Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15 § 15.102
ACCESSIBLE TRANSOMS (Bloomington Buildings and Structures Code)
Operative Text
All exterior transoms exceeding eight inches by 12 inches on the side and rear of any building or premises used for business purposes and subject to the provisions hereof shall be protected by either of the following: (1) Outside iron bars of at least one-half inch round or one inch by one-fourth inch flat steel material, spaced no more than five inches apart; (2) Outside iron or steel grills of at least one-eighth inch material but not more than two inch mesh; or (3) The window barrier shall be secured with rounded head flush bolts on the outside. (1958 Code, § 40.11) (Ord. 67-71, passed 12-28-1967; Ord. 2002-1, passed 1-14-2002)
Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15.102 requires that exterior transoms larger than eight inches by twelve inches on the sides and rear of business-use buildings be fitted with one of three approved physical barriers: iron bars of specified dimensions spaced no more than five inches apart, iron or steel grills with mesh no larger than two inches, or a window barrier secured with rounded head flush bolts on the outside. The rule is a security measure aimed at preventing unauthorized entry through these openings. It applies specifically to the side and rear transoms of commercial premises covered by the ordinance.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of commercial properties in Bloomington should verify that any side or rear exterior transoms exceeding eight by twelve inches comply with the barrier specifications set out in § 15.102. A compliant operator generally documents which barrier type has been installed—iron bars, steel grills, or flush-bolt-secured window barriers—and confirms that the materials and spacing meet the ordinance's dimensional requirements. Routine property inspections typically include checking that these protective elements remain intact and undamaged over time.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants occupying commercial spaces in Bloomington may have an interest in confirming that the building's side and rear transoms meet the security standards described in § 15.102, since the rule is designed to protect the premises from unauthorized entry. If a transom appears to lack the required barrier, tenants can raise the issue with the property owner or manager, or contact the relevant Bloomington municipal code enforcement office to inquire about filing a complaint. Consulting a local tenant-rights organization can help clarify what options are available when a commercial landlord has not addressed a potential code deficiency.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.