Bloomington, Minnesota tiny home and ADU regulations: internal and attached ADUs allowed since 2009, max 960 sq ft, ordinance updated May 2025. THOWs classified as RVs.
Last researched July 2026
Bloomington is best known for the Mall of America, but its housing stock is quieter: postwar ramblers on generous lots, the kind that absorb an attached accessory unit without changing the streetscape. Hyland Lake Park Reserve's ski jump and trail network anchor the west side, the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge runs the city's entire southern edge, and both the airport and MOA job bases are minutes away. Winters are serious — design for 20-below snaps — and summers turn everything lake-country green.
As of April 2026, Bloomington permits internal and attached ADUs by right in multiple residential zoning districts, with standards on design, placement, and use. ADU size is limited to 50% of the primary dwelling's finished square footage or 960 sq ft, whichever is less (1,200 sq ft in RE and FR zoning districts). Bloomington has allowed ADUs since 2009, and the ADU ordinance was most recently updated through Ord. 2025-09 (passed May 19, 2025). Site plan approval and building permits are required. The 2020 Minnesota Residential Code applies, including IRC Appendix Q for tiny homes under 400 sq ft. Detached ADUs are not currently permitted under Bloomington's code — only internal and attached units. The pending Starter Home Act could expand options. ADU standards are codified at Section 21.302.03 of City Code Chapter 21 (Zoning and Land Development), adopted through the city's 2022 ADU ordinance, and renting an ADU requires a license under Chapter 14, as of July 2026. Verify current requirements with your local planning department before purchasing land or beginning construction.
Verify current requirements with your local planning department.
Bloomington permits internal and attached accessory dwelling units by right in its residential districts, with standards codified at Section 21.302.03 of City Code Chapter 21, as of July 2026. The standards run long: lot-size minimums, parking, one ADU per lot, unit-size and bedroom caps, occupancy limits, appearance and convertibility requirements, and building-code compliance all apply, and a detached accessory building may not exceed the height of the associated house. Renting an ADU requires a rental license under Chapter 14 of the city code. The framework centers on internal and attached units per the city's 2022 ADU ordinance — confirm the current status of fully detached units with Community Development.
Communities, RV parks, and parking options in and near Bloomington.
As of April 2026, THOWs are classified as recreational vehicles under Minnesota law and cannot be used as permanent residences in Bloomington. THOWs must be parked in licensed RV parks or campgrounds. There are no dedicated THOW communities within Bloomington city limits. Contact Bloomington Planning Division for current RV and mobile home parking ordinances. Hennepin County's suburban RV parks are limited, so most wheeled units in the metro land in exurban campgrounds or on rural acreage outside the county. Minnesota's sacred-communities law (effective January 2024) also lets qualifying faith congregations host micro-unit dwellings on their land — the pathway behind St. Paul's Mosaic Christian Community settlement, as of July 2026.
rv-park
12630 Boone Ave, Savage, MN 55378 (~12 mi southwest of Bloomington)
Twin Cities metro RV park with 80+ sites that offers limited monthly site rentals and accepts long-term summer camping applications (28+ days). Winter campsites have been offered historically but capacity is limited.
rv-park
Prior Lake, MN 55372 (~15 mi southwest of Bloomington)
Twin Cities-area RV park with full-hookup concrete pads next to Mystic Lake Casino. Seasonal operation (mid-March to mid-November); not year-round residency.
co-housing
St. Louis Park, MN (~6 mi north of Bloomington)
Established 25+ year cohousing community of 15 households on 2+ acres in Fern Hill — 8 retrofit co-op apartments in an Edwardian mansion plus 7 townhomes (~400-1600 sq ft).
Iron Mountain, Michigan
As of May 2026, Dickinson Homes is an Iron Mountain modular homebuilder offering custom tiny homes designed for permanent crawl-space or basement foundations. Its tiny-home program serves Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, with factory construction, local zoning and code approval during design, and site finish after the modules are set. Dickinson is a good Wisconsin fit for buyers who need a code-built small home rather than a recreational THOW.
Service areas: Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota
Baltic, Ohio
Baltic, Ohio-based manufacturer of RVIA-certified Park Model homes and custom prefab tiny homes. Delivers turnkey builds across all 48 contiguous US states including Michigan, Minnesota, and New Jersey. Maintains dedicated Minnesota, Michigan, and New Jersey location pages. ANSI A119.5 certified; on-site delivery, crane, and setup services available. Price range approximately $75,000–$180,000 depending on model and site work (as of May 2026).
Service areas: Arkansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Nationwide
Wayne, Nebraska
Wayne-based modular home manufacturer building customizable homes across the central Plains since 1978. Heritage Homes offers ranch, two-story, prow, loft, cape cod, and cabin-series floor plans, with cabin models starting at 448 sq ft. All homes are built in a climate-controlled facility and delivered to an authorized Heritage Builder for site set and finish work. As of May 2026, the company lists 37 floor plans and serves buyers through a network of authorized builders across Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
Service areas: Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
Cleveland, Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee-based right-sized housing builder that designs and builds park models, modular homes, ADUs, and hospitality units from an off-site construction process. Wind River publishes a Minnesota tiny homes and ADUs resource page and says its builds are designed for climate control, insulation, and underbody protection in cold-weather placements.
Service areas: Tennessee, Wyoming, Minnesota
Lake Benton, Minnesota
XtremeADU is a Lake Benton, Minnesota tiny home and prefab ADU company with a second location in Martinez, California. Its own site says the company serves Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, and California, ships materials nationwide, and offers customizable home plans, prefabricated materials, structural insulated panel builds, and net-zero package add-ons.
Service areas: Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, California, Nationwide
New Brighton, Minnesota
YardHomesMN is a New Brighton, Minnesota compact home builder focused on panelized modular tiny homes and accessory dwelling units. Its site describes pre-designed, pre-engineered, prefabricated homes for Minnesota placements, including backyard units, rental spaces, lake retreats, and permanent foundation installations using slabs, crawl spaces, or helical piers.
Service areas: Minnesota
A comparison between tiny-home living and conventional homeownership in Bloomington.
Builder cost range
Average tiny home builder costs in the Bloomington area. Actual prices vary by size, materials, and customization.
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