Mankato, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 7 § 7-89
Location and design of off-street parking
Operative Text
All new rental units licensed after the effective date of the ordinance from which this article is derived shall provide required off-street parking in conformance with the following: (1) In R-1 and R-2 zoning districts, all required off-street parking stalls shall be provided on the zoning lot occupied by the one- or two-family dwelling. In all other zoning districts, the required off-street parking stalls may be provided within 500 feet of the zoning lot. (2) Private and public sidewalks, boulevards, and other portions of the public right-of-way, shall not be used to satisfy off-street parking requirements. (3) For one- and two-family dwellings, all off-street parking stalls, enclosed or unenclosed, shall have minimum dimensions of eight feet by 18 feet, exclusive of required drives and accesses. (4) Multiple-family dwellings shall provide parking stalls, which conform to the minimum dimensional requirements, recommended by the city manager and as adopted in chapter 10. (5) Tandem parking. A tandem parking space has a minimum dimension of eight feet by 36 feet and is used for parking not more than two vehicles. Where specifically allowed in the following, tandem parking stalls shall have full and direct access to a public right-of-way and the access shall not be obstructed by a structure or another required parking stall. a. In R-1 zoning districts, tandem parking arrangements shall not be allowed to satisfy off-street parking requirements. However, for a one-family dwelling, the unenclosed parking space located immediately adjacent to the entrance of a garage may be considered one off-street parking space for the purposes of satisfying the off-street parking requirements, provided the space has a minimum dimension of eight feet by 18 feet, and conforms to all other regulations. The enclosed garage space may also be considered one off-street parking stall for the purposes of satisfying the parking requirements, provided the enclosed parking space has a minimum dimension of eight feet by 18 feet. b. In all other residential zoning districts, tandem parking arrangements may be used to satisfy off-street parking requirements for one- and two-family dwellings. The parking stalls shall not obstruct any street, alley, or fire lane. (6) Not more than 35 percent of the required front or rear yards shall be used for parking or driving surfaces. The side yard may not be used to satisfy required off-street parking. However, for one- or two-family structures constructed before 1939, the side yard may be used for off-street parking, provided an existing driveway or parking area is located in the side yard and the property is not located in an R-1 zoning district. (7) All gravel driveway and parking surfaces shall be hard-surfaced with concrete or bituminous within one year after the issuance of a new rental license. Acceptable hard surfacing does not include recycled asphalt or recycled concrete. Failure to hard surface within one year shall result in the revocation of the rental license. (8) Off-street parking areas shall comply with all other requirements of this chapter, including, but not limited to, drainage, landscaping, lighting, and maintenance.
Mankato Code of Ordinances ch. 7 § 7-89 establishes location, size, and surface requirements for off-street parking tied to newly licensed rental units. Depending on the zoning district, parking must be provided on or within 500 feet of the property, must meet minimum stall dimensions, and cannot encroach on public rights-of-way or more than 35 percent of required front or rear yards. Gravel parking and driveway surfaces must be replaced with concrete or bituminous hard surfacing within one year of a new rental license being issued, and failure to do so can result in license revocation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of newly licensed rental properties in Mankato should familiarize themselves with ch. 7 § 7-89, which governs where parking may be located, how large each stall must be, and what surface materials are acceptable. Compliant operators ensure that required stalls meet the eight-foot-by-18-foot minimum (or tandem dimensions where permitted), that no parking is placed in side yards unless a narrow pre-1939 exception applies, and that any gravel surfaces are hard-surfaced with concrete or bituminous material within one year of licensure. Because non-compliance with the hard-surfacing requirement can trigger rental license revocation under this section, tracking that one-year deadline is a key operational task.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants in newly licensed Mankato rental units have an interest in knowing that ch. 7 § 7-89 sets baseline standards for the off-street parking their landlord is required to provide, including stall dimensions, permitted locations, and surface quality. If parking provided at a rental property appears to fall short of these standards—for example, gravel surfaces that were never hard-surfaced after licensure—tenants can raise the issue with the City of Mankato's licensing or code enforcement office. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand how a landlord's failure to comply with § 7-89 might relate to broader habitability or licensing concerns.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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