Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15 § 15.103
ROOF OPENINGS (Bloomington Buildings and Structures Code)
Operative Text
(a) All glass skylights on the roof of any building or premises used for business purposes and subject to the provisions hereof shall be provided with: (1) Iron bars of at least one-half inch round or one inch by one-fourth inch flat steel material under the skylight and securely fastened; or (2) A steel grill of at least one-eighth inch material of two inch mesh under the skylight and securely fastened. (b) All hatchway openings on the roof of any building or premises used for business purposes and subject to the provisions hereof shall be secured as follows. (1) If the hatchway is of wooden material, it shall be covered on the inside with at least 16 gauge sheet steel attached with screws. (2) The hatchway shall be secured from the inside with a slide bar or slide bolts. The use of crossbar or padlock is unauthorized, unless approved by the Fire Marshal. (3) Outside hinges on all hatchway openings shall be provided with nonremovable pins. Such hinge pins may be either welded, flanged or secured by a screw. (c) All air duct or air vent openings exceeding eight inches by 12 inches on the roof of any building or premises used for business purposes and subject to the provisions hereof shall be secured by covering the same with either of the following: (1) 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 and securely fastened; (2) A steel grill of at least one-eighth inch material of two-inch mesh and securely fastened; or (3) If the barrier is on the outside, it shall be secured with rounded head flush bolts on the outside. (1958 Code, § 40.12) (Ord. 67-71, passed 12-28-1967; Ord. 2002-1, passed 1-14-2002)
Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15.103 establishes specific physical security standards for roof openings on commercial buildings. Glass skylights must be reinforced with iron bars or a steel grill installed beneath them, hatchway openings must be lined with sheet steel and secured from the inside with slide bars or bolts (with crossbars or padlocks only allowed if the Fire Marshal approves), and air duct or vent openings larger than eight inches by twelve inches must be covered with iron bars, a steel grill, or flush-bolted exterior barriers. These requirements are designed to prevent unauthorized entry through roof-level access points on business premises.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of commercial properties in Bloomington subject to § 15.103 generally ensure that all skylights have compliant iron bars or steel grills installed beneath them, that hatchway openings are lined with 16-gauge sheet steel and secured from the inside using slide bars or slide bolts, and that any air duct or vent openings exceeding the specified dimensions are covered with approved materials. Compliant operators also verify that outside hinge pins on hatchways are nonremovable — whether welded, flanged, or screw-secured — and obtain Fire Marshal approval before using any crossbar or padlock arrangement. Routine inspections of these roof features help confirm that all hardware remains securely fastened and meets the material specifications outlined in the ordinance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
While § 15.103 primarily governs the physical security obligations of commercial building operators rather than residential tenants, occupants of business premises can note whether a building's roof openings appear to lack the required reinforcements described in the ordinance. If security deficiencies are observed, tenants or occupants may consider reporting concerns to the City of Bloomington's relevant code enforcement or inspections department, which oversees compliance with provisions like § 15.103. Tenant-rights organizations or a legal professional familiar with commercial tenancy in Minnesota can help clarify what remedies or protections may be available in a given situation.
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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