Minneapolis Parking Ramp Law Affects Parking Structure Owners

Find Out How This New Law Affects You

An ongoing regulation, Chapter 108 of the Minneapolis, Minnesota Code of Ordinances, mandates annual inspection and reporting requirements that every parking ramp owner needs to follow to stay compliant.

Below we will talk about details regarding the Minneapolis Law:

• Responsibilities of Parking Ramp Owners
• Repercussions of Not Meeting Code Requirements
• Cities Near Minneapolis
• Next Steps

Responsibilities of Parking Ramp Owners

Parking ramp owners need to pay attention to the three key details to know when they need to act on their parking ramp.

1. Determine if your parking ramp falls under the requirements of the code.
        a. Per Chapter 108.10. - Definitions:
             i. “Parking ramp: A building or structure, or part thereof, in which a structural level other than a slab on grade is used for parking, storage, or maintenance of motor vehicles.”
        b. Per Chapter 108.20. - Certificate Required:
             i. Ramps in operation for less than five years are exempt:
                  1. “No person, firm, corporation, governmental entity…shall own or operate a parking ramp which has been in operation for five (5) years or more…
2. Retain an engineer to inspect your parking ramp and write a report based on the code's requirements.
        a. Per Chapter 108.50. - Annual inspection required:
             i. “No parking ramp operating certificate shall be issued or renewed unless the owner or operator has caused the parking ramp to be inspected annually by a qualified civil or structural engineer as required by this chapter.”
        b. Per Chapter 108.10. - Definitions.
             i. “Qualified civil or structural engineer: A person registered by the State of Minnesota as a professional engineer whose field of practice is civil or structural engineering.”
3. Submit the written inspection report and affidavit to the city as part of the annual parking ramp operating certification process.
        a. Per Chapter 108.60, Affidavit and engineer's report required:
             i. “Upon application for or renewal of the required operating certificate, the owner or operator of a parking ramp shall file with the building official an affidavit stating that the parking ramp has been inspected in accordance with section 108.50 of this chapter by a qualified civil or structural engineer. The owner or operator shall file with the affidavit a copy of the engineer's inspection report. The report shall contain the engineer's findings and shall indicate whether the structure is capable of supporting the loads for which it is used.
   
   

Repercussions of Not Meeting Code Requirements

Staying compliant is not only about avoiding penalties, but also about ensuring the safety of every user and the long-term viability of your property.

Asset Implications

Parking structures, particularly in climates like Minneapolis, are susceptible to many different types of deterioration.

Left uninspected, these deterioration mechanisms could pose risks to people and property  - examples include: falling concrete, tripping hazards, and even partial collapses.

Financial Implications

Per Chapter 108.20. - Certificate Required:

“No person, firm, corporation, governmental entity or other entity shall own or operate a parking ramp which has been in operation for five (5) years or more, without having first applied for and obtained an operating certificate.”

Per Section 108.70. - Certificate revocation; nonrenewal; penalties.

“(a) No operating certificate shall be issued or renewed unless the owner or operator of the parking ramp has obtained the annual inspections required by section 108.50 and filed the annual affidavits and reports required by section 108.60.

(b) If the owner or operator of a parking ramp fails to file the annual affidavit and report required by section 108.60, the building official may revoke the certificate. A decision to revoke the certificate may be appealed in writing to the city council within twenty-one (21) days of mailing of the building official's decision.”

Per Chapter 108.110. - Penalty for failure to obtain or renew operating certificate:

“Should any person, firm, corporation, governmental entity or other entity operate a parking ramp without first having a valid operating certificate as required by this chapter, the owner or operator shall, when subsequently securing such certificate, be required to pay double the fee provided in section 108.30. The building official or the building official's designee may also issue or cause to be issued an administrative citation to the owner or operator for violation of any of the provisions of this chapter.”

Other Nonstructural Requirements

Although this article focuses on inspection and reporting for the parking ramp structure, note that additional insurance considerations are outlined in Chapter 108.90 that are required to be met prior to issuance of a certificate.

Cities Near Minneapolis

The codified ordinance only applies to parking ramps in Minneapolis proper. If your asset is not in Minneapolis, it is not subject to the specific requirements outlined above.

If not located in Minneapolis, determine if the jurisdiction in which your asset is located requires inspection. Multiple other municipalities in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area, mandate parking Ramp inspection and reporting like Minneapolis, including:

-Duluth, MN
-Edina, MN
-St. Louis Park, MN

Next Steps

Whether required by law or not, preventative inspection and maintenance of parking structures is always a good idea.

As leaders in parking structure management and safety compliance, StructureCare is here to guide you through the complexities of the Inspection and Reporting Requirements for Parking Ramps in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

We offer comprehensive inspection and reporting services to ensure your parking facilities meet all legal requirements and maintain the highest safety standards.

Nick Heim, PE 
Innovation Engineer, Ohio