Further, where a rear yard abuts a required side yard no reduction of the required yard is permitted unless the entire accessory building is located in the rear forty (40) feet or rear twenty (20) percent of the lot, whichever is greater, and is located behind the rear wall of the principal structure on the adjacent property to the rear. The required yard along such adjacent property may be eliminated where adjoining property owners construct detached garages sharing a common wall and which are located in the rear forty (40) feet of both properties. Where the rear yard is reduced, eaves, including gutters, shall not be less than six (6) inches from the property line, except where a common wall is allowed. (g) Accessory buildings on reverse corner lots. An accessory building shall be no closer to the side lot line adjacent to the street than a distance equal to two-thirds (⅔) of the depth of the required front yard specified in the yard requirements table of the district of the adjacent property to the rear. Further, an accessory building shall not be located within five (5) feet of a rear lot line that coincides with the side lot line of a property in an urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use district. However, where the entire accessory building is located in the rear forty (40) feet or rear twenty (20) percent of the lot, whichever is greater, and is located not less than ten (10) feet from any habitable portion of a principal residential use on the adjacent property, only one (1) foot shall be required along such adjacent property line, except as otherwise prohibited by this zoning ordinance. Further, the required yard along such adjacent property may be eliminated where adjoining property owners construct detached garages sharing a common wall and which are located in the rear forty (40) feet. (h) Interior side yards for driveways accessory to residential uses. The yard requirement for a driveway may be eliminated where adjoining property owners share a common driveway. (i) Rear yards. For purposes of Table 540-22 Permitted Obstructions in Required Yards, a rear yard abutting a required side yard shall be considered an interior side yard and shall be subject to the permitted obstructions regulations for such interior side yard. Table 540-22 Permitted Obstructions in Required Yards Type of Obstruction | Front or Corner Side Yard | Interior Side Yard | Rear Yard Accessible entrance landing not exceeding thirty-six (36) square feet in area and not more than the height of the level of the first floor or four (4) feet above the average level of the adjoining natural grade whichever is less, and handrails not more than three (3) feet in height and not more than fifty (50) percent opaque, not including permanently roofed porches | P | P | P Accessible ramp or lift not exceeding four (4) feet in width leading to an entrance landing and handrails not more than three (3) feet in height and not more than fifty (50) percent opaque | P | P | P Accessory buildings, subject to the provisions of Chapter 545, Article III, Accessory Uses and Structures and section 540.890 (e), (f), and (g) | P | P Air conditioning window units projecting not more than eighteen (18) inches into the required yard | P | P | P Air conditioning systems, heating, ventilating, and filtering equipment, not to exceed five (5) feet in height. Such equipment shall not be located closer than two (2) feet from an interior side property line. Such equipment may project into a corner side yard, provided such equipment is located no closer than three (3) feet from the corner side lot line | P | P Arbors, or other growing support structures that are not a fence, trellis or pergola, not exceeding twenty (20) square feet in area, including eaves, and not more than eight (8) feet in height. Both the sides and the roof must be at least fifty (50) percent open, or, if latticework is used, shall be less than sixty (60) percent opaque. Such structures shall not be constructed of electrically charged wire, razor wire, chain link, chicken wire, railroad ties, utility poles, plywood or any other similar materials | P | P Awnings and canopies, projecting not more than two and one-half (2½) feet into front or side yards | P | P | P Balconies, decks and ground level patios not exceeding fifty (50) square feet in area and projecting not more than five (5) feet into the required yard. In an interior side yard, such balcony, deck, or ground level patio may project no closer than ten (10) feet from the interior side lot line, meaning an interior side yard obstruction is permitted only on a building where the required interior side yard is greater than ten (10) feet. Ground-level patios up to one hundred (100) square feet, constructed of decorative concrete, pavers or stone, may extend more than four (4) feet into the required front yard provided the patio is located not less than ten (10) feet from a public sidewalk and shall be designed in a manner that would prevent the patio from being used for off-street parking | P | P | P Bay windows not exceeding fifty (50) square feet in area and projecting not more than five (5) feet into the required yard provided the bay shall not serve as an extension of the finished floor | P Bicycle racks installed to the manufacturer's specifications, including the minimum recommended distance from other structures and shall permit the locking of the bicycle frame and one (1) wheel to the rack and support a bicycle in a stable position without damage to the wheels, frame or components. Except for Institutional and Public Uses, no more than eight (8) bicycle parking spaces may be located in each required yard | P | P Chimneys projecting not more than two (2) feet into the required yard | P | P | P Compost containers, subject to the provisions of Chapter 244, Housing Maintenance Code, and not closer than twenty (20) feet from any habitable building on an adjacent property | P Containers for the removal of household refuse, subject to the provisions of Chapter 244, Housing Maintenance Code. In a required interior side yard, such containers shall be located in the rear forty (40) feet or rear twenty (20) percent of the lot, whichever is greater, and shall be located a minimum of ten (10) feet from the habitable portion of any residential use on the adjoining lot | P | P Driveways, subject to the provisions of section 540.890 (h) and section 555.510 | P | P | P Electrical transformers in a rear yard adjacent to a public alley. To qualify as a permitted obstruction, such transformers shall cover a maximum of twenty (20) percent of the area of the required rear yard | P Eaves, including gutters, projecting not more than three (3) feet from the building in the required front, rear or corner side yard and not more than two (2) feet from the building in the required interior side yard | P | P | P Fences including trellises, subject to Chapter 550, Article X, Fences | P | P | P Flagpoles, subject to section 550.100 | P | P | P Lighting fixtures and lampposts, subject to section 550.100 | P | P Lockers for package deliveries shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet and five (5) feet in height. Where lockers occupy more than twelve (12) square feet, the lockers shall be screened from adjacent streets and properties with screening that is at least sixty (60) percent opaque and shall be at least as tall as the locker it is intended to screen | P Open porches, projecting not more than eight (8) feet from the building. The porch shall be covered and may extend the width of the residential use, provided it shall be no closer than three (3) feet from an interior side lot line, or five (5) feet from the front lot line, or corner side lot line. The porch shall not be enclosed with windows, screens, or walls, but may include handrails not more than three (3) feet in height and not more than fifty (50) percent opaque. The finish of the porch shall match the finish of the residential use or the trim on the residential use. For the purpose of this section, raw or unfinished lumber shall not be permitted on an open porch | P Parking areas, subject to the provisions of section 540.890 (e), (f) and (g), section 550.510, and Chapter 545, Article III, Accessory Uses and Structures | P | P Pergolas, subject to the provisions of Chapter 545, Article VIII, Accessory Uses and Structures, and section 540.890 (e), (f) and (g), but in no case shall a pergola be set back less than one (1) foot from the interior side or rear property line in the rear forty (40) feet or twenty (20) percent of the lot, whichever is greater. In a front or corner side yard, pergolas shall not exceed twenty (20) square feet in area, including eaves, and shall not be more than eight (8) feet in height | P | P | P Public park accessory functions, including but not limited to athletic fields and courts, backstops, playgrounds, pool facilities, benches, bleachers, and skateboard parks. Buildings shall not be allowed as a permitted obstruction | P Rain barrels and cisterns accessory to single-, two-, or three-family dwellings shall be limited to a maximum height of four (4) feet and a maximum width of two and one-half (2.5) feet. Rain barrels and cisterns accessory to any other residential use and nonresidential uses shall be limited to a maximum height of six (6) feet and a maximum width of three (3) feet. No more than two (2) rain barrels or cisterns may be located in each required yard | P | P Raised planting beds, not exceeding three (3) feet in height. In a front or corner side yard raised planting beds shall not be closer than five (5) feet to a front or corner side property line. Raised planting beds shall be constructed of wood, brick, masonry, landscape timbers, metal, ceramic, or synthetic lumber and shall be compatible with the principal structure and adjacent residential properties. Raised planting beds constructed of wood shall be structurally sound and free of rot. In addition, prefabricated raised planting beds shall be permitted. Raised planting beds shall not be constructed of wire, chicken wire, rope, cable, railroad ties, utility poles, tires, plumbing fixtures or any other similar materials | P | P Recreational playground equipment, except for nonresidential uses | P Retaining walls, where natural grade is retained | P | P | P Retaining walls, in the front yard only, not retaining natural grade where proposed grade is increased to match the top of the existing slope or up to three (3) feet in height above natural grade, whichever is less. | P Signs, subject to the provisions of Chapter 560, Signs | P Stairs not exceeding four (4) feet in width and entrance landings not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet in area provided such structures are not more than the height of the level of the first floor or four (4) feet above the average level of the adjoining natural grade whichever is less, and handrails for such stairs not more than three (3) feet in height and not more than fifty (50) percent opaque. In a front or corner side yard, stairs shall not exceed eight (8) feet in width and entrance landings shall not exceed thirty-six (36) square feet in area. Stairs for Institutional and Civic Uses shall not exceed twelve (12) feet in width and entrance landings shall not exceed ninety-six (96) square feet | P | P | P Storage of firewood, subject to the provisions of Chapter 228, Firewood Storage | P | P Utility meters projecting not more than two (2) feet into the required yard | P | P | P Vestibules not exceeding seventy-five (75) square feet in area and projecting not more than seven (7) feet from the building | P Wall assemblies added to a residential structure existing on the effective date of this ordinance for the purpose of achieving a high degree of energy efficiency and which do not result in increased internal floor area. Such a wall assemblies shall not be located closer than three (3) feet from an interior side property line. | P | P | P Walkways, not exceeding four (4) feet in interior side and rear yards. Walkways, not exceeding six (6) feet in width in front and corner side yards. Walkways for institutional and public uses shall not exceed twelve (12) feet in width in front and corner side yards. Walkways shall be at ground level. Except for public recreational walkways and bicycle trails, walkways in required yards shall not be constructed of asphalt | P | P | P Window wells not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet in area. Such window wells shall be located at least three (3) feet apart and shall not be located closer than two (2) feet from an interior side property line. Not more than three (3) window wells shall be allowed to project closer than five (5) feet to each interior side lot line | P | P Window wells not exceeding thirty-six (36) square feet in area. | P (Ord. No. 2025-023, § 26, 5-15-2025)

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_CH540BUFOOVDI_ARTIXYAFetched: 11/2/2026