09-09 Bill No 2025-12City of Richfield September 9, 2025
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2025-12
1 of 9
Motion by: Burk
Seconded by: Hayford Oleary
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE RICHFIELD
ZONING CODE - APPENDIX B OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE
TO MODIFY “GENERAL BUILDING AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS”,
SECTION 544, WITH CHANGES RELATED TO THE MR-2/MR-3 CODE UPATES
THE CITY OF RICHFIELD DOES ORDAIN:
Section 1 Subsection 544.03. “Landscaping and screening requirements” is amended to
read as follows:
544.03. - Landscaping and screening requirements.
Subdivision 1 thru 4: unchanged
Subd. 5. Residential sites. Residential sites shall be landscaped to improve the
livability, beauty and value of housing; to screen and mitigate views of large
parking areas; to reduce the effect of traffic noise; to provide shade; and to help
protect water quality.
a)Quantities. These requirements are in addition to any plantings in the public
street right-of-way whether installed by the land developer or the City.
Single- and Two-
Family Dwellings
Multiple-Family
Dwelling
Overstory deciduous
trees
1 per dwelling unit 3 to 6 units:
1 tree per dwelling
unit
More than 6 units:
0.5 trees per dwelling unit.
Coniferous trees May be substituted on a one-for-one basis for the overstory deciduous trees.
Ornamental
deciduous trees
1 per dwelling unit None required. May be substituted on a 1.5-
for-one basis for a max of 25%
of the overstories planted on
site.
Understory shrubs Foundation plantings
are required in all
areas visible from the
public street.
Foundation plantings
are required in all
areas visible areas
from the public right-
of-way.
(Amended Bill No. 2025-12).
b)Commercial edges. The density and initial size of plantings shall be increased
along nonresidential edges and may be combined with berms, walls and
fences to achieve the objective of protecting the values, quietude and privacy
City of Richfield September 9, 2025
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2025-12
2 of 9
of the housing. Landscaping on the adjacent nonresidential property may not
be substituted for plantings on the residential property.
(Amended Bill No. 2023-1)
Subdivision 6: unchanged
Section 2 Subsection 544.05. “Screening of refuse collection and utilitarian items” is
revised at the following subsections to read as follows; all other subsections to
remain unchanged:
544.05. - Screening of refuse collection and utilitarian items.
Refuse collection, recycling and utilitarian elements shall be designed into the
interior space of buildings, except for residential structures up to eight (8) units.
Buildings of nine (9) to 12 units are also exempt from the internal storage
requirement, but exterior storage must be screened by an enclosure. (Amended
Bill No. 2025-12).
All delivery and loading operations, HVAC equipment, and other utility and
service function shall be grouped and arranged away from the public right-of-way
and fully screened from ground level observation at any point on the property,
adjacent property, or from adjacent right-of-way. Plans for screening enclosures
must be shown on construction plans.
a) Materials. Required screening may be achieved with fences, walls, earth
berms, hedges, two (2) staggered rows of coniferous trees, a dense
deciduous hedge, or other landscape materials. Earth berms shall not
exceed a slope of 3:1 unless specially treated and approved. All walls and
fences shall be architecturally harmonious with the principal building. The
use of wood, in whole or in part, as a screening material for roof-top
equipment shall not be considered as being architecturally compatible
unless the building is constructed with a wood exterior. In cases where
roof-top equipment may be visible from above, the Director will determine
if the equipment must be painted to match the roof.
b) Locations. All required screening or buffering shall be located on the lot
occupied by the use, building, facility, or structure to be screened. No
screening shall be located on any public right-of-way or within eight (8) feet
of the traveled portion of any street or highway.
c) Site improvements or redevelopment consisting of less than a 100 percent
increase in gross floor area where the above requirements are impossible
to meet based on site constraints as judged by the Director shall conform
to the following requirements:
i. All residential structures with more than three (3) eight (8) units and all
commercial, industrial, and institutional uses shall provide a screening
enclosure for required dumpsters. Such enclosures shall be high enough
City of Richfield September 9, 2025
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2025-12
3 of 9
to completely screen the dumpster from all property lines; (Amended,
Bill No. 2014-4 and Bill No 2025-12).
ii – v: no change.
Section 3 Subsection 544.07. “Architectural standards” is revised at the following
subdivisions to read as follows; all other subdivisions to remain unchanged,
except for being renumbered accordingly:
544.07. - Architectural standards.
Subdivision 1: unchanged
Subd. 2. Building orientation. Buildings shall be oriented so that at least one (1)
principal entrance faces the public street rather than the interior of the site. On
corner lots where the intersecting streets have different classifications, the
principal entrance shall face the street with the higher classification. Building
entrances shall:
a)Be architecturally emphasized and highly visible from the street; and
b)Utilize design features that protect pedestrians from the rain and sun,
such as awnings, canopies, or porticos;
See also Section 509.07, Subd.5 (Amended Bill No. 2025-12).
Subd. 3. Exterior Materials. The main exterior wall surfaces of all non-residential
structures shall be constructed of wood, brick, stone, cementitious planks (e.g.,
Hardiplank®), glass, architectural concrete textured surfaces or other materials of
high quality as approved by the Director.
The exterior wall surface for all residential structures shall be constructed of
wood, brick, stone, cementitious planks (e.g., Hardiplank®), glass or other
materials of high quality as approved by the Director. Finished metals shall be
used only above the ground floor and shall not exceed 40 percent of any exterior
wall surface and may not have a metallic finish.
For both residential and non-residential structures, uUnadorned pre-stressed
concrete panels, standard concrete block and unfinished metal, except naturally
weathering metals such as copper, shall not be permitted as exterior materials
for buildings. This restriction shall apply to all principal structures and to all
accessory buildings, including parking ramps, except those accessory buildings
not visible from any exterior lot line. (Amended Bill No. 2025-12).
Subdivision 4: unchanged
Subd. 5. Window Treatment.
City of Richfield September 9, 2025
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2025-12
4 of 9
a)For both residential and non-residential structures, Wwindows or simulated
false windows shall, at a minimum, be used on the ground level of any wall
parallel to or nearly parallel to a street. The use of bars, chains or similar
security devices that are visible from a public street or sidewalk shall be
prohibited. (Amended Bill No. 2025-12).
b)Window requirements for residential structures shall include:
i.Each building wall that faces a public street, public sidewalk or public
pathway, must be comprised of no less than 30 percent windows on the
first floor and no less than 20 percent windows on each floor above the
first floor.
ii.Each building wall that faces any other direction must be comprised of
no less than 15 percent windows on each floor.
iii.False windows are prohibited.
Residential window requirements are not intended to require custom window
sizes or to increase building setbacks to comply with building code. They are
intended to apply in cases when the first floor is used for interior parking.
(Amended Bill No. 2025-12).
Subdivision 6 thru 8: unchanged
Subd. 9. Color. No residential structure may display more than ten (10) percent
of any elevation surface in bright, high intensity or pure tone primary or
secondary colors. No fluorescent or neon colors shall be used on any exterior
elevation surface. City-approved murals are exempt from this limitation. (Added
Bill No. 2025-12).
Subd. 10. Blank Walls. Residential building elevations shall consistently
incorporate elements that relate to the human scale. No wall shall be
uninterrupted for more than 25 feet in length as calculated per floor. Interruptions
may include doors and windows, projections, recessions, awnings and canopies,
decorative ornamentation or other architectural elements. This requirement may
also be addressed through art installation or living walls, subject to approval by
the Director. (Added Bill No. 2025-12).
Subd. 11. Building Mass. No residential building wall shall exceed 200 feet in
length. Every residential building wall length that exceeds the height of the
building shall incorporate full height offsets spaced at intervals equal to or less
than the building height. The offset shall be a minimum of one (1) foot in depth
and width per story of building height. An offset can be a projection or recess.
Building walls under 36 feet in length are exempt from this standard. (Added Bill
No. 2025-12).
City of Richfield September 9, 2025
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2025-12
5 of 9
Section 4 Subsection 544.09. “Exterior lighting” is revised at the following subdivisions to
read as follows; all other subdivisions to remain unchanged:
Subdivision 1. L Except decorative fixtures per Subd. 4, 8 and 11, all lighting
shall be downcast. All lighting shall be designed and arranged to restrict direct
illumination and glare onto abutting parcels.
Subdivisions 2 thru 3: unchanged
Subd. 4. Direct off-site views of the light source shall not be permitted except for
globe and/or ornamental light fixtures. Globe and ornamental fixtures shall only
be used if the developer can demonstrate that off-site impacts stemming from
direct views of the bulb are mitigated by the fixture design and/or location.
Subd. 5 and 6: unchanged
Subd. 7. Poles in non-residential parking lots shall have a maximum height of 24
feet measured from finished grade. Poles in residential parking lots shall have a
maximum height of 12 feet measured from finished grade. (Amended Bill No.
2025-12).
Subd. 8. Lighting fixtures mounted directly on structures shall be permitted when
utilized to enhance specific architectural elements or to help establish scale or
provide visual interest, except as otherwise noted in Subdivisions 9 and 10.
(Amended, Bill 2009-1)
Subd. 9. "Wall paks" shall be permitted only in loading and service areas and
shall be down-lit. (Amended, Bill 2009-1)
Subd. 10. Shielded illuminators or fixtures shall be permitted to light building
mounted signage, building facades, or pedestrian arcades if they are integrated
into a building's architectural design.
Subd. 11. Lighting should highlight entrances, art, terraces and special
landscape features.
Subd. 12. If installed, exterior lighting shall meet the functional needs of the use,
without adversely affecting adjacent properties, neighborhoods or public uses, as
determined by the City. Specific requirements are listed below; however, the City
reserves the right to adjust these requirements based on concerns regarding
safety, security and/or impacts on surrounding properties. Illumination
measurements shall be taken by positioning the meter horizontally at ground
level. (Amended, Bill 2009-1)
Open-air parking lots (including the roof level of multi-level parking structures):
Minimum: 0.2 fc
City of Richfield September 9, 2025
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2025-12
6 of 9
Maximum: 4.0 fc
Minimum uniformity ratio: 20:1
Primary building entrances/exits:
Multifamily Residential:
Minimum: 5.0 fc within five (5) feet of the entrance/exit
Maximum: Eight (8) foot-candles within five (5) feet of
the entrance/exit. (Amended Bill No. 2025-12).
Commercial/Industrial:
Minimum: 10.0 fc within five (5) feet of the entrance/exit
Subd. 13. Site lighting should provide consistent levels of illumination, avoiding
pockets of very high or low levels of illumination.
Subd. 14. All residential fixtures:
a.Must be dark sky complaint, except decorative fixtures per Subd. 4, 8 and
11, above; and
b.Must not exceed 3,000 Kelvin.
(Added Bill No. 2025-12).
Section 5 Subsection 544.13. “Vehicle parking and loading requirements” is revised at the
following subdivisions to read as follows; all other subdivisions to remain
unchanged:
Subsection 544.13. - Vehicle parking and loading requirements.
Subdivisions 1 thru 4: unchanged
Subd. 5. Parking Lot Setbacks. Unless otherwise noted elsewhere, parking lots
shall be set back in accordance with the following: (Amended, Bill No. 2011-19)
a) Parking lots must be set back eight (8) feet from the right-of-way,
b) Parking lots must be set back five (5) feet from adjacent commercial,
multifamily residential and mixed use property. (Amended, Bill No. 2011-
13; 2011-19)
c) Parking lots must be set back 15 feet from adjacent single-family and
two-family residential property with appropriate screening as required by
City of Richfield September 9, 2025
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2025-12
7 of 9
Subsection 544.03 Subd. 5 for residential sites or Subd. 6 for commercial.
(Amended, Bill No. 2011-19)
Subd. 6. Number of off-street spaces required. Off-street parking spaces shall be
provided according to the following minimum standards. Parking for land uses
not listed below shall be regulated according to the most similar use and/or
authoritative sources as determined by the City Planner.
No changes to the minimum number of off-street parking spaces required for
commercial uses.
1. Adjacent on-street parking may be counted toward the parking requirements for
triplex and fourplex residential uses if the following conditions are met:
a) The roadway width, measured from back of curb to back of curb, is at
least 36 feet;
b) The site includes sufficient driveway space to accommodate the full
parking requirement on-site during snow events (e.g., tandem parking in
driveways); and,
c) The applicant agrees to notify future residents, through lease or sale
agreements, of snow emergency requirements mandating off-street
vehicle relocation prior to occupancy.
(Amended Bill No. 2025-12).
No changes to the minimum number of off-street parking spaces required for
Institutional/Public uses.
Subdivision 7 “Electric vehicle charger requirements” is revised as follows:
a) thru c) unchanged.
RESIDENTIAL USES
Single and Two Family For R "Low Density Residential" zones,
see Section 514.15, Subd.4 For R-1
"Single Family Residential" zones, see
Section 518.15, Subd.3
Multifamily Dwelling 1 1.25 per unit.
Group home (state licensed residential
facility)
2 per 5 beds offered for residence
purposes.
Nursing or convalescent home 5 plus one (1) per 5 beds offered for
residence purposes.
Expanded 66th/Lyndale Area A minimum of 0.5 off-street parking stalls
shall be provided for the first 40 units in a
residential building.
City of Richfield September 9, 2025
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2025-12
8 of 9
d)Minimum number of electric vehicle chargers required by land use are as
follows:
USE INSTALLED EV
CHARGING
STATIONS*
EV-READY
SPACES*
ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS
Residential
uses with up to
3 units six (6)
parking spaces
At least one (1)
space shall support
L1 charging.
Residential
uses with 4
seven (7) to 14
units 20 parking
spaces
Ten (10) percent of
parking spaces
shall support L1
charging.
Two (2) spaces capable of
L2 or L3 charging. A
minimum of 50 percent of
remaining spaces capable
of L1 charging.
Residential
uses with 21 15
units or more
parking spaces
Ten (10) percent of
parking spaces
shall support L2
charging.
Twenty (20) percent of
spaces capable of L2 or
L3 charging. A minimum of
50 percent of remaining
spaces capable of L1
charging.
At least one ADA
parking space shall
have access to an
installed EV charger.
Non-residential
uses with up to
20 spaces
One (1) space
shall support L2 or
L3 charging
Ten (10) percent of
spaces capable of L2 or
L3 charging.
Non-residential
uses with 21 or
more off-street
parking spaces
Five (5) percent of
parking spaces
shall support L2 or
L3 charging.
Twenty (20) percent of
spaces capable of L2
charging. At least one (1)
space capable of L3
charging.
At least one ADA
parking space shall
have access to an EV
charger.
*If calculation results in a fraction, the next higher whole number shall be used,traditional rounding
applies, unless the result is zero (0), then at least one (1) is required.
e)Thisese numbers may be reduced by the Director if proof can be provided
that such spaces will not be used.
(Added, Bill No. 2022-3; Amended, Bill No. 2022-14, (Amended Bill No. 2025-12).
Subdivisions 8 thru 14: unchanged
City of Richfield September 9, 2025
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2025-12
9 of 9
Section 6 Subsection 544.23. “Solar access protection” is revised to read as follows:
No building shall be so tall that its shadow is cast across more than 50 percent of
land used guided for a single-family or two-family building between the hours of
9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on any day of the year. The Council may make
exceptions to this requirement if the applicant can prove to the Council's
satisfaction that measures have been taken to mitigate this solar access
requirement, which measures may include but are not limited to obtaining the
consent of the affected property owner(s).
Section 7 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
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Richfield, Minnesota, this 9th day of September,
2025.
____________________
Mary B. Supple, Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________________
Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk
RESOLUTION NO. 12338
RESOLUTION APPROVING SUMMARY PUBLICATION
OF SEVEN ORDINANCES MODIFYING THE MUNICIPAL CODE
IN RELATION TO MULTIFAMILY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS
(MR-2 AND MR-3 DISTRICT CODE UPDATES)
WHEREAS, the City has adopted the above-referenced amendments of the
Richfield City Code; and
WHEREAS, the verbatim text of all seven amendments 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
BILLS NO. 2025-08, 2025-09, 2025-10, 2025-11, 2025-12, 2025-13, AND 2025-14
SEVEN ORDINANCES AMENDING THE RICHFIELD MUNICIPAL CODE
REGARDING MULTIFAMILY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS
This summary is published pursuant to Section 3.12 of the Richfield City Charter.
1. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 13, “TRAFFIC, MOTOR VEHICLES,
AND OTHER VEHICLES” TO REPEAL RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMITS
THE REST OF THE ORDINANCES AMEND THE RICHFIELD ZONING CODE
(APPENDIX B OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE):
2. SECTION 507, “DEFINITIONS”, AND SECTION 509, “GENERAL PROVISIONS”
3. SECTION 525, “MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL (MR-2)” ZONING DISTRICT,
4. SECTION 527, “HIGH-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (MR-3)” ZONING DISTRICT,
5. SUBSECTION 541.25, “VETERANS PARK AREA (VPA) OVERLAY DISTRICT”,
6. SECTION 544, “GENERAL BUILDING AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS”,
7. SECTION 547, “ADMINISTRATION”, TO ALLOW ADMINISTRATIVE
APPROVALS
The changes modernize the development standards for multifamily housing and facilitate
in-fill development on MR-2 and MR-3 zoned properties. Changes are extensive, but
generally described include bulk and dimensional requirements such as building heights
and setbacks, changes to allow administrative review and approval for smaller projects,
and reduced parking in targeted transit and pedestrian -friendly areas.
Copies of the ordinances 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) 861-9776.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Richfield, Minnesota this 9th day of
September, 2025.
Mary B. Supple, Mayor
ATTEST:
Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk