Minneapolis, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 12 § 244.440
Exit illumination (Minneapolis Housing Code)
Operative Text
Exits in other than occupancy Group R-3 (one- and two-family dwellings) shall be adequately illuminated to grade, at any time the building is occupied so as not to endanger health or safety, with light having an intensity of not less than one footcandle at floor or grade level. In multiple dwellings containing not more than four (4) dwelling units or rooming units, there may be supplied convenient light switches controlling such a lighting system which may be turned on when needed. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 71.050; 78-Or-244, § 15 , 11-22-78)
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.440 requires that exit pathways in most occupied buildings—excluding single-family and two-family homes—be lit to at least one footcandle of intensity all the way to ground level whenever the building is in use. The goal is to ensure exits are safely navigable and do not pose a health or safety hazard. Smaller multiple dwellings with four or fewer units are given some flexibility, allowing the lighting to be switch-controlled rather than continuously on.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 244.440, compliant operators of covered buildings generally ensure that all exit routes are equipped with lighting that meets the one-footcandle minimum at floor or grade level and that this lighting is active whenever the building is occupied. For properties with four or fewer dwelling or rooming units, operators may install conveniently located manual switches for the exit lighting system rather than keeping it on continuously. Maintaining records of lighting inspections and promptly replacing failed fixtures are practices consistent with meeting this standard.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 244.440 establishes a right to adequately illuminated exits in most multi-unit residential buildings, with lighting reaching at least one footcandle at floor or grade level during all occupied hours. If exit lighting appears insufficient or non-functional, tenants can document the condition and report it to Minneapolis's housing inspection or code enforcement office as a potential code violation. Tenant-rights organizations in Minneapolis can also help residents understand how to raise a lighting deficiency as part of a broader habitability concern.
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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