What's Required in Minneapolis
- Only one ADU is allowed per zoning lot, accessory to a single-family or two-family dwelling.
- Every ADU needs an administrative zoning application ($325) and a building permit.
- Internal and attached ADUs are limited to 800 square feet; every ADU must be at least 300 square feet.
- Detached ADUs are limited to 21 feet in height and 1,300 square feet or 16 percent of the lot, up to 1,600 square feet.
- A detached ADU must be at least 10 feet from the habitable portion of the house.
- Internal ADUs that are not separate dwelling units require a recorded owner-occupancy covenant before permit issuance.
- Detached ADUs must have frost footings and one-hour rated walls within five feet of the lot line.
- Electrical permits for the ADU come from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.
Can you build an ADU in Minneapolis?
Yes, on most house lots. Section 550.1420 of the zoning code allows internal, attached and detached accessory dwelling units accessory to a single-family or two-family dwelling, with no more than one ADU per zoning lot, and the ADU cannot become a separate tax parcel. An ADU needs two approvals: an administrative ADU application to zoning, which costs $325, and a building permit from Construction Code Services. There is no minimum or maximum parking requirement for the house or the ADU.
How big can an ADU be in Minneapolis?
Every ADU must be at least 300 sq. ft. Internal and attached ADUs are limited to 800 square feet; an internal unit may exceed that only if the part of the house it occupies existed on January 1, 2015, and it must be on one level and no larger than the first floor. A detached ADU can be up to 1,300 square feet of habitable and parking area on all levels, or 16 percent of the lot area if greater, but never more than 1,600 square feet or the floor area of the house. The combined footprint of the detached ADU and other accessory buildings is capped at 800 square feet or 10 percent of the lot. A detached ADU can be 21 feet tall, needs only 3 feet of interior side and rear yard where no vehicle doors face that line, and must be at least 10 feet from the habitable part of the house.
Does Minneapolis require owner occupancy for an ADU?
Only for internal ADUs that are not separate dwelling units under the building code. For those, the owner must live in one of the units, and before the building permit is issued the owner records a covenant with the Hennepin County recorder. Attached and detached ADUs established on or after March 6, 2021 carry no owner-occupancy covenant.
How much does an ADU permit cost in Minneapolis?
The building permit is valuation-based: above $50,000 the schedule charges $950.50 for the first $50,000 plus $10.60 per additional $1,000, and above $100,000 it charges $1,480.50 plus $8.40 per $1,000. Add plan review at 65% of the permit fee, the state surcharge of 0.0005 times the value, and the $325 zoning fee.
- A $60,000 basement ADU: $950.50 + 10 x $10.60 = $1,056.50, plan review $686.73, surcharge $30.00, zoning $325 = $2,098.23.
- A $150,000 detached ADU: $1,480.50 + 50 x $8.40 = $1,900.50, plan review $1,235.33, surcharge $75.00, zoning $325 = $3,535.83.
Plumbing ($41.40 per fixture), mechanical and state electrical permits are extra. A Metropolitan Council sewer availability charge may apply; one SAC unit is $2,485 in 2026.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Basement or attic ADU in the house | ADU application + building permit | 800 sq ft cap; owner-occupancy covenant |
| ADU addition to the house | ADU application + building permit | 800 sq ft; exterior materials match the house |
| Detached ADU or unit over a garage | ADU application + building permit | 21 ft tall; 1,300 sq ft or 16% of lot |
| Zoning review fee | $325 | Table 525-1, administrative applications |
| Second ADU on the same lot | Not allowed | One ADU per zoning lot |
| Water and sewer for a detached ADU | Plumbing permit | Usually extended from the house; one city meter |
| Wiring the ADU | State electrical permit (DLI) | Electrical is administered by DLI |
Detached ADUs need frost footings, one-hour rated walls and eaves within five feet of the lot line except on the alley side, an independent heating system separate from any garage, and a new water service with at least 8 feet of cover if the existing one is undersized.
How to Get a ADU Permit in Minneapolis
Check your lot
Verify the zoning district on Minneapolis Property Info or by calling 311, and confirm the house is a single- or two-family dwelling.
File the ADU application
Submit the administrative ADU application with site plan, elevations, floor plans and the $325 fee; zoning staff will contact you.
Apply for the building permit
Email the building permit application, then upload construction plans through ProjectDox for building and zoning review.
Record the covenant if required
For an internal ADU, record the owner-occupancy covenant with Hennepin County and return proof before the permit is issued.
Build and pass inspections
Pull plumbing, mechanical and DLI electrical permits, pass all inspections, and get the certificate of occupancy inspection where required.