SF2286

SF2286 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Zoning authority of municipalities related to certain multifamily and mixed-use developments limitation

Related bill: HF2018

AI Generated Summary

This bill proposes changes to Minnesota's local government planning and zoning laws to facilitate the development of multifamily and mixed-use housing, particularly affordable housing. The key provisions of the bill include:

Comprehensive Plan Amendment Exemption: Municipalities will not be required to amend their comprehensive plans until December 31, 2029, for zoning changes related to multifamily housing.
Simplified Approval for Affordable Housing: Amendments to comprehensive plans to permit affordable housing developments will only require a simple majority vote (instead of a two-thirds vote).
Mandatory Permitting of Multifamily and Mixed-Use Developments: Municipalities must allow multifamily developments in zoning districts that permit commercial uses, with some exceptions for heavy industrial areas.
Reduced Zoning Restrictions:
- A minimum floor area ratio of 2.5 must be allowed.
- Height limits cannot be lower than 75 feet in certain cities and metro-area municipalities.
- Setback and lot coverage restrictions must be the same as for commercial buildings.
- Parking mandates are prohibited, except for accessibility requirements.
- Municipalities cannot impose restrictions on architectural elements, building materials, or energy efficiency beyond state or federal requirements.
Administrative Approval Process:
- Municipalities must establish a streamlined administrative review process for multifamily housing applications.
- They cannot require more than one community meeting unless legally required.
- Requests for approvals must be decided within the time limits prescribed in state law.
Affordable Housing Density Bonuses:
- Municipalities must grant density bonuses to affordable housing projects, allowing for increased height, floor area, unit count, and lot coverage.
Limitations on Municipal Controls:
- Cities cannot adopt ordinances or impose conditions that are more restrictive than those outlined in the bill.
- They are prohibited from enacting moratoriums (interim ordinances) related to these zoning changes.

Overall, the bill seeks to streamline and accelerate the approval and construction of multifamily and mixed-use housing to increase housing supply, particularly affordable housing, by reducing local zoning and permitting barriers.

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF file
1st Engrossment PDF file

Actions

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
March 05, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading
March 05, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Referred to	Housing and Homelessness Prevention
March 12, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to	State and Local Government
March 12, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Author added

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "A new subsection exempting specific zoning changes from comprehensive plan amendments until December 31, 2029."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No changes are removed."
      ],
      "summary": "This bill amends section 462.355 to exempt certain municipal zoning changes from requiring comprehensive plan amendments.",
      "modified": [
        "Existing requirement for planning agency recommendations before acting on amendments."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "462.355"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "No additions are linked directly to this section."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No removals are linked directly to this section."
      ],
      "summary": "This bill references section 169.346 for disability parking spaces enforcement.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies the exemption from minimum parking mandates but allows enforcement of disability parking requirements."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "169.346"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Specific time limits for building permit reviews are outlined within this structure."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No elements are directly removed from this section."
      ],
      "summary": "This bill refers to section 15.99 regarding the time limits and review processes for building permits or proposed subdivisions.",
      "modified": [
        "Procedures for administrative process and appeals in relation to time limitations for requests."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "15.99"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Clarification on restricting municipal construction mandates to those imposed by the State Building Code."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No removals are associated with this citation."
      ],
      "summary": "This section is referenced to limit the imposition of municipal construction standards beyond the state building code requirements.",
      "modified": [
        "Restrictions on municipalities from differing from state-level construction standards."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "326B.121"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Allows additional community meetings if historic districts are involved."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No elements are removed."
      ],
      "summary": "Section 138.73 is referenced concerning projects involving historic districts.",
      "modified": [
        "Conditions under which more than one community meeting can be required are clarified."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "138.73"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Inclusion of definitions for affordable housing based on federal tax guidelines."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No elements are removed from this section."
      ],
      "summary": "This bill refers to section 42g of the Internal Revenue Code concerning qualified low-income housing.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarification on affordable housing criteria meeting federal tax requirements."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "42g of the Internal Revenue Code"
  }
]