Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 9 § 9.16.02
SITE AREA REDUCTION (Bloomington Housing Opportunity and Preservation Ordinance)
Operative Text
(a) To incentivize the creation of opportunity housing units, a residential development that includes at least 9% of its total dwelling or co-living units affordable to households at or below 60% of AMI may reduce the required minimum site area as follows unless the City Council determines that the reduction is likely to create a specific adverse public health, safety, or welfare impact or would otherwise conflict with local, state, or federal regulations, rules, or laws: (1) A development with at least 9% of its units qualifying as extremely low income affordable housing may reduce minimum site area requirements by up to 50%; (2) A development with 9% of its units qualifying as very low income affordable housing may reduce minimum site area requirements by up to 25%; or (3) A development with 9% of its units qualifying as low income affordable housing may reduce minimum site area requirements by up to 10%. (b) The minimum site area reductions provided in this section are not cumulative. Each qualifying development is eligible for only one minimum site area reduction of 10%, 25%, or 50% depending on the level of affordability provided. (Ord. 2021-1 , passed 3-8-2021; Ord. 2025-07 , passed 4-28-2025)
Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 9.16.02 establishes a zoning incentive that allows residential developments to use a smaller minimum site area when they include at least 9% of their units as affordable housing. The permitted reduction scales with the depth of affordability: up to 10% for low-income units, up to 25% for very low-income units, and up to 50% for extremely low-income units. Only one reduction tier applies per project — the reductions do not stack — and the City Council retains authority to deny a reduction if it would create specific public health, safety, or welfare impacts or conflict with applicable regulations.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 9.16.02, property owners and developers pursuing residential projects in Bloomington can access meaningful site area flexibility by committing at least 9% of total dwelling or co-living units to qualifying affordable housing. Compliant operators typically document the affordability level of the designated units — extremely low, very low, or low income relative to AMI — to establish which reduction tier (50%, 25%, or 10%) applies to their project. Because only one tier may be claimed per development and City Council approval is subject to public health and regulatory review, operators generally engage with the city's planning process early to confirm eligibility and address any potential concerns.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 9.16.02 of Bloomington's Code of Ordinances is designed to encourage the creation of affordable housing units within new residential developments by offering developers a regulatory incentive in the form of reduced site area requirements. For prospective tenants seeking affordable housing, this provision signals that developments in Bloomington may include units reserved for households at or below 60% of AMI, with deeper affordability tiers (very low and extremely low income) potentially yielding more units. Tenants who believe a development is not honoring its affordability commitments may wish to contact the City of Bloomington's planning or housing department, review public records related to the project's approval, or consult a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
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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