Minneapolis Officially Ends Single-Family Zoning; Change to Take Effect January 1

The end of single-family zoning, a key component of a comprehensive plan adopted last year in Minneapolis, has now been set in code.

1 minute read

November 11, 2019, 2:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Minneapolis, Minnesota

Sam Wagner / Shutterstock

"The Minneapolis City Council on Friday voted unanimously to allow duplexes and triplexes in low-density residential neighborhoods, eliminating single-family zoning that had been in place for decades," reports. Miguel Otárola.

The vote was necessary to implement perhaps the headlining feature of the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan, approved by the Minneapolis City Council a year ago.

"The change eliminates the 'single-family district' category from the city’s zoning districts. New triplexes would still have to follow the same height, setback and building requirements of single-family homes and duplexes," explains Otárola. The change will take effect January 1.

The Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan also recently became the key exemplar in a familiar debate about the environmental impacts of density between two opinion writers: Michael Krantz and Keith Olstad.

Friday, November 8, 2019 in StarTribune

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

A pencil rendering of Foundry Park, which shows skyscrapers and public green spaces.

Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment

The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.

October 23, 2026 - Chicago Sun Times

A rendering of a high speed rain station in California, with wide platforms and a sleep train with yellow highlights.

California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal

Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.

October 30 - Cal Matters

 A bridge stretches across the Missouri River at Chamberlain, South Dakota.

Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states

Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.

October 30 - South Dakota Searchlight

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30 - Yale Environment 360