Minneapolis Municipal ID

View the draft ordinance.

Minneapolis strives to be a vibrant and welcoming city to all our residents. We are proud of this value and we want to show it – by having one identification card that shows We Are Minneapolis. The City of Minneapolis is in the process of researching and planning a municipal ID program to ensure equitable access to services, programs, and benefits. 

The Minneapolis municipal ID will be recognized by the Minneapolis Police Department, providing enhanced public safety by serving as primary form of ID. A host of additional amenities, provided by various organizations that are working to accept it, will be available for all Minneapolis residents who choose to request a municipal ID.

The city is actively pursuing key partnerships; for example, establishing shared use with existing bus cards, potential access to banking services, increased access to local arts and culture centers, and discounts at some of our best restaurants.

Remove barriers

Many Minneapolis residents face barriers to obtaining critical services as a result of not having a government-issued form of identification. Barriers include:

• Opening a bank account
• Being admitted to a hospital
• Obtaining prescription drugs
• Registering children for school
• Filing a police report
• Obtaining identification with your preferred gender identity

Possible benefits

More than 20 U.S. cities or counties, including Detroit and Milwaukee, have utilized their Municipal ID program to develop partnerships with local businesses and cultural institutions that offer discounts and incentives to residents.

Potential benefits include:

• Being used as a transit card
• Discounts on restaurants
• Discounts at local museums and theaters
• Strengthening the relationship between local government and the community

A Municipal ID Card is

The identification card is issued by the City of Minneapolis to ensure that residents with the ID card can fully participate in the civic and economic opportunities within the city.

A Municipal ID Card is not

A City of Minneapolis identification card does not replace a driver's license, can not be used as identification to vote, and does not serve as a document for eligibility for government benefits nor a proof of legal age for the purchase or consumption of liquor and tobacco.

Learn more about the proposed municipal ID program.