A citation is issued by a City official for violations of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances and some Minnesota Rules and Statutes. It’s an administrative fine, issued instead of a criminal citation.

Generally, a citation follows an order to correct letter, but they can be issued immediately in certain cases. A citation is appealable within 25 days of when it was issued. You can file an appeal online.

Please note that even when an appeal is filed or the citation is paid, the City is able to continue issuing additional citations until the order is completed.

Boarded building

If a structure is found to be vacant and open to trespass, or is found to be safety hazard for other reasons, the City can have it boarded up. The cost is then added to the property's taxes.

Nuisance abatement

If conditions on a property are a public nuisance, the City may issue an order to correct. Common nuisance issues include overgrown vegetation, hazardous trees, trash, and inoperable vehicles. If the order isn't completed by the due date, the City may have a contractor take care of the problem.

If a property gets two or more or these orders within one year, notice is no longer required.

The amount charged by the contractor, plus an administrative fee, is added to the property’s taxes.

Unpaid administrative citation

If an administrative citation issued for a violation at a property is not paid or either stayed or dismissed at a hearing, the amount is added to the property’s taxes. A 10% late fee applies to assessed citations.

Assessable citations include those issued by Construction Code Services, Environmental Services, Inspections Services, Public Works, and Zoning Enforcement.

Unpaid reinspection fee

A reinspection fee is issued if an inspector does a reinspection and finds that the violation still exists. If a reinspection fee bill isn’t paid within 30 days, it becomes an assessment. Inspections Services adds a $50 late fee to assessed reinspection fees. The amount is added to the property’s taxes. 

Unpaid utility bill

Unpaid balances on utility bills, including disputed charges that remain after a hearing officer's decision, are added to property taxes.

Vacant Building Registration fee

The annual Vacant Building Registration (VBR) fee is appealable at an assessment hearing. If a VBR fee is not prepaid or dismissed at a hearing, the amount is collected by adding it to the property's taxes.

Read more about the Vacant Building Registration.

A Utility Billing customer may notify the City of a billing dispute within 90 days of a bill. The department will investigate the complaint and make an effort to resolve it. If the complaint isn't resolved administratively, it may proceed to a formal complaint and go to a hearing.