Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15 § 15.100
ROOF DOORS (Bloomington Buildings and Structures Code)
Operative Text
All doors that exit onto the roof of any building or premises used for business purposes and subject to the provisions hereof shall comply with the following requirements. (1) Doors with glass panels and any glass panels that are adjacent to the door frame shall be protected as follows. (A) The glass portion shall be covered with iron or steel grills of at least one-eighth inch material of no more than two inch mesh securely fastened. (B) If the door or glass panel barrier is on the outside, it shall be secured with rounded head flush bolt on the outside. (C) If the remaining portion of a door panel exceeds eight inches by 12 inches (excluding door frame) and is of wood, but not of solid core construction, or is less than one and three-eighths inches thick, said portion shall be covered on the inside with at least 16 gauge sheet steel attached with screws. (2) Wood doors not of solid core construction, or with panels therein less than one and three-eighths inches thick, shall be covered on the inside with at least 16 gauge sheet steel attached with screws. (3) All roof doors shall be provided with a lock that will permit the door to be opened from the inside without the use of a key or any special knowledge or effort. (4) Outside hinges on all roof doors shall be provided with nonremovable pins. Such hinge pins may be either welded, flanged or secured by a screw. (1958 Code, § 40.09) (Ord. 67-71, passed 12-28-1967; Ord. 2002-1, passed 1-14-2002)
Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15.100 establishes specific construction and hardware standards for doors that open onto the roof of commercial buildings. Glass panels in or adjacent to such doors must be reinforced with iron or steel grills, and certain wood door panels must be covered on the inside with heavy-gauge sheet steel. Every roof door must have a lock that allows exit from the inside without a key, and any outside hinges must use nonremovable pins to prevent tampering.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of commercial properties in Bloomington should ensure that all roof-access doors conform to the material and hardware specifications set out in § 15.100. A compliant property typically features steel-grill-protected glass panels, interior sheet-steel reinforcement on qualifying wood panels, panic-style or thumb-turn locks that allow keyless egress from inside, and hinge pins that are welded, flanged, or screw-secured against removal. Routine inspections of these doors help confirm that hardware has not degraded or been altered over time.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
While § 15.100 primarily governs building construction standards, tenants and employees in commercial buildings have an interest in knowing that roof-access doors are required to allow exit from the inside without a key or special knowledge — a basic life-safety protection. If a roof door in a commercial building appears to lack the required egress hardware or structural reinforcements described in § 15.100, that concern can generally be reported to the City of Bloomington's code enforcement or building inspection office. Tenant-rights organizations or a legal aid resource can help clarify what remedies or reporting options may be available.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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