Minneapolis City Council to take up vote on Safe Outdoor Spaces ordinance
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The Minneapolis City Council will vote Thursday morning on a policy that would allow unsheltered residents to sleep overnight in their cars at designated and supervised parking lots.
The policy takes inspiration from a program in Duluth that is primarily funded by grants and donations and has been operating since 2023, offering residents a place to stay and access supportive services while awaiting more permanent housing.
The policy comprises two ordinances: one that modifies the zoning code to allow for such spaces, and another that tackles the rules and process for potential operators to get a license. The ordinance would require the operator, whether that be a nonprofit, religious organization or government agency, to have staff on-site at all times, a public safety plan approved by the police department and accessible bathrooms and trash services.
To pass, seven out of the 13 members on the council will need to vote in favor of it. It was initially approved 6-1 during a smaller committee meeting, although two council members — Pearl Warren and Michael Rainville — said they voted to move it ahead but were still deliberating their final vote.
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The ordinance was authored by council members Jason Chavez, Aisha Chughtai and Aurin Chowdhury, who have collaborated on other initiatives to change the city’s approach to unsheltered homelessness.
That includes an ordinance Mayor Jacob Frey blocked at the end of 2025 that would have codified a public health response and closure protocol at encampments, including a one-week notice period before most clearings. Frey and others who opposed it argued it would encourage encampments, while those in support said it offered a more humane response.
At the time, the council had a veto-proof progressive majority. But due to the timing of the veto, the override vote took place in the new year, when the new — and current — council no longer had that hold.
If the outdoor parking ordinance passes Thursday, it will go to the mayor’s desk for approval.
The mayor has not said whether or not he will veto the ordinance. But after it moved forward last week, a spokesperson said his immediate priority was ensuring the continued funding and sustainability of the county’s shelter system as it faces a shortfall, though he plans to continue conversations about the ordinance leading up to the final vote.
