Zoning - Becoming Brooklyn Center

City Council Adopts the New Zoning

The new zoning code, also known as the Unified Development Ordinance or UDO, was adopted by the City Council at their regular meeting on Monday, December 12, 2022.

Zoning codes are the rules that determine what can be built, where it can be built and how it should look. Every city has zoning codes and they are the primary tools a city has to guide the use of its land. Zoning codes are a balance between private property rights and public good.

The purpose of this zoning code update is to:

Align the Code with the City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan
Bring the Code into compliance with state law
Reorganize it so it is clearer and easier to use
Modernize regulations and make sure they meet the needs of the current community

Click below for a full draft of the new zoning code.

ADOPTED ZONING CODE

New Interactive Zoning Map

A new interactive city map of the new zoning districts is now live! By clicking the button below, you can search for and view a property’s former zoning district and new zoning district with a brief description. Please note, however, that even after the approval of the new zoning code by city leadership, existing uses for a site are permitted to continue.

INTERACTIVE ZONING CODE

December 2021 Overview Video Series

City staff are in the final round of public review and comment, before introducing the draft code to city leadership for consideration and adoption. Segments of the code have been reviewed by city staff and a joint commission of the Planning Commission, and Housing Commission. After each segment was reviewed by the joint commission, it was made available for public review and comment, including an overview video and an online comment & question form below. Once introduced to city leadership for consideration, the public will again have the opportunity to review & respond to the draft code.

To view segments of the draft zoning code, click any of the links or video below.

Review Session #1

Review Session #2

Review Session #3

Summer 2021 Zoning Code Community Meetings!

The draft zoning code is nearing completion, and ready for public review and comment. In preparation for presenting the updated code to City Council, city staff facilitated a series of virtual town hall meetings.

To view past meetings, click on the links below to watch the recorded community meetings.

Community Meeting #1: Residential Overview & Standards

Tuesday July 6th at 6:00pm: click here to watch the meeting

Community Meeting #2: Commercial Overview & Standards

Tuesday July 13th at 6:00pm: click here to watch the meeting

Community Meeting #3: Waterbody & Natural Resource Protections

Tuesday July 20th at 6:00pm: click here to watch the meeting

Sign Ordinance

Brooklyn Center’s updated Sign Ordinance is intended to provide improved clarity and ease of guidance around erecting or maintaining signs within the City. The Ordinance seeks to better promote the health, safety, welfare, and convenience of the public while supporting all constitutional free speech rights.

A draft sign ordinance can be read here.

MRCCA

To protect its local water resources, while ensuring compliance with all state laws, the City will soon be ratifying the Minnesota River Corridor Critical Area Program (MRCCA) ordinance. MRCCA is a state, regional, and local protective guideline, applied to a 71 mile stretch of the Mississippi River. MRCCA provides development standards and criteria along the River, with the goal of protecting water quality and natural habitats. These guidelines were created by the MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and requires that each of the 25 metro cities and townships within the MRCCA boundary create and pass MRCCA ordinance. Because of this, the City has limited capacity to adjust and customize requirements beyond what is outlined in state law.

Additional information for property owners and those along or near the River can be found on the MN DNR website, or the Friends of Mississippi River MRCCA page.

The links below provide more information on the MRCCA and possible impacts for Brooklyn Center :

*No ordinance has yet been adopted by the City Council. Check back soon for a draft of Brooklyn Center’s MRCCA Ordinance.

Shoreland Ordinance

The other water resource ordinance is an update to the City’s Shoreland Ordinance, to bring it into compliance with State law. The city’s Shoreland Ordinance, which is guided by state statue, creates development provisions around bodies of water while outlining guidance tools for future development, while protecting ecological, recreational, and economic values. These guidelines, also managed by the MN DNR, are established based on the type and classification of the body of water, and impact property owners who own land on or near a body of water. Like the MRCCA ordinance, the City has limited capacity to adjust and customize requirements beyond what is outlined in state law.

The links below provide more information on the Shoreland Ordinance and possible impacts for Brooklyn Center:

Shoreland Area Map

Additional information for property owners Information and those along or near the River can be found on the MN DNR website.

*No ordinance has yet been adopted by the City Council. Check back soon for a draft of Brooklyn Center’s Shoreland Ordinance.

Infosheets & Surveys

To be successful, the zoning code should support the needs and desires of city residents. As the city works to finalize zoning code details, it needs input from members of the community.

Several summary educational materials are available to better understand whats in the zoning code, and what implications it may have for the City.

Surveys

The below survey will ask questions about your preference for residential standards, which will help guide housing rules in the zoning code.

RESIDENTIAL SURVEY

COMMERCIAL SURVEY