Minneapolis, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 12 § 244.1010
Exit signs (Minneapolis Housing Code)
Operative Text
All exits in multiple dwellings having ten (10) or more dwelling units on any one floor, or in rooming houses having more than five (5) rooming units on any one floor, or in any multiple dwellings having a total of ten (10) or more of any combination of the aforesaid dwelling units and rooming units on a floor shall be marked with red, internally illuminated exit signs that will be clearly visible from hallways, corridors and public areas. Where exit signs are not visible there shall be illuminated directional markers indicating the location and direction to follow to reach such exits. Such internally illuminated signs shall be marked "EXIT" in letters at least four (4) inches high. Exit signs provided in accordance with the building code when properly maintained shall also be acceptable. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 75.120; 78-Or-244, § 42, 11-22-78; 82-Or-106 , § 34, 6-11-82)
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.1010 requires that exits in larger residential buildings — specifically those with ten or more dwelling or rooming units on a single floor — be marked with red, internally illuminated signs displaying the word 'EXIT' in letters at least four inches tall. These signs must be clearly visible from hallways, corridors, and common areas; where direct visibility is not possible, illuminated directional markers must guide occupants toward the exits. Signs installed under the building code are also acceptable under this provision, provided they are properly maintained.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating multiple dwellings or rooming houses that meet the unit thresholds described in § 244.1010 generally ensure that all required exit signs are red, internally illuminated, and lettered at a minimum four-inch height. Compliant operators routinely inspect signs for burned-out bulbs or damaged housings and keep maintenance records to demonstrate that building-code-compliant signs remain in proper working order. Where exit signs are not directly visible from corridors or common areas, operators install and maintain illuminated directional markers pointing toward those exits.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Minneapolis Code § 244.1010, tenants living in qualifying multi-unit buildings have a right to properly illuminated exit signage that makes evacuation routes clearly identifiable from hallways and common areas. If exit signs appear broken, unlit, or absent, tenants can document the condition and report it to the City of Minneapolis's housing inspection or code enforcement office, which has authority to require corrections. Tenants may also raise a code-compliance issue through a tenant-rights organization or consult a housing attorney to understand what remedies may be available.
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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