Zoning authority of municipalities related to certain multifamily and mixed-use developments limitation
This bill (SF 2286) limits Minnesota municipalities' ability to control zoning for certain multifamily housing developments. It requires cities to permit multifamily projects (13+ units or mixed-use with half residential space) in any zone allowing commercial use (except heavy industrial zones) without requiring new comprehensive plan amendments before 2029. It also changes the vote threshold for approving most comprehensive plan amendments from two-thirds to simple majority, while keeping the two-thirds requirement for affordable housing projects (defined as 20% units for households at or below 60% area median income). The bill directly affects local governments and developers by streamlining approval processes for eligible housing, though municipalities can still enforce health, safety, and infrastructure standards.
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
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduction
→
1st Engrossment
·
4 edits
·
Mar 13, 2025
MODERATE
This bill was updated from its introduction to its first engrossment version, incorporating significant policy changes to limit municipal zoning authority over multifamily and mixed-use developments. The most critical change is the removal of a requirement for comprehensive plan amendments before December 31, 2029, which previously allowed municipalities to delay these projects. Additionally, the bill now explicitly exempts affordable housing developments from local controls requiring mixed-use designs, and it consolidated several threshold criteria for triggering local review into a single, clearer standard.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed by removing the requirement for municipalities to amend comprehensive plans before a specific deadline, thereby reducing the procedural hurdles for developers while simultaneously clarifying that affordable housing is exempt from certain mixed-use zoning mandates.
TIMELINE
Deleted a requirement that municipalities must amend their comprehensive plans by December 31, 2029, to allow multifamily developments.
ELIGIBILITY
Added an explicit exemption stating that the requirement for mixed-use developments (commercial on the ground floor) does not apply to affordable housing projects.
REQUIREMENT
Consolidated four separate triggers for local zoning review (height, floor area, units per acre, total units) into a single threshold requiring a 30% increase in any of those metrics.
Changed the building height trigger from a fixed 35 feet to a flexible standard of either 35 feet or 30 percent increase, whichever is greater.
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
4
Key actions
1
Committee
2
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 · 2 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Doron Clark
DDemocratic-Farmer-Labor
Co
Rich Draheim
RRepublican
Co
Susan Pha
DDemocratic-Farmer-Labor
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