Garden leases
Apply to lease a lot for your community garden group or market garden! The priority application period to apply to lease a lot for your community or market garden is closed. Available lots are leased on a first come, first served basis. To view the map of available lots and review the garden lease process, please view the Leasing a vacant City-owned lot section below. Then, complete the Garden Request Form for each new lot you wish to lease.
Leasing a vacant City-owned lot
City-owned vacant lots are available to qualifying community or market gardens to lease to grow food. This program does not lease to individuals seeking a plot in an existing community garden. (see the 'More resources' section below).
- View the map to see which lots are available. Click on individual icons for each lot to view soil test and lease length information .
- Determine if you qualify as a community or market garden and review the different lease requirements in the table below.
- Complete a Garden Request Form. If your request is approved, you will work with City staff to complete the lease requirements, detailed in the lease application packet.
Email gardenlease@minneapolismn.gov with questions or to renew an existing garden lease.
Watch the Minneapolis Garden Lease Program video in Hmong
Lease requirements
Lease Requirements |
Community Garden |
Market Garden |
|---|---|---|
| Qualify as an eligible garden group |
Defined as, “land used by a group of individuals to grow food or ornamental crops for donation or personal use. Community gardens may be divided into separate plots or may be farmed collectively by members of the group” (Minneapolis Code §520.160). One or two individuals intending to grow food for themselves or their family are not eligible to lease a lot as a community garden.
|
Defined as, “land used to grow or process food or ornamental crops to sell or donate” (Minneapolis Code §520.160).
Market gardens can be one person or a group of individuals.
|
| Notify nearby neighbors of intent to lease garden lot(s) | Required | Required |
| Obtain sponsorship | Identify a sponsor organization, such as a neighborhood organization or 501(c)(3) non-profit. Sponsor organizations sign the lease with the City and often support insurance fees. | No sponsor organization required, but must be a business or non-profit registered to operate in Minnesota. |
| Complete City of Minneapolis online bidder registration process & W-9 form | Sponsor organizations must complete if not already registered with City. | Businesses or non-profits must complete if not already registered with City. |
| Draft and submit a garden site plan to meet zoning and development standards. | Required (see Minneapolis Code §536.20) | Required (see Minneapolis Code §536.20) |
| Comply with Pollinator Friendly City Resolution | Required | Required |
| Provide liability insurance coverage | $1 million | $2 million |
| Pay the one-time administrative fee | $50 | $50 |
| Pay the annual lease fee | $1/year | $150/year |
Getting water for your garden
Gardens and farms can renew or apply for a garden hydrant permit by calling 612-673-2865.
Hookups will begin after a check is received and a permit is approved.
You can pay for your garden hydrant permit in person or by mail:
City of Minneapolis
935 5th Ave SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
More resources
- Water - Learn about How to access City water for community gardens, market gardens, and urban farms
- Compost - Low and no-cost compost is available each spring and fall, while supplies last, for qualifying community gardens only.
- Plants, seeds and tools - Apply for a Minnesota Green membership through the Minnesota State Horticultural Society.
- Plots in an existing community garden
- Apply for an individual plot at a community garden in Minneapolis parks
- Ask your neighbors or check bulletin boards at local coffee shops, businesses or libraries for openings at existing gardens
- Ask your neighborhood organization
- View the 2019 Minneapolis Urban Agriculture Survey to see a map of community gardens, market gardens & urban farms.
- Join the COMGAR listserv and write a post with what you're looking for
- Check out Minnesota Community Gardening (formerly Gardening Matters) for other resources and helpful community gardening tips.