01-28 Bill No 2025-02Page 1 of 4
City of Richfield January 28, 2025
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2025-02
Motion by: Burk
Seconded by: Hayford Oleary
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE RICHFIELD ZONING CODE
REGULATIONS RELATED TO DRIVE-THROUGH SIGNS
THE CITY OF RICHFIELD DOES ORDAIN:
Section 1 Subsection 537.05 of the Richfield Zoning Code (Conditional Uses) is
amended at Subdivision 5, to read as follows:
Subd. 5. Restaurant Class III or Drive-Up Window or Teller Service. Uses with drive-up
window or teller service provided the following conditions are met:
a) A minimum distance of 500 feet must be maintained between substantially similar uses
with drive-up window or teller service (as measured from property line to property line);
b) Uses with drive-up window or teller service may not be located adjacent to a property with
an existing drive-up window or teller service unless an applicant can demonstrate that the
use will not be detrimental to pedestrian, bicycle or vehicle movements;
c) No drive-up window or lane shall be adjacent to a public street;
d) Drive-up uses shall be limited to one (1) service window which is part of a primary
structure and a single queuing lane and order board/station:
(i) The content portion of order boards is limited to 40 square feet;
(ii) Order board content may not extend above eight (8) feet in height on the supporting
structure;
(iii) Order boards/stations must be located within 60 feet of the business which they
serve.
e) The City may consider one (1) additional service lane for automated teller machines
(ATMS) or similar facilities;
f) Drive-up facilities must be designed to minimize impacts to the pedestrian environment
and adequately address circulation issues and potential noise or light pollution;
g) Drive-through canopies and other structures, where present, shall be constructed from the
same materials as the primary building and with a similar level of architectural quality and
detailing;
h) There shall be no curb cuts on public streets exclusively for the use of drive-up queuing or
exit lanes. Drive-up traffic shall enter and exit from internal circulation drives;
i) Queuing space for at least four (4) cars (70 feet) shall be provided as measured from, but
not including, the first drive-up service window or teller station. Such queuing space shall
not interfere with parking spaces or traffic circulation;
j) Any drive-up service window, teller or order station, or exterior loudspeaker shall be
located at least 150 feet from any parcel with residential uses on the first floor;
k) The applicant shall demonstrate that such use will not significantly lower the existing level
of service on streets and intersections;
l) The City shall encourage operators to permit bicyclist use of sales and service windows;
m) Alcoholic beverages shall not be served through a drive-up window; and
Page 2 of 4
City of Richfield January 28, 2025
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2025-02
n) Exterior speakers shall comply with the noise control limits set by Subsection 930 of the
City Code.
(Amended, Bill No. 2015-1) (Amended, Bill No. 2025-02)
Section 2 Subsection 549.05 of the Richfield Zoning Code (Sign Definitions) is
amended as follows, with all following subdivisions renumbered
accordingly:
Subd. 11. “Drive-through sign.” A sign located in close proximity to a drive-up
window or teller service lane located on the subject site. In no event shall a drive-
through sign be located more than 60 feet from the business which it serves.
(Added, Bill No. 2025-02)
Section 3 Subsection 549.23 of the Richfield Zoning Code (Permitted Signs By
District) is amended at Subdivision 2, to read as follows:
Subd. 2. Commercial, Mixed-Use, and Industrial Districts.
a) Within commercial, planned mixed use, mixed-use neighborhood, mixed-use
community, mixed-use regional, and industrial zoning districts, one (1)
freestanding signs per site is are permitted as follows 1 :
District Total area of all
freestanding
signs
Maximum sign area
of single primary
freestanding sign
Maximum
height
Maximum sign area of
additional freestanding
sign/s (except drive-
through signs)1
SO, C-1,
MU-N
1 square foot per
linear foot of lot
frontage
60 square feet per
surface, 15 feet tall
15 feet 50 square feet per surface, 8
feet tall
C-2, MU-C,
PMU
Sites <1
acre
1 square foot per
linear foot of lot
frontage
100 square feet per
surface, 20 feet tall2
20 feet 2 50 square feet per surface, 8
feet tall
C-2, MU-C,
PMU
Sites 1-2
acres
1 square foot per
linear foot of lot
frontage
150 square feet per
surface, 20 feet tall2
20 feet 2 50 square feet per surface, 8
feet tall
Page 3 of 4
City of Richfield January 28, 2025
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2025-02
C-2, MU-C,
PMU
Sites >2
acres
1 square foot per
linear foot of lot
frontage
200 square feet per
surface, 20 feet tall2
20 feet 2 50 square feet per surface, 8
feet tall
I, MU-R 1 square foot per
linear foot of lot
frontage
250 square feet per
surface, 27 feet tall2
27 feet 50 square feet per surface, 8
feet tall
1 Additional freestanding signs on a site shall not exceed 8 feet in height and 50 square feet in
area. Planned Unit Development sites greater than 2 acres may request additional signs
exceeding 8 feet in height and 50 square feet in area. For uses which provide drive-up window or
teller service, up to two drive-through signs not to exceed a total of 50 square feet in area, are
permitted per drive-up lane. A singular drive-through sign may not exceed 32 square feet in area
and 8 feet in height. Drive-through signs shall not be exempt from the total area of all freestanding
signs allowed on a property. (Amended, Bill No. 2025-02)
2 On properties abutting an interstate or state highway or the adjacent frontage road, one
freestanding sign with a maximum height of 27 feet may be located within 100 feet of the lot line
abutting the highway or frontage road.
b) Within commercial, mixed-use neighborhood, mixed-use community, mixed-use regional,
and industrial zoning districts, wall signs may not exceed 15 percent of the total wall area of the wall
to which sign is attached. In the case of multiple occupancy, the total area of wall signs which each
occupant may display shall not exceed 15 percent of the exterior wall of the portion of the building
occupied by that tenant. (Amended, Bill No. 2011-13) (Amended, Bill No. 2025-02)
c) Window signs that do not exceed 30 percent of the window area;
d) Canopies, marquees, projecting signs and fixed awnings that are an integral part of the
structure to which they are attached are allowed in the Ccommercial, Mmixed-Uuse, and Iindustrial
districts if they meet the following requirements:
i. An awning, canopy, marquee or projecting sign may not project into the public right-of-way;
ii. Awnings, canopies, marquees and projecting signs may have no part of the structure other
than supports nearer the ground surface than seven (7) feet;
iii. The architectural style on the awning, canopy or marquee must be consistent with the
building being served;
iv. For the purposes of size limitation calculations, awning, canopy, marquee and projecting
signs shall be counted as wall signs;
v. Awnings, canopies or marquees projecting into required yards may not be enclosed; and
vi. Awnings or canopies shall not be internally illuminated.
e) Any sign not expressly permitted by this subdivision is prohibited in commercial, mixed-use
and industrial districts.
Page 4 of 4
City of Richfield January 28, 2025
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2025-02
Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk
f) Cannabis businesses shall also comply with applicable advertisement limitations imposed
by Minnesota Statutes, section 342.64, as amended (Amended Bill No. 2024-02)
Subd. 3. (Repealed, Bill No. 2011-13)
Section 4 Subsection 549.25 of the Richfield Zoning Code (Dynamic Displays) is
amended at Subdivision 2, to read as follows:
Subd. 2. Regulations. Dynamic displays are allowed subject to the following
conditions:
a) thru i) no change
j) Dynamic drive-through signs are exempt from Section 549.25, Subdivision 2, item b;
provided that no other dynamic displays are present on the property. Dynamic drive-through
signs are also exempt from Section 549.25, Subdivision 2, items a and c. (Amended, Bill
No. 2025-02)
Section 5 This Ordinance is effective in accordance with Section 3.09 of the Richfield
City Charter.
VOTING AYE VOTING NAY
Supple, Mary Supple, Mary
Burk, Walter Burk, Walter
Christensen, Sharon Christensen, Sharon
Coleman-Woods, Rori Coleman-Woods, Rori
Hayford Oleary, Sean Hayford Oleary, Sean
Passed by the City Council of the City of Richfield, Minnesota this 28th day of January,
2025.
ATTEST:
Mary B. Supple, Mayor
RESOLUTION NO. 12297
RESOLUTION APPROVING SUMMARY PUBLICATION
OF AN ORDINANCE REGARDING DRIVE-THROUGH SIGNS
WHEREAS, the City has adopted the above-referenced amendment of the Richfield City
Code; and
WHEREAS, the verbatim text of the amendment is cumbersome, and the expense of
publication of the complete text is not justified.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Richfield that the
following summary is hereby approved for official publication:
SUMMARY PUBLICATION
BILL NO. 2025-02
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE RICHFIELD ZONING CODE
REGULATIONS RELATED TO DRIVE-THROUGH SIGNS
This summary of the ordinance is published pursuant to Section 3.12 of the Richfield City
Charter.
This ordinance amendment updates the City’s sign requirements in the following ways:
Remove “order board” regulations from the Mixed-Use Districts.
Create a definition for “drive-through sign” in the sign section of the code.
Make a couple minor housekeeping changes such as reorganizing the freestanding sign
size allowances table and removing redundant language.
Allow two drive-through signs per drive-up lane and establish new size limitations: 32
square feet and 8 feet in height for a singular sign; 50 square feet for both signs.
Provide dynamic display exemptions which would: allow dynamic drive-through signs
(provided that no other dynamic displays are present on a property); allow dynamic drive-
through signs to contain a dynamic display that is more than 35% of the area of the sign;
allow dynamic drive-through signs to contain non-contiguous dynamic displays; and allow
dynamic drive-through signs to change their messaging more often than once every 60
seconds.
Copies of the ordinance are available for public inspection in the City Clerk’s office during normal
business hours or upon request by calling the Department of Community Development at (612)
861-9760.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Richfield, Minnesota this 28th day of January,
2025.
Mary B. Supple, Mayor
ATTEST:
Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk
Attachment A
Drive-throughs in Richfield Zoning District
Number of
drive-up
lanes
1601 66th St E - Caribou PC-2 Planned General Commercial 1
96 66th St W - Burger King PC-2 Planned General Commercial 1
220 66th St W - Popeyes C-2 General Commercial 1
6545 Lyndale Ave - Caribou PC-2 Planned General Commercial 1
6500 Lyndale Ave S - Wendys C-2 General Commercial 1
6645 Lyndale Ave S - McDonalds PC-2 Planned General Commercial 2
980 78th St W - Panera PC-2 Planned General Commercial 1
6529 Penn Ave S - Dunkin MU-C Mixed Use Community 1
2800 66th St W - Dairy Queen C-2 General Commercial 1
6445 Nicollet Ave S – Wells Fargo
Bank C-2 General Commercial 5
7740 2nd Ave S - Taco Bell MU-C Mixed Use Community 1
7744 5th Ave S - Arbys MU-R Mixed Use Regional 1
345 77th St E - My Credit Union MU-C Mixed Use Community 3
6540 Penn Ave - CVS PMU Planned Mixed Use 2
6544 Lyndale Ave S - Chase Bank PMU Planned Mixed Use 1
6625 Lyndale Ave S - BMO Harris
Bank PC-2 Planned General Commercial 5
6501 Richfield Pkwy - Huntington
Bank PC-2 Planned General Commercial 4