Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15 § 15.18
PERMITS FOR PREHISTORIC, CLASS I AND CLASS II SITES (Bloomington Buildings and Structures Code)
Operative Text
(a) Certificate of appropriateness. (1) Burial ground and Class I sites . An owner or person in charge of a burial ground or Class I site may apply to the issuing authority of the city for a certificate of appropriateness to demolish , move or materially alter the exterior of an improvement on the site or to construct new improvements . (2) Class II sites . An owner or person in charge of a Class II site may apply to the issuing authority of the city for a certificate of appropriateness to demolish an improvement on the site. (b) Permit procedures. (1) The issuing authority shall, within three weeks of filing of the application, determine whether the demolition, removal or alteration of the site would be detrimental to the public interest. In determining whether the demolition, removal or alteration would be detrimental to the public interest, the issuing authority shall consider the following factors: (A) The effect of the proposed change upon the general cultural, historical and architectural nature of the city; (B) The effect of the proposed change on any historical, cultural or architectural feature of the site and whether such work is appropriate and consistent with the spirit and intent of this Article II ; (C) Whether the improvement is capable of earning an economic return on its value; and (D) Whether the improvement is in a deteriorated, dilapidated, hazardous or dangerous condition which cannot reasonably be restored. (2) The issuing authority shall promptly forward its findings and recommendations to the next available Planning Commission meeting for action by the Planning Commission at a public hearing. (3) Appeal of Planning Commission decision . The applicant or a member of the public may appeal the decision of the Planning Commission to the City Council by submitting an appeal request with supporting materials within three business days of the decision. The appellant will be given the opportunity to present their case in front of the City Council. (1975 Code, § ___) (Ord. 80-3, passed 1-28-1980; Ord. 86-15, passed 3-24-1986; Ord. 2007-50, passed 12-27-2007; Ord. 2015-15, passed 5-18-2015; Ord. 2024-24 , passed 10-14-2024)
Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15.18 establishes a certificate of appropriateness process for owners of burial grounds, Class I, and Class II historic sites who wish to demolish, move, or materially alter structures on those properties. The city's issuing authority has three weeks to evaluate whether a proposed change would harm the public interest, weighing factors such as cultural and architectural significance, economic viability, and the physical condition of the improvement. The Planning Commission then holds a public hearing to act on the issuing authority's findings, and any applicant or member of the public may appeal that decision to the City Council within three business days.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners or managers responsible for burial grounds, Class I, or Class II sites in Bloomington should be aware that § 15.18 requires obtaining a certificate of appropriateness before proceeding with demolition, relocation, or material exterior alterations. A compliant operator submits a complete application to the issuing authority well in advance of any planned work, allowing time for the three-week review period, the Planning Commission's public hearing, and any potential City Council appeal. Operators generally document the economic return potential and physical condition of the improvement, as these are among the factors the issuing authority is required to consider.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
While § 15.18 primarily governs property owners, tenants and members of the public have a recognized role in this process: the ordinance explicitly allows any member of the public to appeal a Planning Commission decision to the City Council within three business days of that decision. This means residents who believe a proposed demolition or alteration of a historically significant site is not in the public interest have a formal avenue to raise those concerns before the City Council. Tenant-rights organizations or local historic preservation groups may be able to provide guidance on how to participate in the public hearing or prepare an appeal under § 15.18.
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.