Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 14 § 14.568

The following words and terms, when used in this Article VIII have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Terms not defined in this Article VIII , which are defined in codes adopted by reference in §§ 14.567 and 15.01 , have the meanings ascribed to them as stated in those codes.


ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT. See DWELLING, ACCESSORY .


AGENT. An employee or other person
, other than the tenant
of said rental housing
, residing within the seven county metro area appointed by the owner
or licensee to receive notices from the city and correct violations
.


ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY. An establishment, as defined in M.S. § 144G.08, subd. 7 and subd.8 for assisted living facility with dementia care, providing assisted living services defined in subd. 9, as they may be amended from time to time.


CO-LIVING DEVELOPMENT. A building or portion thereof containing five or more co-living units.


CO-LIVING UNIT. A separate, private living space that has access to a shared kitchen and other communal living space. Each private living space may or may not include a private bathroom, but must not include cooking facilities, specifically a stove or oven. Co-living units are typically leased on an individual basis and collectively do not constitute a dwelling.


DWELLING, ACCESSORY. A secondary dwelling unit, but not a manufactured home built on a permanent chassis, located on the same lot as a single-family dwelling unit, either physically attached to, within, or detached from the single-family dwelling unit. Accessory dwelling units must be developed in accordance with the standards set forth in § 21.302.03 .


DWELLING, COTTAGE COURT. The arrangement of multiple detached single-family dwellings in a single development oriented around an on-site common open space or courtyard. Each dwelling unit may be located on its own individual lot or on a common lot containing all detached dwelling units and the common open space.


DWELLING, DETACHED TOWNHOUSE. The arrangement of multiple detached single-family dwellings in a single development, each of which is located on its own individual lot that is narrower than otherwise permitted for an individual single-family dwelling or on a common lot containing all detached dwelling units.


DWELLING, FOURPLEX. A building designed as a single structure, containing four dwelling units. Dwelling units in a FOURPLEX DWELLING may be connected by shared hallways exterior to all units and share main entrances and exits exterior to all units.


DWELLING, MULTIPLEX. A building designed as a single structure, containing five to 16 dwelling units, where dwelling units are configured in part vertically above and below other dwelling units. Dwelling units in a MULTIPLEX DWELLING may be connected by shared hallways exterior to all units and share main entrances and exits exterior to all units.


DWELLING, MULTIPLE-FAMILY. A building designed as a single structure, containing 17 or more dwelling units where dwelling units are configured in part vertically above and below other dwelling units.


DWELLING, SINGLE-FAMILY. A building designed or used for residential occupancy by one family with or without an approved accessory dwelling unit
.


DWELLING, THREE-FAMILY. A building designed as a single structure, containing three dwelling units. Dwelling units in a THREE-FAMILY DWELLING may be connected by shared hallways exterior to all units and share main entrances and exits exterior to all units.


DWELLING, TOWNHOUSE. A building or group of buildings, each containing three to six dwelling units, where the dwelling units are configured in a side-by-side fashion and share at least one common wall but are not vertically stacked. Each dwelling unit must have separate and individual front and rear entrances.


DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY. A building designed as a single structure, containing two dwelling units, not including accessory dwelling units, where dwelling units are configured side by side sharing a common unpierced wall extending from ground to roof for a minimum of ten feet, or above and below one another sharing a common unpierced ceiling and floor extending from exterior wall to exterior wall. Dwelling units in a TWO-FAMILY DWELLING may be connected by a common stairwell exterior to both units and share main entrances and exits exterior to both units.


DWELLING UNIT. A single unit providing complete, independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation.


GROUP HOUSING. A dwelling occupied by individuals renting a bedroom or bed and shared living spaces with or without supervision. Group housing includes co-living units
, co-living developments
, assisted living, and residential care facilities. Group housing does not include owner-occupied dwelling units, nursing homes or hospitals.


HABITABLE SPACE. An approved space in a structure used for living, sleeping, eating or cooking. Bathrooms, toilet rooms
, closets, halls, storage or utility spaces, and similar areas are not considered HABITABLE SPACES .


HOUSING INSPECTOR. The Environmental Health Division Manager or designee, and has the same meaning as code official as used in the International Property Maintenance Code adopted by reference.


INTERESTED PARTY. Any natural person
, partnership, limited partnership, corporation, trust, political subdivision of the state or any other legally recognized organization having legal or equitable interest in the property, including any known lessee or tenant of a rental unit, any known mortgage holder or holder of a secured interest in the property, any known person
holding an unrecorded contract for deed, any known mortgagee or vendee in physical possession of the property, any insurer of the property, any agent
, operator, firm or corporation responsible for the maintenance or operation of the property.


ISSUING AUTHORITY. The City of Bloomington Licensing Section.


OWNER. The fee title owner of the property as recorded in official records of the state, county or municipality, including the guardian of the estate of any such owner, and the executor or administrator of the estate of such owner if ordered to take possession of the real property by a court or the duly authorized agent
of that owner.


PROSPECTIVE TENANT. A person
who has completed a written application to rent a particular rental unit owned or managed by the person
requesting that a criminal history inquiry be conducted.


PERSON. Any individual over one year of age.


RENT. Consideration paid for the use of the premises, including, but not limited to, money, services or a combination thereof; or shared housing expenses.


RENTAL HOUSING. A dwelling unit
or group housing
occupied pursuant to a rental lease
.


RENTAL LEASE. A written contract between an owner
, agent
or manager, and a tenant
, whereby the tenant
makes rent
payments in order to occupy the dwelling unit
, group housing
or accessory dwelling unit
. The RENTAL LEASE also includes language that relates to the obligations of both parties to the contract and has the same meaning as a rental agreement.


RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY. A facility that provides care to persons who are not able to live independently. Occupants may share a common dining room, recreational room, food service or other facilities, but the use does not include bed and breakfasts, co-living developments, crash pads, hostels, multiple-family dwellings
, resorts, vacation homes, or other separately defined uses. A RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY may be licensed by the state, but a state license is not required in all cases.


ROOM. Interior space enclosed by walls or separated from other similar spaces by walls or partitions.


TENANT. A person
who rents
a dwelling unit
, bedroom or bed in group housing
, or an accessory dwelling unit
.


TRANSIENT LODGING. The lease, license or other agreement for the occupancy, possession or tenancy of a dwelling unit
, or portion thereof, where the actual term of occupancy, possession, or tenancy is less than 30 consecutive calendar days including, but not limited to bed and breakfasts, resorts, vacation homes, crash pads, hostels, and the like.


WORK/LIVE DWELLING UNIT. A built space used or designed to be used both as a workplace, where the primary work is performed on site, and as a residence by one family, and where the residential use is secondary to the primary use as a place of work, and approved per § 21.302.30 .


(Ord. 2014-9, passed 5-5-2014; Ord. 2015-5 , passed 1-26-2015; Ord. 2016-6 , passed 4-18-2016; Ord. 2017-25 , passed 7-25-2017; Ord. 2019-2 , passed 1-7-2019; Ord. 2022-14 , passed 4-25-2022; Ord. 2022-39 , passed 8-8-2022; Ord. 2025-07 , passed 4-28-2025; Ord. 2026-10 , passed 4-27-2026)