SF 2229 Minnesota Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota Starter Home Act

The Minnesota Starter Home Act (SF 2229) allows municipalities to permit single-family homes, duplexes, and accessory dwelling units in most residential zones without requiring new comprehensive plan amendments until 2029. It directly affects local governments (which must adopt these zoning changes), homeowners (who can build or rent these units), and developers (who can construct these housing types). Key provisions include exempting these housing types from complex planning processes, defining "affordable housing" as units with income restrictions for 10+ years, and requiring only a simple majority vote for affordable housing amendments. The bill aims to increase housing options by streamlining local zoning rules for starter homes.

Issues: ✓ Housing

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 6, 2025 Last action Mar 13, 2025

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What changed between versions

Introduction → 1st Engrossment · 5 edits · Mar 13, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was updated from its initial introduction to its first engrossment, incorporating significant policy changes to the Minnesota Starter Home Act. The primary modifications expand the definition of accessory dwelling units to require compliance with specific state building standards and broaden the zoning restrictions on municipalities, now explicitly prohibiting accessory units on lots with multifamily housing in addition to duplexes. Additionally, the bill removed a specific exemption for affordable housing developments regarding comprehensive plan amendments, simplifying the text to focus on the new starter home provisions.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing the 'Minnesota Starter Home Act' from the list of topics in the summary description, though the core provisions for starter homes and new housing options remain. The applicability of zoning restrictions was expanded to include multifamily housing lots, and the definition of accessory dwelling units was tightened to mandate adherence to Minnesota Rules, chapter 1309.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'accessory dwelling unit' was changed to require that the unit be built to the standards of Minnesota Rules, chapter 1309.

REQUIREMENT

The zoning restriction on accessory dwelling units was expanded to prohibit them on lots containing duplexes or multifamily housing, whereas previously they were only restricted on lots with duplexes.

The requirement for municipalities to permit minimum residential lot sizes was simplified and rephrased to apply when a lot can accommodate greater density.

A specific exemption allowing comprehensive plan amendments to be delayed for affordable housing developments was removed from the text.

SCOPE

The bill's summary description was updated to remove the mention of the 'Minnesota Starter Home Act' and the provision regarding comprehensive plan amendments, focusing only on zoning authority and new law coding.

Floor votes

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No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to State and Local Government

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to Housing and Homelessness Prevention

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced

Introduction and first reading

upper

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors