Politics
Minneapolis Zoning Code Changes Permit Multi-Unit Housing and Eliminate Parking Minimums
The updates allow more housing types across Minneapolis districts and remove minimum parking rules for new developments, affecting how residents reach jobs and services.
Listen in English · 3 min
How we reported this
Minneapolis ended single-family exclusive zoning citywide in 2020, permitting up to three units by right in all former R1 zones. A new zoning code took effect on July 1, 2023, establishing 15 primary zoning districts across six categories that include Urban Neighborhood, Residential Mixed-Use, Commercial Mixed-Use, Downtown, Production, and Transportation. The code rezoned all city properties in line with the Minneapolis 2040 plan.
Parking and Housing Rules Tied to Local Access
The city eliminated minimum parking requirements for new developments throughout Minneapolis and set parking maximums for most uses under §541.310. Accessory dwelling units are allowed by right in every district that permits single- or two-family dwellings. Maximum height for principal structures on most properties is limited to four stories or 56 feet, whichever is less, except for cluster developments.
These rules change where additional housing can be built relative to existing commercial and mixed-use areas. Residents may find more options for living near places that provide jobs and daily services because the code no longer restricts development to single-family homes in large parts of the city. Removal of minimum parking requirements alters how new projects use land that would otherwise be set aside for vehicle storage.
Effects on Infrastructure and Services
The zoning framework supports construction of internal, attached, or detached accessory dwelling units where single- or two-family homes are already allowed. This can increase the number of households within walking or short transit distance of commercial mixed-use zones. Parking maximums limit the scale of vehicle facilities that must accompany new buildings, which in turn shapes how space near transit lines and production districts is allocated.
Future development applications will be reviewed under the 15-district system and the height and parking standards now in place. City staff will apply the use-specific standards for accessory dwelling units when processing permits in the affected districts.