RECYCLING ACTIVITIES AND SALVAGE YARDS

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances tit. 13, ch. 350

in effect

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 350.10 Definitions.

350.10. - Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall mean: Hazardous materials: Any refuse or discarded material, or combination of refuse and discarded materials in solid, semisolid, liquid or gaseous form which cannot be handled by routine waste management techniques because they pose a present or potential hazard to human health, other organisms or the environment because of their chemical, biological or physical properties. Recyclable or salvage materials: All previously used or damaged ferrous and nonferrous metals, synthetic materials, cloth, glass, paper, rubber, batteries, operable and inoperable automobiles or parts thereof, operable and inoperable machinery or parts thereof, concrete, asphalt, and hazardous materials, grass clippings, tree leaves and branches, wood and building materials. Recycling or salvage yard: All places, other than enclosed buildings, used for storing or keeping of recyclable or salvage materials including, but not limited to, recycling centers and garbage dumps, any part of which is within the City of Minneapolis, whether or not maintained in connection with another business unless the handling of recyclable materials is only incidental to one's business. (89-Or-143, § 1, 8-11-89; 98-Or-095, § 1, 9-18-98)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 350.20 License required.

350.20. - License required. No person shall keep, maintain or operate a recycling or salvage yard in the City of Minneapolis without first obtaining a license pursuant to this chapter. Such license shall be in addition to any other licenses or permits required by this Code. (89-Or-143, § 1, 8-11-89; Ord. No. 2018-074, § 41, 12-7-18)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 350.30 Application.

350.30. - Application. Any person desiring to use property as a recycling or salvage yard shall make application to the licensing official for each location. Such application shall include the name and address of the applicant and each officer if the applicant is a corporation or each partner if the application is for a partnership, the description of the land to be used, and either evidence of the ownership by the applicant or written permission of the owner to so use the land, and such other information as requested by the director of regulatory services. (89-Or-143, § 1, 8-11-89; 2013-Or-217, § 1, 12-6-13)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 350.40 When licenses expire and fees.

350.40. - When licenses expire and fees. The annual license fee for a recycling or salvage yard license shall be as established in Appendix J, License Fee Schedule. If a licensee has more than one (1) address of operation, each address must be licensed separately, unless the properties are contiguous or connected. However, the property of all recycling or salvage yards which were licensed on June 30, 1998, or for which there was a pending application on that date, subsequently approved for license, shall continue to be considered as one yard, provided that the property continues to be operated by the same licensee. If a licensee has more than one yard, the fee for each additional yard shall be as established in Appendix J, License Fee Schedule. There shall be a surcharge as established in Appendix J, License Fee Schedule, for all new applications for recycling or salvage yard license or for license for new additional yards accepted after June 30, 1998. Licenses issued under this chapter shall expire on July first of each year. (89-Or-143, § 1, 8-11-89; 90-Or-014, § 1, 1-26-90; 91-Or-049, § 1, 3-29-91; 98-Or-095, § 2, 9-18-98; 2002-Or-041, § 1, 5-17-02; 2002-Or-023, § 1, 4-5-02; 2002-Or-148, § 1, 9-27-02; 2009-Or-176, § 1, 11-13-09)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 350.50 Violations of this chapter; administrative penalties; fines; revocation; reinspection fees.

350.50. - Violations of this chapter; administrative penalties; fines; revocation; reinspection fees. Any person found in violation of this chapter may be subject to penalties including administrative fines, and/or action to suspend, revoke or deny any current or future licenses. In addition to any other administrative action, a reinspection fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) shall be assessed for subsequent inspections, when orders are not complied with, within the specified time frame. All such action initiated under this section shall comply with due process considerations. All actions initiated by the licensing official are subject to review by the city council. (89-Or-143, § 1, 8-11-89; 98-Or-095, § 3, 9-18-98; 2013-Or-217, § 2, 12-6-13)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 350.60 Physical requirements.

350.60. - Physical requirements. Each recycling or salvage yard shall conform to the following requirements: (1) The recycling or salvage yard shall conform to all applicable provisions of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances. (2) The site shall be properly graded and well-drained to provide prompt drainage of surface waters, and designed to prevent stagnant pools of water. (3) Recycling and salvage yards shall be completely surrounded by a fence, barrier, or wall not less than eight (8) feet nor more than ten (10) feet in height, except along property lines contiguous to the Mississippi River. Where the recycling or salvage yard property line is contiguous to a public street, residential zoning district, creek or park land, the fence, barrier, or wall shall be constructed of a solid opaque screening material that does not allow dust or other particulate matter to pass through and shall be placed parallel to and five (5) feet back from the property line. The five (5) feet between the fence, barrier, or wall and the property line shall be planted and adequately maintained in living sod, shrubbery or trees. Plans for the fence, barrier, or wall, and for the five-foot landscaped area, shall be submitted to the zoning and planning departments for approval. All openings in the fence, barrier or wall used for vehicular access shall contain a gate made of solid opaque screening materials. The number of gates providing access to each public street contiguous to any recycling or salvage yard shall be limited based on the number of lineal feet on each public street as follows; provided, however, that a minimum of two (2) gates on each public street shall be allowed: 1 to 150 lineal feet .....1 gate 151 to 300 lineal feet .....2 gates 301 to 450 lineal feet .....3 gates 451 to 600 lineal feet .....4 gates 601 to 750 lineal feet .....5 gates 751 to 900 lineal feet .....6 gates 901 to 1050 lineal feet .....7 gates and so forth. Such gates shall be opened only as necessary for the efficient operation of the recycling yard; and such gates shall be kept in good repair at all times, however, two (2) gates may be left open continuously between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (89-Or-143, § 1, 8-11-89)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 350.70 Prohibited acts.

350.70. - Prohibited acts. Any person operating a recycling or salvage yard shall exercise reasonable diligence to prevent the commission of the following prohibited acts: (1) Storing of hazardous materials except in accordance with local, state and federal laws. (2) Open burning of any materials, unless permitted under applicable laws. (3) Exposing adjoining or adjacent property to noise, dust, unsightly condition or noxious odors in violation of local, state or federal laws. (4) Allowing oil, grease, petroleum products or other harmful, hazardous or noxious liquid to run off the yard or absorb into the ground. (5) Allowing the fence, barrier or wall to lean, slant, or fall, or fall into substantial disrepair. (6) Allowing recyclable or salvage materials outside of the fence, or where no fence exists, outside the property line of the yard. (7) Allowing significant dirt, gravel or other debris to be tracked onto public streets and not promptly correcting the condition. (8) Using, or allowing the use, of the landscaped area required under 350.60(3), boulevards or other public property to park or store trucks, other commercial vehicles or equipment. Nothing herein shall prohibit public roadway parking in accordance with applicable law. (9) Knowingly participating in or willfully ignoring any act of fraudulent weighing. (10) Purchasing property without taking reasonable measures to ascertain that the property being purchased is not stolen. Reasonable measures shall include the refusal to purchase, without subsequent verification of ownership, any material which a knowledgeable person in the industry would suspect to be stolen, or specific material(s) about which a law enforcement representative or a member of the general public has notified the industry. (11) Failing to report to the police any attempted sale of firearms for scrap. (12) Allowing any operation other than in accordance with local, state and federal laws. (89-Or-143, § 1, 8-11-89; 98-Or-095, § 4, 9-18-98)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 350.80 Inspections.

350.80. - Inspections. A recycling or salvage yard licensed pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to inspection at any time by the licensing official or any other code enforcement official, agent or inspector of the city to enforce the provisions of this chapter. (89-Or-143, § 1, 8-11-89; 2013-Or-217, § 3, 12-6-13)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 350.90 Existing recycling or salvage yards' grandfather provision.

350.90. - Existing recycling or salvage yards' grandfather provision. All recycling or salvage yards in the City of Minneapolis existing on the date of the enactment of this ordinance shall have eighteen (18) months from the effective date of this ordinance to comply with section 350.60(2) and (3). Plans required under section 350.60(3) to be submitted to the zoning and planning departments shall be submitted no later than February 19, 1990. (89-Or-143, § 1, 8-11-89)

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=COOR_TIT13LIBURE_CH350REACSAYAFetched: 11/2/2026