Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 9 § 9.28
LAND WRITE-DOWN FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON CITY-OWNED LAND (Bloomington Housing Opportunity and Preservation Ordinance)
Operative Text
For a developer proposing a development with a mix of opportunity housing affordable to households at or below 60% of AMI for rental developments and moderate income up to 110% of AMI for home ownership projects, at a minimum threshold of 20%, the city may, upon a showing of demonstrated need, reduce land costs to achieve the 20% threshold to support the development reaching affordability. Any sales price reduction must be allowed by the City Charter and city code and approved by the City Council. Where a land write-down is approved, the city will require at least a 20 year deed restriction on those units identified as affordable for extremely low, very low, and low income households to ensure long-term affordability. (Ord. 2019-16 , passed 2-25-2019; Ord. 2019-30 , passed 8-5-2019; Ord. 2026-10 , passed 4-27-2026)
Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 9.28 establishes a mechanism by which the City of Bloomington may reduce the sale price of city-owned land to help developers achieve an affordable housing threshold of at least 20% of units. Rental developments must serve households at or below 60% of Area Median Income (AMI), while homeownership projects may serve households up to 110% AMI. Any such land price reduction requires demonstrated financial need, City Council approval, and compliance with the City Charter; if approved, units designated for extremely low, very low, and low income households must carry a deed restriction ensuring affordability for at least 20 years.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Developers and property owners pursuing a land write-down under § 9.28 generally document a demonstrated financial need showing that the reduced land cost is necessary to reach the 20% affordability threshold. A compliant project secures City Council approval and ensures the transaction conforms to both the City Charter and applicable city code before closing. Once a write-down is granted, operators record and honor the required minimum 20-year deed restriction on all units designated as affordable for extremely low, very low, and low income households.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 9.28 of the Bloomington Code of Ordinances creates a pathway for more affordable rental and homeownership units to be developed on city-owned land, which can expand the supply of income-restricted housing available to qualifying households. Tenants or prospective residents in developments that received a land write-down benefit from deed restrictions that lock in affordability for at least 20 years, providing a measure of long-term housing stability. Individuals who believe a development's affordability commitments under § 9.28 are not being honored may consider contacting the City of Bloomington directly, reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization, or consulting a housing attorney to understand available options.
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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