Vacant Building Registration (VBR) Program

Call (612) 673-2233 for Information

The Vacant Building Registration program is the City’s primary tool for tracking, monitoring, and managing nuisance vacant properties in the City. The program is governed by Chapter 249 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances.

The Vacant Building Registration Program is designed to make sure that vacant property remains secure and is properly maintained. The Program was also established to help recapture some of the City’s costs related to properties that are not being maintained or that have a history of improper maintenance.

Owners of vacant properties must register and pay a fee of $6000 (or more) per year. The VBR fee is due at the time of registration and each year on the anniversary date of being found vacant. That date can be found on the City’s Property Information web site.

Buildings located in a residentially zoned area and that have one or more of the following conditions may be required to register as vacant:

  • Condemned – requiring a code compliance inspection. See condemned properties.
  • Unoccupied and unsecured for five days or more
  • Unoccupied and secured by means other than those normally used in the design of the building for 30 days or more
  • Unoccupied with multiple housing maintenance, fire or building code violations existing for 30 days or more
  • Unoccupied more than 365 days with an order having been issued to correct a nuisance condition pursuant to section 227.90.

Restoration Agreements

To encourage the rehabilitation of buildings that qualify for the VBR program, the City is allowing this fee to be held in abeyance for 6 months as long as the property owner is rehabbing the property and meeting other conditions in the Restoration Agreement.

See the Restoration Agreements (PDF) document for more details.

Director’s Orders to Demolish (RAZE)

Minneapolis Code of Ordinance Chapter 249, outlines the conditions under which a property can be declared a Nuisance and the City can establish the appropriate abatement action. Staff from the Inspections division, periodically reviews the properties on the Vacant Building Registration List to determine if they are in bad shape and meet the definition of nuisance and should be demolished. The owner and all others with a financial interest in the property are sent a Director’s Order to Demolish (PDF). The owner and/or other persons with a financial interest, have 21 days to appeal the order or 30 days to comply with the order. The City issues between 50 to 100 Director’s Orders annually.

See Director’s Order to Demolish for more details.

Current List of Buildings Registered As Vacant

Vacant Building Registration List (PDF)
(Chapter 249 List)

Related Links

Vacant Building Registration Application (PDF)

249 Ordinance (Amended in 2008) (PDF)

Restoration Agreements (PDF)

Property Information – Look up an address to see if a property is registered as vacant.