Code Enforcement

Well-maintained residential properties encourage private and public investment in a neighborhood.

In order to monitor neighborhood conditions and identify signs of decline in their earliest stages, the City established the Residential Property Code Compliance Program, consisting of resident complaint investigations and systematic inspections.

Environmental Health conducts systematic inspections of all residential areas within Bloomington. Each property is inspected for violations of the City’s Code and, if observed, orders are issued for those violations. A property that is issued orders is given a reasonable time period to comply with the orders.

• Top 10 most commonly observed City Code violations
• Up To Code
• Up To Code (Spanish)
• Report a problem or make a complaint
• The enforcement process - a nuisance program case study.

Common questions

• What happens after I make a complaint? (See paragraph below "Report a Problem or Make a Complaint")
• What if I receive a notice to correct a City Code violation at my property?

The commercial property inspection program works with property owners and tenants while investigating complaints, conducting site inspections for permit applications or licenses, reviewing sign permits, and working with other City divisions and departments to deal with problem properties.

This program also works collaboratively with Planning, Fire Prevention, Building Inspections, Public Works and Crime Prevention Divisions to ensure the continued high standards for the City and businesses located here. The City’s high expectations reduce blight and help to keep Bloomington a desirable location for businesses and commerce to flourish.

Program Components

• Code Compliance – Common Violations
• Air Management Services - Noise, Air Quality and Smoking
• Temporary Sign Permit Application
• Licensed Business Inspections - Tanning, massage, body art, animal establishments, recycling events, laundromats, vending.
• Emergency Response and Hazardous Waste
• Report a problem or make a complaint

The City of Bloomington maintains a food safety program to protect public health, prevent foodborne illness and meet consumer expectations for cleanliness.

Environmental Health Specialists routinely inspect restaurants and other food facilities. Each inspector is certified by the State of Minnesota as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist / Sanitarian.

• Food & Lodging Safety Program Webpage

Swimming pool and spa safety is not only a contemporary issue with recent state and federal legislation, but a regulated program in the City of Bloomington. The City licenses and inspects about 180 public swimming pool and spas. 

From construction guidelines, plan review and routine inspections the City of Bloomington works with pool operators to ensure public pools and spas are maintained in a manner that minimizes public health risk. In addition, the Building and Inspection Division reviews plans and grants construction approval for residential pools and spas to ensure the structures conform to City Code requirements.

• Pool Safety Inspections Webpage

The focus of the Rental Licensing and Inspection Program is to maintain the quality and stability of rental dwelling units which will preserve the value of land and buildings throughout Bloomington. Rental housing conditions that adversely affect or are likely to adversely affect the life, safety, general welfare and health of renters can be corrected and prevented by enforcing minimum standards within the city.

The Rental Housing program licenses many types of rental dwelling units including:

• Single-family homes
• Townhouses
• Condominiums
• Duplexes
• Multi-family buildings
• Housing with services dwellings
• Accessory dwelling units

Environmental Health Inspectors annually inspect both the interior and exterior of all rental dwelling units within Bloomington. They also respond to complaints concerning rental properties and systematically inspect the exterior of rental units throughout the year.

• Rental Housing Inspections Program Webpage

Note that Permanent Signs are processed by the City Planning Division

The City recognizes that many businesses or organizations have temporary promotions during the year and that these events are typically publicized with temporary signs. In most instances a permit is required to display a temporary sign. [BCC Sect. 19.118 & 19.119]

• Business and Industry - Commercial Promotions (i.e. sales, specials or events)
• Community events and special events at places of assembly for worship, schools, parks, museums and public buildings.
• Apply for a Temporary Sign Permit on the Permit Portal

More information on signage in Bloomington.

The City of Bloomington adopts the building codes that the State of MN Department of Labor and Industry has set forth. 

The 2020 Minnesota State Building Code is effective March 31, 2020, except for the Minnesota Mechanical Fuel Gas Code, which is effective April 6, 2020.

The complete content of the building codes is available via this link: https://www.dli.mn.gov/business/codes-and-laws/2020-minnesota-state-building-codes 

More information about the Building & Inspections Division.

Fire Prevention conducts regular inspections of commercial, industrial and multi-family residential structures for continued compliance with Minnesota fire and building codes. The division also investigates all fires in Bloomington to determine cause and origin, and works with the Police Department to investigate arson.

More information about the Fire Prevention Division.

Before the City provided water, all homes relied upon private wells for drinking water. These homes were also connected to private septic systems. In the 1960s, many private wells were found to be contaminated. This lead the City to provide municipal water and sewer service. A small number of homes are not connected to City water or sewer and still rely on a private well for drinking water and/or a septic system.

A private well that is maintained and used for irrigation is allowed as long as the well water system is not connected to the pipes carrying City water into your home. If the well is not in use for irrigation it must be sealed by a Minnesota Department of Health Licensed Contractor. The contractor will apply for the City's Well Sealing permit.  

Visit the Water Well Program page for more information.

The City of Bloomington's quiet hours are between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. on weekends. In order to get an exception to these hours, you must apply for a Type I Noise Exception Permit through the Environmental Health Division.

Type I Noise Exception Permit Application

Completed applications may be submitted to the Environmental Health Division at envhealth@bloomingtonmn.gov or mailed to Civic Plaza at 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN 55431.