Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 9 § 9.22
SECONDARY EXTERIOR MATERIALS ALLOWANCE (Bloomington Housing Opportunity and Preservation Ordinance)
Operative Text
(a) To incentivize the construction of opportunity housing units affordable to households at or below 60% of AMI, a residential development that includes at least 9% of its total dwelling or co-living units affordable to households at or below 60% of AMI may use secondary exterior materials of manufactured stone, architectural concrete masonry units (ACMUs), fiber-cement exterior siding, engineered wood products, phenolic panels, wood, synthetic stucco or exterior insulation finishing system (EIFS) with a continuous mineral or stone wool insulation assembly, and 20-year manufacturer’s warranty architectural metal panel systems on façades not facing public streets where otherwise not allowed by the city code as follows: (1) A development with 9% of its units qualifying as extremely low income affordable housing may cover up to 100% of qualifying façades with the listed secondary exterior materials; (2) A development with 9% of its units qualifying as very low income affordable housing may cover up to 75% of qualifying façades with the listed secondary exterior materials; or (3) A development with 9% of its units qualifying as low income affordable housing may cover up to 50% of qualifying façades with the listed secondary exterior materials. (b) The secondary exterior material allowances provided in this section are not cumulative. Each qualifying development is eligible for only one secondary exterior material allowance of 50%, 75%, or 100% depending on the level of affordability provided. (Ord. 2019-16 , passed 2-25-2019; Ord. 2021-1 , passed 3-8-2021; Ord. 2025-07 , passed 4-28-2025; Ord. 2025-10 , passed 6-2-2025)
Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 9.22 creates a building-materials incentive tied to affordable housing. Residential developments that dedicate at least 9% of their units to households earning at or below 60% of Area Median Income (AMI) may use a broader range of secondary exterior materials—such as fiber-cement siding, engineered wood, or architectural metal panels—on façades that do not face public streets, where those materials would otherwise be prohibited. The share of a qualifying façade that may be covered with these materials scales with the depth of affordability: 50% for low-income units, 75% for very low-income units, and 100% for extremely low-income units. Only one allowance tier applies per development; the tiers do not stack.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Developers and property owners pursuing this incentive under § 9.22 generally document that at least 9% of total dwelling or co-living units meet the applicable AMI threshold before selecting a secondary exterior material allowance tier. Because the allowances are mutually exclusive—not cumulative—operators typically identify the single highest affordability tier their project qualifies for and design façade coverage accordingly. Compliance-minded projects also confirm which façades are considered non-street-facing under Bloomington's code, since the secondary material allowance applies only to those surfaces.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 9.22 is primarily a construction and design regulation, but it has indirect relevance to renters because it is intended to incentivize the creation of housing affordable to households at or below 60% of AMI in Bloomington. Tenants living in developments that were built or approved under this provision may find it useful to understand that the affordability commitments tied to the exterior-materials allowance are part of the project's regulatory record. Renters who have questions about whether a specific development's affordability obligations are being honored can contact the City of Bloomington's planning or housing department or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
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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