Understanding Bloomington’s Proposed Parking Ramp Ordinance
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Last updated: November 19, 2025
The City of Bloomington is considering a new ordinance that would require licensing and structural oversight of parking ramps in the city, and parking structure owners across Bloomington should be aware of what’s coming and how to prepare. As of now, this is a proposed ordinance; the City Council will be taking public comment and may refine details before implementation.
Why This Ordinance is Emerging
With Minnesota’s freeze-thaw cycles, deicing chemicals, and continuous vehicle loading/unloading, older parking ramps face higher risks of structural wear. The proposed ordinance aims to promote public safety by requiring formal monitoring of structural conditions and encourage owners and operators to stay proactive in maintenance and inspections. The licensing program is focused on ramps more than five years old, where long-term deterioration is more likely.
What the Proposed Ordinance Would Require
Here are the key features of the ordinance:
- Each parking ramp or structure would need to obtain a license to operate. Renewal would occur every two years with a currently proposed administrative fee of ~$175 to cover city review and processing.
- At initial license application or renewal, the owner must submit a third‑party MN-licensed structural engineer’s report.
- The inspection must have been completed within six months of the renewal date.
- If deficiencies are found, owners would be provided timelines for corrective action, and the city may enforce via their building code authority.
- The current draft covers above-grade parking ramps and similar structures with levels exposed to winter snow removal and deicing. Fully underground, slab-on-grade garages without that exposure are now proposed to be exempt.
What This Means for Bloomington Parking Structure Owners
If you manage or own a parking structure in Bloomington, here are some key action steps:
- Inventory your structures: Identify all parking ramps over five years old and note their current condition. Our blog post here can help identify signs of deterioration to look out for.
- Engage an engineer early: Since the ordinance will require engineered inspection reports, you won’t want to wait until renewal deadlines.
- Review maintenance records & deficiencies: If your structure has documented deterioration, start planning repairs or reinforce your case for budgeting.
- Prepare for licensing costs & timelines: Include the licensing fee and inspection cost in your budget.
- Stay informed: The ordinance still needs formal adoption, so be sure to track any upcoming Council actions.
City staff have already fielded questions about underground garages, fee exemptions for buildings already doing inspections, and who pays when ramps sit on city-owned land. Current responses suggest fully underground garages are proposed to be exempt, no fee exemption is planned, and the ramp owner is ultimately responsible for the license and fee.
How StructureCare Can Help
At StructureCare, our team is well versed in inspection planning, documentation, and predictive maintenance, especially in climates like Minnesota’s where winter weather accelerates damage. We’ve successfully supported municipalities in Minnesota with compliance and maintenance strategies, giving us proven experience navigating similar ordinances.
To learn more about how parking garage laws vary by state, visit our Parking Garage Laws by State resource.
We can assist by:
- Performing comprehensive condition assessments tailored to parking structures exposed to freeze-thaw conditions.
- Delivering inspection reports that align with ordinance expectations.
- Creating maintenance plans that help structure owners budget and prioritize repairs.
- Advising compliance strategies so your structure remains safe, legal and cost-effective.
Our team is here and ready to help with any questions or additional details on the topic.