Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15 § 15.201
COMPLETION OF WORK (Bloomington Buildings and Structures Code)
Operative Text
(a) Any person altering, repairing, remodeling or adding to the exterior portion of a single-family dwelling or two-family dwelling, including an attached or detached garage or accessory building, shall complete all exterior work within one year from the date of issuance of the building permit. Completion of work includes completing the structure and exterior finishes (including, but not limited to, siding, windows, roofing, driveways, retaining walls, decks and patios). In the case of demonstrated hardship due to sources beyond the control of the property owner (including, but not limited to, extreme weather conditions; reasonably unforeseen material, equipment or labor shortages; vandalism; or theft), the time allowed for exterior construction and finishes may be extended for intervals up to 180 days at the sole discretion of the Manager of Building and Inspection upon written appeal filed as soon as the need for an extension becomes known, and prior to one year from the date of issuance of the building permit, in which case it expires. The applicant for such an extension must submit a letter to the City Building and Inspections Manager explaining the reason for the requested extension, and demonstrating justifiable cause for continuation of the building permit. (Added by Ord. 84-56, passed 10-15-1984; Ord. 84-60, passed 11-19-1984; Ord. 2007-21, passed 6-25-2007; Ord. 2012-2, passed 1-23-2012; Ord. 2017-9 , passed 5-1-2017)
Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15.201 requires that exterior work on single-family and two-family dwellings — including garages and accessory buildings — be fully completed within one year of the building permit's issuance. 'Completion' covers the full range of exterior finishes such as siding, roofing, windows, driveways, decks, and patios. When circumstances genuinely beyond the owner's control prevent timely completion, the rule allows for extensions of up to 180 days at a time, granted at the discretion of the Manager of Building and Inspection upon a written appeal submitted before the one-year deadline.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 15.201, compliant property owners and managers track the issuance date of any exterior building permit and ensure all exterior finishes — siding, roofing, windows, driveways, retaining walls, decks, and patios — are wrapped up within that one-year window. Operators who anticipate delays caused by factors outside their control, such as extreme weather or material shortages, generally submit a written extension appeal to the City Building and Inspections Manager as soon as the need becomes apparent and well before the permit's one-year anniversary. Keeping documentation of any hardship circumstances supports a written appeal that demonstrates justifiable cause for continuing the permit.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 15.201 of Bloomington's Code of Ordinances establishes that exterior construction on residential properties must be finished within one year of permit issuance, which can affect the condition and appearance of neighboring or rental properties. Tenants who observe prolonged, incomplete exterior work on their rental unit or an adjacent property may contact the City of Bloomington's Building and Inspections division to inquire about permit status and compliance. Tenant-rights organizations in the Bloomington area can help residents understand how unfinished exterior conditions might intersect with habitability standards or other local protections.
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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