Fridley City Zoning Code

1. Title

(a) These regulations are known and may be cited as the “City of Fridley Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance” or “Title 6” except as referred to herein, where it will be known as “this Title.”

(b) This action is taken pursuant to the authority contained in Minnesota Statutes (M.S.), Sections 462.357 and 462.358.

2. Purpose and Intent

(a) This Title is enacted for the purpose of implementing the Comprehensive Plan and to protect the public health, safety and general welfare of the community and its people in the City of Fridley through the establishment of minimum regulations governing land development and use. More specifically, the purpose of these regulations is to:

(1) Establish regulations to protect the use districts that the City has established by regulating compatibility of different land uses, density of structures, building setbacks and heights, provision for adequate light, air and convenience of access to property; and preventing congestion in the public right-of-way; (2) Avoid or minimize negative impacts from land uses including, but not limited to, impacts to neighboring properties, public infrastructure and the general public; (3) Promote orderly development and redevelopment of property upon which to plan transportation, water supply, sewerage and other public facilities and utilities; (4) Provide for administration of and amendments to this Title, and prescribe penalties for violations of such regulations; and (5) Define duties of City Staff, the Board of Appeals and Adjustments, the Planning Commission and the City Council in relation to this Title and relationship to the Comprehensive Plan. It is the policy of the City that the enactment, amendment and administration of this Title can be accomplished with due consideration of the policies and recommendations contained in the Fridley Comprehensive Plan as amended from time to time by the City Council.

3. Effective Date

(a) The effective date of this Title is July 1, 2025. This Title hereby supersedes and replaces in its entirety, Chapter 205 (Zoning) of the Fridley City Code on the effective date hereof.

(b) The provisions of this Title apply to all permits, permit applications and development plans (general, revised or final) filed on or after July 1, 2025. Plans on file before July 1, 2025 will be reviewed for compliance with the Zoning Title effective at the time of filing.

4. Authority to Adopt

(a) This Title is enacted pursuant to the authority granted by the Municipal Planning Act, M.S. §§ 462.351 through 462.365. Whenever other applicable city, state, or federal laws or rules referenced in this Title have been amended or superseded, this Title will also be considered amended accordingly.

5. The provisions, interpretation and application of this Title, will be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, convenience and general welfare of the residents of the City.

6. No structure shall be erected, converted, enlarged, reconstructed or altered, and no structure or land shall be used for any purpose or in any manner which is not in conformity with the provisions of this Title.

7. All subdivisions planned within the City must comply fully with the provisions of this Title.

8. This Title shall be administered and enforced by the Community Development Director as designated by the City Manager.

9. The Community Development Director shall administer, interpret and enforce the provisions of this Title and shall provide for:

(a) The maintaining of permanent and current records of this Title including all applicable property records, map amendments, conditional uses, interim uses, variances, appeals and applications hereto. (b) The receiving, filing and forwarding of all applications for amendments, variances, conditional uses, interim uses, appeals, or other matters to the appropriate Commissions and City Council. (c) The issuance of all permits and certificates required by this Title. (d) The inspection and examination of all buildings and land, and the issuance of written orders required in remedying any conditions which are found to be in violation of this Title. (e) Being the City staff liaison to the Planning Commission and the enforcement of the decisions of the City Council pertaining to this Title.

10. The Community Development Director may delegate specific responsibility to any individual city employee but remains responsible for all decisions made by those employees.

11. Relationship to Comprehensive Plan

(a) It is the policy of the City that the enforcement, amendment and administration of this Title be accomplished with due consideration of the recommendations contained in the Comprehensive Plan as developed and amended from time to time by the City. The City Council recognizes the Comprehensive Plan as the policy guide responsible for regulation of land use and development in accordance with the policies and purpose herein set forth.

12. Use of Graphics, Illustrations, Figures, Photos and Cross-References

(a) Graphics, illustrations, figures and photos are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as regulations. Where a conflict may occur between the text and any graphic, illustration, figure or photo, the text controls. (b) In some instances, cross-references between chapters, sections and subsections are provided that include the chapter, section, or subsection number along with the name of the reference. Where a conflict may occur between the given cross-reference number and name, the name controls.

13. Conflicting Regulations or Provisions

(a) Where the provisions of this Title are inconsistent with state or federal law or any other city ordinance, code provision, or regulation, the more restrictive provision governs unless otherwise expressly stated.

14. Abrogation and Greater Restrictions

(a) This Title is not intended to repeal, abrogate, annul, impair or interfere with any existing easement, covenant or any other private agreement. However, provided that where the regulations of this Title are more restrictive or impose higher standards or requirements on such easements, covenants or other private agreements, the requirements of this Title govern.

15. Severability

(a) It is hereby declared to be the intention of the City that the provisions of this Title are severable in accordance with the following:

(1) If any court of competent jurisdiction shall adjudge any provision of this Title to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect any other provisions of this Title not specifically included in said judgment. (2) If any court of competent jurisdiction shall adjudge invalid the application of any provision of this Title to a particular property, building or other structure, such judgment shall not affect the application of said provision to any other property, building or structure not specifically included in said judgment.

16. Fees. The fees for administrative processes, land and building development, alterations, improvements and subdivisions are provided for in the Fees Chapter of the Code.