Zoning and urban agriculture

Urban farmers and gardeners in Minneapolis need to know these zoning rules.

Zoning information 

Minneapolis allows community gardens, market gardens, and urban farms to operate in many areas of the city. These areas are categorized through zoning districts specified in the Minneapolis Zoning Code.

To determine the zoning classification of your property, visit the City of Minneapolis Zoning Maps page or contact 311.

Depending on the zoning district, community gardens, market gardens, or urban farms may be considered either a “permitted use,” a “conditional use,” or a “prohibited use.” The following table contains definitions for these terms.
 
Permitted use A use which is permitted in a particular zoning district.
Conditional use A use which can be established in a particular zoning district if a Conditional Use Permit is acquired.
Prohibited use A use which is not allowed in a particular zoning district.

Community gardens

City definition

Community garden. A use in which land managed by a group of individuals is used to grow food or ornamental crops for donation or for use by those cultivating the land and their households.
Community gardens may:
  • Be divided into separate plots for cultivation by one or more individuals
  • Be farmed collectively by members of the group
  • Include common areas maintained and used by group members

Where can community gardens operate?

Permitted Use Conditional Use Prohibited Use
Residential: R1, R1A, R2, R2B, R3, R4, R5, R6
Office Residence: OR1, OR2, OR3
Commercial: C1, C2, C3A, C3S, C4
Downtown: B4S, B4C, B4N
Industrial: I1, I2		   Downtown: B4
Industrial: I3

Development standards for community gardens

  1. Overhead lighting is not permitted.
  2. No more than two vehicles shall be parked on-site, excluding those parked within an enclosed structure.
  3. Accessory retail sales are subject to the development standards for farmstands specified in Chapter 537, Accessory Uses and Structures.
  4. The use shall not be located in a required interior side yard.
  5. Outdoor growing associated with a community garden shall be exempt from the enclosed building requirements of the zoning ordinance.
  6. Keeping of animals is prohibited.

Market gardens

City definition

Market garden. An establishment where food or ornamental crops are grown on the ground, on a rooftop or inside a building, to be sold or donated. 

Where can market gardens operate?

Type of Market Garden Permitted Use Conditional Use Prohibited Use
Planting area ≤ 10,000 square feet Residential: R1, R1A, R2, R2B, R3, R4, R5, R6
Office Residence: OR1, OR2, OR3
Commercial: C1, C2, C3A, C3S, C4
Downtown: B4, B4S, B4C, B4N		   Industrial: I1, I2, I3
Planting area > 10,000 square feet Office Residence: OR2, OR3
Commercial: C1, C2, C3A, C3S, C4
Downtown: B4, B4S, B4C, B4N		 Residential: R1, R1A, R2, R2B, R3, R4, R5, R6
Office Residence: OR1		 Industrial: I1, I2, I3

Development standards for market gardens

  1. In the Residence and OR1 districts:
    • Mechanized equipment similar in scale to that designed for household use shall be permitted. Use of larger mechanized  farm equipment is generally prohibited; provided, however, that during the initial preparation of the land heavy equipment may be used to prepare the land between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
    • Accessory retail sales are subject to the development standards for farmstands specified in Chapter 537, Accessory Uses and Structures.
    • No more than two vehicles shall be parked on-site, excluding those parked within an enclosed structure.
    • Shipment and delivery of products or supplies shall be limited to between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and shall regularly occur only in single rear axle straight trucks or smaller vehicles normally used to serve residential neighborhoods.
    • Overhead lighting is not permitted.
  2. In the C3A and downtown zoning districts market gardens shall be limited to rooftops or indoor operations unless accessory to a principal use located on the same zoning lot.
  3. Any equipment or supplies needed for garden operations shall be enclosed or otherwise screened from the street and any adjacent residential uses.
  4. The use shall not be located in a required interior side yard.
  5. Keeping of animals is prohibited.
  6. Outdoor growing associated with a market garden shall be exempt from the enclosed building requirements of the zoning ordinance.

Urban farms

City definition

Urban farm. An establishment where food or ornamental crops are grown or processed to be sold or donated that includes, but is not limited to, outdoor growing operations, indoor growing operations, vertical farms, aquaponics, aquaculture, hydroponics and rooftop farms.

Where can urban farms operate?

Permitted Use Conditional Use Prohibited Use
Industrial: I1, I2 Commercial: C4 Residential: R1, R1A, R2, R2B, R3, R4, R5, R6
Office Residence: OR1, OR2, OR3
Commercial: C1, C2, C3A, C3S
Downtown: B4, B4S, B4C, B4N Industrial: I3

Development standards for urban farms

  1. Keeping of animals is prohibited.
  2. Any equipment or supplies needed for farm operations shall be fully enclosed or otherwise effectively screened from the street and any adjacent residential uses.
  3. The use shall not be located in a required interior side yard.
  4. Outdoor growing associated with an urban farm shall be exempt from the enclosed building requirements of the zoning ordinance.

More information

Definitions

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances, Title 20, Chapter 520.160. – Definitions. 

Development standards

Minneapolis Code of Ordinances, Title 20, Chapter 536.20. – Specific development standards.

Zoning

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