Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 9 § 9.17
FLOOR AREA RATIO BONUS (Bloomington Housing Opportunity and Preservation Ordinance)
Operative Text
(a) To incentivize the creation of opportunity housing units, a residential development within a designated transit area and within zoning districts regulating development intensity through floor area ratio maximums qualify for the following floor area ratio bonuses for each affordable unit provided at varying household income levels as follows: (1) Each extremely low and very low income household unit qualifies the overall development for 2,000 square feet of bonus floor area ratio up to a maximum of a 50% increase over current zoning. (2) Each low income household unit affordable to households at or below 60% of AMI qualifies the overall development for 1,000 square feet of bonus floor area ratio up to a maximum of a 50% increase over current zoning. (b) In no instance may floor area ratio bonuses be allocated to parcels designated by the comprehensive plan for residential densities of less than five dwelling units per gross acre. (Ord. 2019-16 , passed 2-25-2019)
Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 9.17 establishes a floor area ratio (FAR) bonus program that allows residential developments in designated transit areas to build beyond standard zoning density limits when they include affordable housing units. Developments that include units affordable to extremely low or very low income households earn 2,000 square feet of bonus FAR per such unit, while units affordable to low income households at or below 60% of Area Median Income (AMI) earn 1,000 square feet of bonus FAR per unit. In either case, the total bonus cannot exceed a 50% increase over the base zoning allowance, and the bonus is unavailable on parcels planned for fewer than five dwelling units per gross acre.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 9.17, property owners and developers pursuing residential projects in Bloomington's designated transit areas can unlock additional buildable floor area by incorporating income-restricted units into their plans. Compliant operators typically document the income targeting of each affordable unit—distinguishing extremely low/very low income units from those at or below 60% AMI—to accurately calculate the applicable FAR bonus before submitting for permits. Developers also verify that the subject parcel's comprehensive plan designation meets the minimum five-dwelling-units-per-gross-acre threshold, since the bonus cannot be applied to lower-density parcels regardless of the affordable unit count.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 9.17 of Bloomington's Code of Ordinances is designed to encourage the creation of affordable housing by giving developers a financial incentive to include income-restricted units in transit-area projects. Tenants seeking affordable housing in Bloomington may benefit from this provision indirectly, as it is intended to increase the supply of units affordable to extremely low, very low, and low income households. Individuals looking to understand their rights or eligibility for opportunity housing units created under this program can consult local tenant-rights organizations or Bloomington's housing and planning departments for guidance on available units and income qualification processes.
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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