Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15 § 15.13
CONSTRUCTION OR MODIFICATION OF PARKING AREAS (Bloomington Buildings and Structures Code)
Operative Text
(a) Where required. A parking lot permit is required prior to constructing, enlarging, replacing or resurfacing a parking area or changing the parking space or drive aisle dimensions of a parking area, including striping or restriping of a parking space or drive aisle. (b) Exemptions. A parking lot permit is not required for patching of up to 20% of a parking surface. All patching within a two year period is considered one project for the purposes of determining compliance with the 20% limit. (c) Reviews. The proposed parking lot will be reviewed for compliance with city, state and federal requirements including, but not limited to: storm water management and wetlands protection (see Chapter 16 of City Code), accessibility to the physically disabled, parking space and drive aisle dimensions (see § 21.301.06 ), driveway approaches (see Chapter 17, Article 1 of City Code), and lighting standards (see § 21.301.07 ). Modification to any parking space and drive aisle dimensions may require approval by the City Engineer or their designee. Modification in the public right-of-way requires a separate right-of-way permit. All new striping, restriping, accessibility elements, and signage shall meet the requirements of the City Code and the Minnesota State Building Code as adopted in § 15.01 . (d) Storm water management. Storm water management pursuant to the requirements of city code Chapter 16 and the Comprehensive Surface Water Management Plan is required when at least 50 cubic yards or 5,000 square feet of subgrade is disturbed. (e) Lighting code compliance. Removal or replacement of less than 50% of the parking lot surface on a site within a two year period requires that portion of the parking area to be brought into compliance with current lighting standards. Removal or replacement of 50% or more of the parking lot surface on a site within a two year time period requires all parking lot surface on the site to be brought into compliance with current lighting standards. Removing parking lot surface material down to the stone base constitutes removal. (f) Reserved. (1958 Code, § 35.12) (Ord. 73-69, passed 10-1-1973; Ord. 92-65, passed 12-7-1992; Ord. 2006-54, passed 12-18-2006; Ord. 2009-1, passed 1-26-2009; Ord. 2010-7, passed 3-22-2010; Ord. 2015-28 , passed 11-2-2015; Ord. 2025-28 , passed 11-17-2025)
Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15.13 establishes when a parking lot permit is required before construction or modification work on a parking area, including resurfacing, enlarging, restriping, or changing drive aisle dimensions. Minor patching of up to 20% of a parking surface within a two-year period is exempt from the permit requirement, but all other significant work triggers review for compliance with stormwater management, accessibility, lighting, and dimensional standards. The extent of surface removal or replacement also determines how broadly current lighting standards must be applied — affecting either just the modified portion or the entire parking lot on the site.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers overseeing parking areas in Bloomington should be aware that § 15.13 requires a parking lot permit before undertaking most construction, enlargement, resurfacing, or restriping work. Compliant operators typically obtain the required permit in advance, ensure proposed work is reviewed against stormwater, accessibility, and lighting standards, and secure a separate right-of-way permit when any modification extends into the public right-of-way. When resurfacing or removing 50% or more of a parking lot surface within a two-year window, operators generally bring the entire parking lot into compliance with current lighting standards as required by § 15.13(e).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
While § 15.13 primarily governs property owners and contractors, tenants who notice unpermitted parking lot construction or modifications at their rental property may have grounds to raise concerns with the City of Bloomington's relevant permitting or code enforcement office. This provision's requirements — including accessibility compliance for the physically disabled — can be relevant to tenants who rely on accessible parking spaces, and those concerns can be directed to city officials or a tenant-rights organization familiar with Bloomington's code. Tenants seeking to understand how § 15.13 intersects with their housing rights may benefit from consulting a local tenant advocacy resource.
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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