Compare ADU zoning rules across 2 Minnesota cities. Average ADU score: 9.0/10.
Gathered from the 2 cities below, with the bill or ordinance each one names. Statewide measures are listed once with the cities they reached, rather than repeated for each.
Statewide law sets a floor; the numbers that decide your project are local. Here is the spread across the 2 Minnesota cities covered here, taken from each city's own ordinance rather than a state summary.
| Question | Across Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Are ADUs permitted? | 2 of 2 permit them. |
| Detached size cap | Median 800 sq ft, from 800 to 800 sq ft across the 2 cities publishing a numeric cap. |
| Owner-occupancy | Required in 1 of 2. |
| Build cost | $125,000 to $465,000 depending on city and unit type. |
| Easiest and hardest here | Minneapolis scores 9/10; Saint Paul scores 9/10. |
Recomputed whenever a city page changes, so this and the city pages below cannot disagree.
| City | Max Size | Setbacks | Permit Fees | Build Cost | 1BR Rent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | 1,300 sq ft gross floor area on all levels (garage space counts) or 16% of lot area, whichever is greater; never more than 1,600 sq ft or larger than the main house. Separately, the combined footprint of the ADU, every other detached accessory building and any attached garage is capped at 800 sq ft or 10% of lot area, whichever is greater (550.1460(2)-(3)). | Detached: may be reduced to 3 ft, except no reduction on a side where vehicle-access doors face the rear lot line, and at least 5 ft from a rear lot line that coincides with the side lot line of a lot in an urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use district (550.1460(5)-(6)). Internal/attached: the district's rear-yard setback applies. | $325 zoning application, plus a valuation-based building permit: about $3,200-$5,400 on $150,000-$300,000 of work (permit fee + 65% plan-review fee + 0.05% state surcharge, 2026 schedule). Plumbing, mechanical and electrical permits are separate. | $150,000-$465,000 | $1,250-$1,700/mo | 9/10 |
| Saint Paul | 800 sq ft or 75% of the floor area of the principal dwelling, whichever is greater (Sec. 65.913(d)). Floor area is measured from the interior faces of the exterior walls (Sec. 60.207); DSI asks for the main house's floor plans with the permit to check the 75%. All buildings together must also stay under the district lot-coverage cap: 40% RL, 45% H1, 50% H2 (Table 66.231). | Detached ADU: may sit in the required rear yard; 1 ft minimum from an alley right-of-way, otherwise 3 ft from the rear (interior) lot line (Sec. 63.501(b)). The 3 ft interior-line setback is waived with a recorded maintenance easement if the building stays 3 ft from any building next door. Attached ADU: the house's rear setback, 10 ft in RL, H1 and H2 (Table 66.231). | Valuation-based (Sec. 33.04; schedule effective 2/25/2023): $1,499 for the first $100,000 plus $8 per additional $1,000, a plan-check fee of 65% of that, and the 0.05% state surcharge — about $3,200 on a $150,000 ADU and $5,300 on $300,000, before trade permits and any SAC. | $125,000-$350,000 | $1,270-$1,630/mo | 9/10 |
Tell us about your project and we'll pass it to ADU builders serving Minnesota. Free, no obligation — you choose who to work with. We don't have builders in every area yet; if nobody covers yours, we'll email you to say so.
🔒 Your info is secure. We share it only with contractors quoting your project. No spam, no obligation.
Just browsing? Search ADU builders near you by ZIP code.
Most ADU projects are funded through HELOCs, construction loans, or cash-out refinancing. Compare rates from top lenders.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more