Minneapolis, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 12 § 244.770
Composting (Minneapolis Housing Code)
Operative Text
(a) Defined. For the purposes of this article, composting is a microbial process that converts plant materials to a usable organic soil amendment or mulch. (b) Compost containers. Composting shall be conducted within a covered or uncovered container, enclosed on all vertical sides. Containers shall be of a durable material and shall be constructed and maintained in a structurally sound manner. Wood used in the construction of a compost container must be sound and free of rot. (c) Size. The maximum size for a compost area on lots with a residential structure shall be fifteen (15) cubic yards. The maximum size on lots without a residential structure shall be twenty-five (25) cubic yards for lots under ten thousand (10,000) square feet and one hundred twenty (120) cubic yards for lots over ten thousand (10,000) square feet. (d) Location on property. The compost container(s) shall not be located closer than one (1) foot from the rear property line and shall not be located in any required front or side yard as defined in the zoning code, nor closer than twenty (20) feet to any habitable building off of the subject property. (e) Acceptable materials for backyard composting. Composting materials at a backyard compost site are those approved by the Minnesota Rules 7035.0300. Composting materials include: food scraps, garden wastes, weeds, lawn cuttings, leaves, and prunings. Compost piles shall include an appropriate mix of nitrogen-rich materials (or "greens") and carbon-rich materials (or "browns") to reduce odor and ensure adequate composting. (f) Prohibited compost materials. The following compostable materials shall not be placed in a backyard composting container: meat, fats, oils, grease, bones, whole eggs, milk or other dairy products, human or pet wastes, pesticides, herbicides, noxious weeds, diseased plant material in which the disease vector cannot be rendered harmless through the composting process, and any other mixed municipal solid waste that may cause a public health risk or create nuisance conditions. (g) Maintenance. Compost materials shall be layered, aerated, moistened, turned, and managed to promote effective decomposition of the materials in a safe, secure and sanitary manner. Compost materials shall be covered with a layer of material such as leaves, straw, wood chips, or finished compost to reduce odor. (h) Educational materials. The city shall prepare and distribute informational materials to assist persons wishing to conduct source-separated organic composting in an efficient manner that minimizes public nuisance conditions. (i) Abatement. All compost containers and/or compost materials not in compliance with this section shall be declared a public nuisance and are subject to abatement as provided in Chapter 227 of this Code. In addition, the director may require individuals whose compost containers and/or materials are not in compliance with this section to attend a master composter or similar educational program as a condition of continuing to compost on a subject property. ( 90-Or-245 , § 1, 9-28-90; 2012-Or-007 , § 1, 3-8-12; 2015-Or-095 , § 1, 12-11-15)
Minneapolis Code § 244.770 establishes rules for backyard composting on residential and non-residential lots, covering how compost must be contained, where containers may be placed, what materials are permitted or prohibited, and how compost must be maintained. The ordinance defines composting as a microbial process converting plant materials into soil amendment or mulch, and it sets volume limits that vary by lot type and size. Compost operations that fall out of compliance may be declared a public nuisance and subjected to abatement under Chapter 227 of the Code.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers overseeing residential lots in Minneapolis generally ensure that any compost containers on the property comply with the structural, size, and placement requirements of § 244.770—including keeping containers at least one foot from the rear property line and at least twenty feet from any habitable building on an adjacent property. Compliant operators also confirm that only approved materials are composted and that piles are actively maintained through layering, turning, and covering to prevent odor or nuisance conditions. Because non-compliant containers can be declared a public nuisance under § 244.770(i), operators typically address any deficiencies promptly to avoid abatement proceedings or mandatory educational program requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants who compost on a rented property have the right to do so within the framework established by Minneapolis Code § 244.770, which sets out container standards, size limits, location rules, and a list of prohibited materials. If a tenant believes a landlord is improperly restricting composting that would otherwise comply with § 244.770, or if a neighbor's non-compliant compost operation is creating a nuisance, the City of Minneapolis handles complaints and abatement under Chapter 227 of the Code. Tenants can also access informational materials that the city is required to prepare and distribute under § 244.770(h), or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on how the ordinance applies to their situation.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.