Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15 § 15.101
SIDE OR REAR GLASS WINDOWS (Bloomington Buildings and Structures Code)
Operative Text
The Chief of Police shall, with the approval of the Fire Marshal, determine the extent of protection, if any, that will be required for accessible glass windows at the side or rear of building. Glass windows shall be deemed accessible if less than 18 feet above ground. In making his or her determination he or she shall consider whether the side of the building fronts on a street, the area, location and contents thereof, and whether such openings are protected by intrusion detection devices. (1) The Chief of Police may require side and rear glass windows with a pane exceeding 96 square inches in area, with its smallest dimension exceeding six inches, to be protected in the following manner: (A) Inside or outside iron bars of at least one-half inch round or one inch by one-fourth inch flat steel securely fastened; (B) Inside or outside iron or steel grills of at least one-eighth inch material or two inch mesh securely fastened; or (C) If window barrier is on the outside, it shall be secured with rounded head flush bolt on the outside. (2) If the side or rear window is of the type that can be opened, it shall, where applicable, be secured on the inside with either a glide bar, bolt, crossbar and/or padlock with hardened steel shackle and minimum four pin tumbler operation. (3) Outside hinges on all side and rear glass windows shall be provided with nonremovable pins. Such hinge pins may be either welded, flanged or secured by a screw. (1958 Code, § 40.10) (Ord. 67-71, passed 12-28-1967; Ord. 2002-1, passed 1-14-2002)
Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15.101 establishes a process by which the Chief of Police, with Fire Marshal approval, decides what physical security measures—if any—must be applied to glass windows on the sides or rear of buildings. Windows less than 18 feet above ground are considered accessible and may be subject to requirements such as iron bars, steel grills, interior locking hardware, or non-removable hinge pins. The specific factors considered include whether the building faces a street, the nature of the area and its contents, and whether intrusion detection devices are already in place.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 15.101, property owners and managers should be aware that the Chief of Police holds authority to mandate specific window-security measures for accessible side and rear windows—those below 18 feet—on a case-by-case basis. Compliant operators typically ensure that any required bars or grills meet the material specifications outlined in the ordinance (e.g., at least one-half inch round iron bar or one-eighth inch mesh grills), that openable windows are fitted with appropriate interior locking hardware, and that outside hinges use non-removable pins. Staying in communication with local authorities when constructing or renovating a building can help operators understand whether a formal determination under § 15.101 will be required.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 15.101 of Bloomington's Code of Ordinances is primarily directed at building owners and the Chief of Police, but it has practical implications for tenants who occupy spaces with side or rear ground-accessible windows. Tenants who believe their building's windows lack required security measures may raise the issue with the Bloomington Police Department or the Fire Marshal's office, which share oversight responsibility under this provision. Tenant-rights organizations or a housing attorney can help clarify whether a specific building is subject to a formal determination and what remedies may be 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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