Minneapolis, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 12 § 244.940
Attic rooms (Minneapolis Housing Code)
Operative Text
In dwellings erected prior to May 15, 1959, dwelling units and rooming units may be located in the attic of a dwelling that is not more than two (2) stories and attic in height, provided that the following conditions are complied with: (a) The attic shall have a habitable floor area exceeding fifty (50) percent of the floor below. (b) The required egress stairways shall be located inside the confines of the dwelling and shall be enclosed with materials having a one-hour fire-resistant rating and self-closing fire doors separating each floor. The one-hour fire-resistant rating for materials enclosing said egress stairway shall be as specified in "Methods of Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials" (ASTM Designation: E119) of the American Society for Testing and Materials, on file and of record in the office of the city clerk and in the office of the director of inspections. The required self-closing fire doors shall be constructed of Type B construction. (c) At least one-half of the floor area of every habitable room shall have a ceiling height of seven and one-half (7½) feet. (d) There shall be compliance with all the provisions of the zoning code and all other provisions of the housing maintenance code. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 75.060; 78-Or-244, § 37, 11-22-78)
Minneapolis Code § 244.940 establishes the conditions under which attic spaces in older dwellings may legally serve as dwelling or rooming units. Specifically, it applies to buildings constructed before May 15, 1959, that are no more than two stories plus an attic in height. To qualify, the attic must meet minimum habitable floor area thresholds, enclosed and fire-rated egress stairways, ceiling height requirements in habitable rooms, and full compliance with zoning and housing maintenance codes.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of pre-1959 Minneapolis residential buildings who have or seek attic dwelling or rooming units must ensure those spaces satisfy every condition listed in § 244.940. This means verifying that the attic's habitable floor area exceeds 50 percent of the floor below, that interior egress stairways are enclosed with one-hour fire-resistant materials and Type B self-closing fire doors at each floor, and that at least half of every habitable room's floor area reaches a 7½-foot ceiling height. Compliant operators also confirm that the unit meets all applicable zoning and housing maintenance code requirements before occupancy is permitted.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in or considering an attic unit in a Minneapolis building built before 1959 have an interest in knowing that § 244.940 sets specific safety and habitability standards for such spaces, including fire-rated stairway enclosures and minimum ceiling heights. If a unit appears to fall short of these conditions—such as lacking proper fire doors or having inadequate ceiling height—a complaint may be filed with the City of Minneapolis's inspections office, which oversees housing maintenance code compliance. Tenant-rights organizations in Minneapolis can also help residents understand what standards apply and what options exist when a unit may not meet them.
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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