Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15 § 15.97
BURGLARY PREVENTION - EXTERIOR ACCESSIBLE OPENINGS (Bloomington Buildings and Structures Code)
Operative Text
(a) All exterior accessible openings of any building used for business subject to the provision hereof and which are not otherwise protected by approved photoelectric, ultrasonic or other intrusion detection devices, shall be secured as herein provided. (b) Provided, however, exit doors serving an occupant load of more than ten and serving hazardous rooms or areas shall be openable from the inside without the use of a key or any special knowledge or effort; and any additional locking device on such doors shall be required only after the approval of the Fire Marshal has been first had and obtained. (1958 Code, § 40.06) (Ord. 67-71, passed 12-28-1967; Ord. 2002-1, passed 1-14-2002)
Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15.97 requires that all exterior openings of commercial buildings be secured against unauthorized entry unless they are already protected by an approved intrusion detection system such as photoelectric or ultrasonic devices. There is an important safety carve-out: exit doors serving more than ten occupants or hazardous areas must remain openable from the inside without a key or special knowledge, ensuring occupants can always escape. Any additional locking hardware on those exit doors requires prior approval from the Fire Marshal before it can be installed.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Commercial property operators subject to § 15.97 generally ensure that every exterior accessible opening is either fitted with compliant physical security measures or covered by an approved intrusion detection system. For exit doors serving occupant loads above ten or hazardous spaces, compliant operators confirm those doors remain freely openable from the inside at all times. Before adding any supplemental locking device to such exits, operators typically obtain written Fire Marshal approval in advance, keeping documentation of that approval on file.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 15.97 establishes baseline security and egress standards for commercial buildings in Bloomington, which can affect the safety conditions of any space you occupy or work in. If you observe that exit doors in a covered building require a key or special effort to open from the inside, or that exterior openings appear unsecured without an approved detection system, those conditions may represent a code violation. Tenants or occupants who identify potential violations can report concerns to the City of Bloomington's code enforcement office or consult a tenant-rights organization familiar with Minnesota commercial occupancy standards.
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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