Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15 § 15.99
REAR, SIDE AND BASEMENT DOORS (Bloomington Buildings and Structures Code)
Operative Text
All accessible rear, side and basement doors of any building or premises used for business purposes and subject to the provisions hereof shall comply with the following requirements. (1) All doors of the types listed below shall comply with the requirements for front doors: (A) Tempered glass doors, wood and metal doors with tempered glass panel; (B) Metal doors; (C) Rolling overhead doors; (D) Solid overhead, swinging, sliding or accordion garage-type doors; and (E) Metal accordion grate or grill-type doors. (2) Doors with glass panels and doors that have glass panels adjacent to the door frame shall be secured as follows: (A) The glass panel shall be covered with iron bars of at least one-half inch round or one inch by one-fourth inch flat steel material, spaced not more than five inches apart; (B) Iron or steel grills of at least one-eighth inch material of two inch mesh; (C) If the door or glass panel barrier is on the outside, it shall be secured with rounded head flush bolt on the outside; or (D) If the remaining portion of a door panel exceeds eight inches by 12 inches (excluding door frame), 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. (3) 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. (4) Locking devices: (A) A single door shall be equipped with either double cylinder dead lock that unlocks from both the outside and inside by key, with cylinder dead lock that unlocks from the outside by key and inside by turnpiece, handle or knob, with dead locking latch having guarded bolt that unlocks from outside by key and inside by turnpiece, handle or knob, or with approved slide bar bolt, crossbar and/or padlock. If padlock is used, it shall be of hardened steel shackle with minimum four pin tumbler operation; or (B) On double doors the active leaf shall be equipped with a type of lock as prescribed for single doors above, and the inactive leaf shall be equipped with flush bolts at head and foot. (5) Outside, hinges on all rear, side and basement doors shall be provided with nonremovable pins. Such hinge pins may be either welded, flanged or secured by a screw. (1958 Code, § 40.08) (Ord. 67-71, passed 12-28-1967; Ord. 2002-1, passed 1-14-2002)
Section 15.99 of Bloomington's Code of Ordinances establishes detailed physical security standards for rear, side, and basement doors on commercial buildings. The rule specifies which door types must meet the same requirements as front doors, how glass panels must be reinforced with iron bars or steel grills, and what locking mechanisms are acceptable. It also requires that exterior hinges on these doors use nonremovable pins to prevent forced entry by removing the hinge.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of commercial properties in Bloomington subject to § 15.99 generally ensure that all accessible rear, side, and basement doors are constructed and secured according to the ordinance's specific material and hardware standards. Compliant operators verify that glass panels are reinforced with appropriately sized iron bars or steel grills, that doors lacking solid-core construction are lined with at least 16-gauge sheet steel on the inside, and that approved locking devices—such as double cylinder deadlocks or slide bar bolts with hardened steel padlocks—are installed. Exterior hinges on these doors are fitted with nonremovable pins, whether welded, flanged, or screw-secured, as required by the provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants operating businesses in Bloomington under lease arrangements where the landlord is responsible for building security may have an interest in whether the premises comply with § 15.99's rear, side, and basement door requirements. If a door appears to lack required reinforcements, proper locking hardware, or nonremovable hinge pins, tenants can document the condition and raise the issue with the property owner or the relevant Bloomington municipal enforcement office. Tenant-rights or small-business organizations familiar with local ordinances can help clarify what remedies or complaint processes may be available under this provision.
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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