GENERALLY

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances tit. 18, ch. 478, art. I

in effect

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.10 To be parallel to curb.

478.10. - To be parallel to curb. No person shall stand or park a vehicle in a roadway other than parallel with the edge of the roadway, headed in the direction of traffic, with the curbside wheels of the vehicle within twelve (12) inches of the edge of the roadway, and not closer than four (4) feet to another vehicle parked at the curb, except as provided in section 478.30. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 411.010)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.20 To be parallel to edge of roadway in absence of curb.

478.20. - To be parallel to edge of roadway in absence of curb. Upon streets and highways not having a curb each vehicle stopped or parked shall be stopped or parked parallel with and to the right of the paved or improved or main-traveled part of the street or highway. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 411.020)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.30 Angle parking.

478.30. - Angle parking. Upon those streets which have been marked or signed for angle parking, vehicles shall be parked at the angle to the curb indicated by such marks or signs. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 411.030)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.40 Manner of parking.

478.40. - Manner of parking. The driver of a vehicle intending to park at the curb of any street or highway at a place about to be vacated by another vehicle shall stop back of said parking space and wait until said vehicle has vacated said parking space. The person so desiring to park shall then move his vehicle to a place immediately in front of said parking space and back into it, and the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall yield the right-of-way to such person for the purpose of parking at said parking space. In case there is no one in position immediately in front of said parking space prepared to back into it, and said parking space is large enough to permit it, the driver of an approaching vehicle may head into said parking space without backing. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 411.040)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.50 Vehicles backed to curb.

478.50. - Vehicles backed to curb. (a) No vehicle shall be backed up to the curb in the congested zone to load or unload except between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., by permit from the police department. Outside the congested zone, a vehicle may be backed up to the curb, but only when the weight or bulk of the load necessitates loading or unloading in this position, and only for the period of time necessary to so load or unload said vehicle. (b) In places where and at hours when stopping for the loading or unloading of merchandise or materials is permitted, vehicles used for the transportation of merchandise or materials may back into the curb to take on or discharge loads when the owner of such vehicle holds a permit granting him such privilege, and such permit shall be either in the possession of the driver or on the vehicle at the time such vehicle is backed against the curb to take on or discharge a load, and no owner or driver shall violate any of the special terms or conditions of any such special permit. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 411.050)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.60 Exception for disabled vehicles.

478.60. - Exception for disabled vehicles. The provisions of the traffic code relating to stopping, standing and parking shall not apply to the driver of any vehicle which is disabled while on the paved or improved or main-traveled portion of a street or highway in such manner and to such extent that it is impossible to avoid stopping and temporarily leaving such disabled vehicle in such position. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 411.060)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.70 Display of vehicle for sale.

478.70. - Display of vehicle for sale. No person shall place a vehicle on a highway to display the same for sale or exchange. A vehicle shall be deemed to be displayed in violation of this section when found standing upon a street or highway bearing a sign indicating that it is for sale or exchange. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 411.070)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.80 Washing, greasing, repairing.

478.80. - Washing, greasing, repairing. No person shall wash, grease or repair a vehicle upon a street or highway, except such repairs as are necessitated by an emergency. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 411.080)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.85 Parking of unattached trailers prohibited.

478.85. - Parking of unattached trailers prohibited. No person shall stop, stand or park a trailer which is not attached to a properly licensed and insured motor vehicle on any street or highway except as otherwise specifically exempted by Minneapolis City Ordinances or state law. A "trailer" for the purpose of this section is any vehicle without motor power designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle. For the purposes of this section, "not attached" means a trailer that is not attached to a motor vehicle in such a manner that the motor vehicle and trailer can immediately be operated in a safe and legal manner without further attachment. (92-Or-114, § 1, 9-25-92)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.90 Prohibited in specified places.

478.90. - Prohibited in specified places. No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic-control device, in any of the following places: (a) On a sidewalk or boulevard between sidewalk and roadway; (b) In front of a public or private driveway or alley or within five (5) feet of the end of radius or side slope of any public or private driveway or alley with any street or highway; (c) Within an intersection; (d) Within ten (10) feet of a fire hydrant, provided that this does not prevent the parking of taxicabs in taxicab stands established by the city council within ten (10) feet in either direction of a fire hydrant; (e) On a crosswalk; (f) Within twenty (20) feet of a crosswalk at an intersection; (g) Within thirty (30) feet upon the approach of any flashing school signal stop sign, traffic-control signal, or school sign at the side of a roadway; (h) Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within thirty (30) feet of points on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone unless a different length is indicated by signs or markings; (i) Within a designated or marked bus stop; (j) Within fifty (50) feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing; (k) Within twenty (20) feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station and on the side of a street opposite the entrance to any fire station within seventy-five (75) feet of said entrance when properly signposted; (l) On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street, except as provided in section 478.200; (m) Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when such stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic; (n) Along the curb adjacent to any school property from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on days when school is in session unless otherwise designated on sign erected and installed; (o) Upon any bridge or approach or other elevated structure upon a street or highway or within a street or highway tunnel, except as otherwise provided by traffic code; (p) At any place where temporary signs prohibit parking as long as such signs are in place; (q) No person shall move a vehicle not owned by such person into any prohibited area or away from a curb such distance as is unlawful; (r) No person shall, for camping purposes, leave or park a house trailer on or within the limits of any street or highway or on any street or highway right-of-way, except where signs are erected designating the place as a campsite; (s) No person shall park a vehicle so as to block a fire escape or the exit from any building; (t) No person shall stop or park a vehicle on a street or highway when directed or ordered to proceed by any peace officer invested by law with authority to direct, control or regulate traffic; (u) At any place on public property which is not at the time open for the use of vehicular traffic; (v) At any place where official signs prohibit stopping, standing or parking; (w) On any portion of a street or highway or other public property between the roadway and abutting property; (x) Between any adjacent roadways which are part of a street or highway; (y) At any place on any pathway, sidewalk area for pedestrians or other portion of any public property which is not intended for the use of vehicles; (z) At any place where marked and signed fire lanes have been established by authorization of the city council. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 411.090; Ord. of 9-28-73, § 2; 85-Or-022, § 1, 1-25-85; 92-Or-165, § 1, 11-20-92; 98-Or-131, § 1, 11-13-98)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.95 Citizen enforcement of parking regulations for the physically disabled.

478.95. - Citizen enforcement of parking regulations for the physically disabled. The City of Minneapolis authorizes qualified citizen volunteers to issue citations exclusively to vehicles illegally parking in spaces designated for the physically disabled, as set forth in Article IV of this chapter. Citizen volunteers must submit an application to the chief of police, and must meet the following requirements in order to participate in the enforcement of parking violations: (1) Volunteers must be eighteen (18) years of age; (2) Volunteers must have a valid drivers license; (3) Volunteers must have an acceptable driving and criminal history. The supervisor of the traffic control unit shall establish a training program which citizen volunteers must successfully complete before they will be authorized to enforce parking violations. The training program shall be designed to instruct the citizen volunteers in the requirements of the law, the method of issuing citations, the geography and city limits of Minneapolis, and other related matters. Upon completion of the training program, citizen volunteers shall be issued a photo identification card authorizing them to issue citations on behalf of the city. Such citizen volunteers are authorized to issue citations for the parking violations set forth in Article IV of this chapter only while they are on duty, in uniform, utilizing city equipment, and are under the direct supervision of the traffic control supervisor. Citizen volunteers must carry their identification cards during the hours they issue such citations. All duties and responsibilities granted to citizen volunteers under this section may be revoked at any time by the chief of police. (92-Or-123, § 1, 10-9-92; 2008-Or-065, § 1, 8-22-08)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.100 General time limits for parking.

478.100. - General time limits for parking. (a) No person shall park a vehicle or permit a vehicle to stand upon any street for a longer period of time than that is shown or displayed on official signs erected and installed. (b) For the purpose of the regulations relating to limited parking, any vehicle moved a distance of not more than two (2) blocks during the limited parking period shall be deemed to have remained stationary. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 411.130; Ord. No. 2017-023, § 2, 5-12-17)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.110 No-stopping zone.

478.110. - No-stopping zone. No person shall stop or halt a vehicle, even momentarily, in any place on any street or highway where official signs prohibit stopping, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the direction of a police officer or traffic-control sign or signal. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 411.150)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.120 Removal of vehicles for street maintenance, snow removal.

478.120. - Removal of vehicles for street maintenance, snow removal. Whenever the director of public works or any of his assistants shall find it necessary, for purposes of facilitating street maintenance operations, such as the removal of snow, ice or street wastes, to move any vehicle standing on any highway, the director of public works, or assistants, or other emergency officials in the discharge of their duties, may move such vehicle to the extent necessary for such purposes. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 411.160; Ord. No. 2017-067, § 1, 11-3-17)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.130 Reserved.

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.140 Authority to require moving of illegally stopped vehicles.

478.140. - Authority to require moving of illegally stopped vehicles. Whenever a police officer finds a vehicle standing upon a street or highway in violation of any of the provisions of the traffic code, such officer may move such vehicle, or require the driver or other person in charge of the vehicle to remove the same, to a position off the paved or improved or main-traveled part of such street or highway. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 411.170)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.150 Duties when leaving vehicle on grade.

478.150. - Duties when leaving vehicle on grade. No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended on a grade without effectively setting the brakes thereon and turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 411.180)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.160 Duty to lock ignition, remove key.

478.160. - Duty to lock ignition, remove key. Every person parking a passenger automobile on a public street or alley in the city shall lock the ignition, remove the key, and take the same with him. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 411.190)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.170 Leaving vehicle with wheels fastened.

478.170. - Leaving vehicle with wheels fastened. No person shall leave a motor vehicle standing upon a street or highway with the wheels chained, locked or fastened in such a manner that the motor vehicle cannot be easily moved in case of emergency. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 411.200)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.175 Use of vehicle theft alarm system.

478.175. - Use of vehicle theft alarm system. It shall be unlawful for any person to install, operate or use any vehicle theft alarm system that emits or causes the emission of an audible sound, which is not, or does not become, automatically and completely silenced within five (5) minutes. The time period shall be calculated based upon the emission of the first audible sound and shall end five (5) minutes thereafter notwithstanding any variation or temporary stoppage in the emissions of audible sound. (95-Or-127, § 1, 8-25-95)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.180 Parking in alleys.

478.180. - Parking in alleys. Vehicles other than commercial trucks shall not be parked in public alleys, and commercial trucks shall not be so parked for a longer period of time than is necessary to load or unload commodities, and then not to exceed thirty (30) minutes. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 411.210; Ord. of 9-28-73, § 5)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.190 Stopping or parking on municipal property.

478.190. - Stopping or parking on municipal property. No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle on any municipal parking lot, parking ramp, garage or other municipal property contrary to the restrictions or regulations imposed for parking on such property. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 411.215; Ord. of 9-28-73, § 6)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.200 Double parking.

478.200. - Double parking. Vehicles shall not be double parked on a street or highway, except commercial trucks when calling for or delivering merchandise when access to the curb at or immediately adjacent to the place of delivery is blocked by other vehicles, and then only for such length of time as may be necessary to load or unload, such length of time in any event not to exceed fifteen (15) minutes. No commercial truck shall be double parked in any area designated by the city council as a parking meter area. No truck shall be double parked in any area between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 411.220; Ord. of 9-28-73, § 5)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.210 Impounding of violations.

478.210. - Impounding of violations. Any unoccupied vehicle found in violation of the provisions of the traffic code may be immediately removed and impounded by any police officer or duly authorized person in accordance with this code. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 411.240)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.220 Impounding rental vehicles.

478.220. - Impounding rental vehicles. Every person engaging in the business of renting vehicles to persons desiring to drive themselves, commonly known as "drive-yourself" businesses, shall register with the city clerk and the police department the license number of all vehicles which are rented to persons who desire to drive and operate them. In the event any such vehicle shall be found in a place or under circumstances which constitute a violation of any of the provisions of the traffic code, such vehicle shall be impounded, whether said vehicle is occupied or unoccupied, damaged or undamaged, and thereafter its release shall be governed by the provisions of the traffic code permitting the release of impounded vehicles. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 411.250)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.230 Exceptions.

478.230. - Exceptions. The provisions of this article, or any other ordinance pertaining to parking or stopping, shall not apply to authorized emergency vehicles while used in the regular performance of duties, nor to authorized traffic code enforcement personnel engaged in performance of their duties. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 411.290)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.240 Parking of overweight vehicles and commercial vehicles and commercial passenger vehicles.

478.240. - Parking of overweight vehicles and commercial vehicles and commercial passenger vehicles. (a) No vehicle or hitched or unhitched combination, with or without load, which weighs more than ten thousand (10,000) pounds or is registered for a gross weight of more than twelve thousand (12,000) pounds, nor any commercial vehicle or commercial passenger vehicle which is within or abutting, including across a street or alley from any residential zoning district or residential combination district, including office residential districts, as described in Title 20 of this code shall be permitted to stop, stand or park on any street unless one of the following conditions is met: (1) Such vehicle is actually and expeditiously engaged in the loading or unloading of passengers or materials from the vehicle; or (2) Such vehicle is stopped, parked, or standing in compliance with specially posted signals or signs regulating the weight of a vehicle or combination, or at the directions of an authorized traffic control agent or police officer. (b) No vehicle or hitched or unhitched combination, with or without load, which weighs more than twenty-six thousand (26,000) pounds or is registered for a gross weight of more than twenty-six thousand (26,000) pounds shall be permitted to stop, stand, or park on any street unless one of the following exceptions is met: (1) Such vehicle is actually and expeditiously engaged in the loading or unloading of passengers or materials from the vehicle; or (2) Such vehicle is stopped, parked, or standing in compliance with specially posted signals or signs regulating the weight of a vehicle or combination, or at the directions of an authorized traffic control agent or police officer. (c) If any vehicle or hitched or unhitched combination is stopped, standing, or parked in violation of the terms of this section, either the driver or the owner of the vehicle or combination, or for a leased vehicle or combination, the driver, lessor or lessee of the vehicle or combination, is guilty of the violation and subject to the penalty as provided by subsection (d). (1) No person may be penalized if another person is penalized, convicted for, or pleads guilty to the violation, or if the vehicle or combination was stolen at the time of the violation. (2) This section does not apply to a lessor of a motor vehicle if the lessor keeps a record of the name and address of the lessee. (3) If proven by a preponderance of the evidence, it is an affirmative defense to a violation of this section if the vehicle or hitched or unhitched combination was actually and expeditiously engaged in the providing of bona fide services at the location where parked during the date and time specified in the charging document. (d) Any violation of the terms of this section shall be subject to a fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00) from January 1, 2022, until December 31, 2022, and one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) from January 1, 2023 until December 31, 2023, and two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) thereafter. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 411.310; Ord. of 10-26-73, § 1; 78-Or-155, § 1, 8-11-78; 90-Or-319, § 1, 12-28-90; 91-Or-099, § 1, 5-10-91; Ord. No. 2021-038, § 1, 7-23-21)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.250 Abandoned motor vehicles; penalty.

478.250. - Abandoned motor vehicles; penalty. (a) No abandoned motor vehicle shall remain upon any street or highway in the city. Any vehicle which is permitted to remain upon any street or highway in the city in excess of seventy-two (72) consecutive hours or any vehicle lacking vital component parts shall be presumed to be abandoned and may be immediately removed and impounded by any police officer or duly authorized person in accordance with this code. (b) Any person violating the terms of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100.00). (Code 1960, As Amend., § 421.190; 79-Or-123, § 1, 6-8-79)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.260 Use of alleys for through traffic prohibited.

478.260. - Use of alleys for through traffic prohibited. (a) Purpose. The city council declares that the public alleys of the city are constructed and maintained primarily to provide limited access to abutting residential and commercial property, and are not intended or designed for use as through streets. The city council finds that it is necessary to limit access to public alleys in order to address the use of public alleys by operators of motor vehicles who use alleys to avoid traffic congestion on city streets, thereby increasing the risk of bodily injury and property damage by increasing vehicular traffic in alleys which are not designed to safely carry such traffic; to address problems of "cruising" alleys in motor vehicles by persons who do not reside or conduct business in abutting property or who are not invitees to abutting property, which can lead to vandalism, burglary or other criminal activity. The city council finds that the protection of the public health, safety and welfare requires that traffic in public alleys be restricted to protect residential neighborhoods and to insure that use of public alleys by operators of motor vehicles is consistent with the purpose of such alleys as stated in this section. (b) Use prohibited. No person may operate a motor vehicle on a public alley unless directed to do so by a peace officer, authorized traffic code enforcement personnel or authorized traffic control device, except abutting property owners, tenants their guests or invitees, operating a motor vehicle in an otherwise lawful manner. This section shall not be interpreted to preclude use of alleys by the following: (1) Persons performing authorized law enforcement activities on behalf of any law enforcement agency; (2) Persons providing emergency medical or fire services; (3) Persons performing public service activities or inspections on behalf of state, federal or city regulatory agencies or departments; and (4) Persons performing installation, maintenance or inspection activities for public or private utility or communications companies. (93-Or-152, § 1, 10-29-93)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 478.270 Violation; penalty for owner or lessee.

478.270. - Violation; penalty for owner or lessee. If a motor vehicle is stopped, standing, or parked in violation of any section of this chapter, except any section of Article IV, the owner of the vehicle, or for a leased motor vehicle the lessee of the vehicle, is guilty of the violation and subject to any penalty as provided by this Code. (1) The owner or lessee may not be penalized if a. another person is penalized, convicted for, or pleads guilty to, that violation, or b. the motor vehicle was stolen at the time of the violation. (2) This section does not apply to a lessor of a motor vehicle if the lessor keeps a record of the name and address of the lessee. (3) This section does not prohibit or limit the criminal, administrative or civil prosecution of a motor vehicle operator for violating any provision of this chapter. (2010-Or-076, § 1, 8-20-10)

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_TIT18TRCO_CH478PASTST_ARTIGEFetched: 11/2/2026