Minneapolis, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 12 § 244.810
Required space in dwelling units (Minneapolis Housing Code)
Operative Text
Every dwelling unit shall contain a minimum superficial floor area of not less than one hundred fifty (150) square feet for the first occupant, seventy (70) additional square feet for the second occupant and one hundred (100) square feet for each additional occupant in excess of two (2). The floor area shall be calculated on the basis of the total habitable floor area of all habitable rooms. Single room dwelling units shall not be occupied by more than four (4) persons and single room occupancy housing units shall not be occupied by more than two (2) persons. Rooms used exclusively for sleeping purposes shall have the following minimum superficial floor area, seventy (70) square feet for one person, ninety (90) square feet for two (2) persons and the required superficial floor area shall be increased at the rate of fifty (50) square feet for each occupant in excess of two (2). However, occupancy of a sleeping room shall not exceed four (4) persons. Habitable rooms having a multiple use shall have not less than one hundred fifty (150) square feet of superficial floor area. Other habitable rooms shall have not less than seventy (70) square feet of superficial floor area, except kitchens. No habitable room other than a kitchen shall be less than seven (7) feet in any dimension. Multiroomed dwelling units, when let to another, shall include a kitchen room. The floor area of such required kitchen room is not to be included when calculating floor area for the purposes of determining occupant load. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 73.030; 82-Or-107 , § § 28 , 37, 6-11-82; Ord. No. 2021-034 , § 2, 7-23-21)
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 244.810 establishes minimum floor area requirements for dwelling units based on the number of occupants. The first occupant requires at least 150 square feet of habitable floor area, the second occupant requires an additional 70 square feet, and each occupant beyond two requires 100 more square feet. Sleeping rooms carry their own minimums—starting at 70 square feet for one person—and no sleeping room may house more than four people. Multi-room units rented to others must include a kitchen, and that kitchen's floor area is excluded when calculating occupant load.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 244.810, compliant operators in Minneapolis calculate habitable floor area carefully before determining how many occupants a unit may lawfully accommodate, keeping in mind that kitchen space is excluded from occupant-load calculations in multi-room units. Operators generally ensure that sleeping rooms meet the tiered minimums—70 square feet for one occupant, 90 for two, and 50 additional square feet per person beyond two—and that no sleeping room is assigned to more than four persons. Lease terms and occupancy limits in rental agreements are typically aligned with these square-footage thresholds, and single-room occupancy units are capped at two persons under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Minneapolis Code § 244.810 sets legally enforceable minimum space standards that apply to the unit a tenant occupies, meaning a landlord cannot lawfully rent a space that falls below these floor-area thresholds for the number of people living there. If a tenant believes their unit or sleeping room does not meet the minimums outlined in § 244.810—such as a sleeping room shared by more than four people or a unit with insufficient square footage per occupant—they may consider filing a complaint with the City of Minneapolis's housing inspection or code enforcement office. Tenant-rights organizations in Minneapolis can help residents understand how these standards apply to their living situation and what general enforcement paths are 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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