Building Standards

Minnesota Housing establishes minimum design standards to meet Minnesotans' needs for decent, safe, and sustainable affordable housing. These standards assist architects and contractors in understanding their role within Minnesota Housing's development process and associated requirements with their services.

Multifamily Rental Housing Design/Construction Standards and Guides

2025-2026 Rental Housing Design/Construction Standards (RHD/CS) - Applicable to all Multifamily projects. Multifamily projects may include single family homes, duplexes, townhomes and multi-storied buildings with elevators in which the occupants are renters and do not own the property. NOTE: Updates were made in May 2025: Section 5.05 was added.

Architect's Guide - Includes Architect fee schedule, Owner/Architect Agreement requirements, and other architect services requirements.

Contractor's Guide - Includes Owner/Contractor Agreement requirements, bidding/negotiating requirements, general conditions/overhead/fee limits, and other construction-related requirements.

Stay up to date on Building Standards updates by registering to receive our eNews alerts.

Sustainability

2025-2026 MN Overlay and Guide to the 2020 Enterprise Green Communities Criteria - Adopts and overlays the 2020 version of the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria (EGCC). The 2020 version of EGCC is available on the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria website)

Multifamily Intended Methods Worksheet (xls) - Used to document compliance with the MN Overlay/EGCC.

Criteria 5.1b Prescriptive Pathway Compliance Worksheet - Used to confirm compliance with Criteria 5.1b of the MN Overlay/EGCC when following a perspective pathway for building energy performance.

Energy Rebate Analysis - Explains requirements and provides guidance for energy rebate analysis.

Minnesota Housing’s Sustainability and Energy Efficiency webpage - Additional sustainability information including the Governor's Climate Change Subcabinet.

ENERGYSTAR Certified Windows, Doors, and Skylights version 6.0 - To be used only for moderate rehabilitation (rehab), substantial rehab, and adaptive reuse projects. New construction projects must use the most current applicable version available on the ENERGYSTAR website or as allowed per an energy model.

NAHRO Solar 101 Training Presentation Slides - NAHRO presents basic information regarding solar development and how it can help affordable housing.

Environmental Standards

All properties receiving funding assistance must be free of hazardous materials, contamination, toxic chemicals and gases, and radioactive substances. If a hazard could afflict the health and safety of occupants or conflict with the intended utilization of the property, evaluation and mitigation shall be performed. Learn more about Environmental Standards, such as Phase I ESA's, Radon Mitigation, etc.

Forms and Templates

Universal Design (UD) Worksheet - for use when UD request for proposals selection points are selected and validated with a funding award

Waiver Request Form - for use when requesting a waiver from any Building Standards such as Rental Housing Design/Construction Standards, MN Overlay, Environmental Policy, Architect's Guide, Contractor's Guide, etc.

Physical Needs Assessment Template (Multifamily buildings) - For apartment building use (form created by Minnesota Housing to be used in lieu of other approved needs assessment formats)

Physical Needs Assessment Template (Single family homes) - For multifamily, rental single-family homes, duplexes, and townhome type buildings. Typically used for rental housing that does not have common space. (form created by Minnesota Housing to be used in lieu of other approved needs assessment formats)

20 Year Capital Expenditure Template (xls) - Accompanies the PNA and identifies property needs over a 20 year term.

20 Year Capital Expenditure Template (scattered site/multiple building type version) - Accompanies the PNA and identifies property needs over a 20 year term. To be used with a development includes more than one building on one site or over multiple sites.

20 Year Capital Expenditure Template Instructions

Architects Opinion Letter - for loan closing and commitment

Certificate of General Contractor and Owner - for construction close-out checklist

Limited Scope Project Sustainability Requirements - To be used ONLY with Rental Rehabilitation Deferred Loan (RRDL), Publicly Owned Housing Program (POHP) or if approved for use by Minnesota Housing

Limited Scope Project Abbreviated Design Standards - To be used ONLY with Rental Rehabilitation Deferred Loan (RRDL), Publicly Owned Housing Program (POHP) or if approved for use by Minnesota Housing

Accessibility Analysis and Survey Template - Accessibility Analysis and Survey (AAS) is required for adaptive reuse and rehabilitation projects. (This form was created by Minnesota Housing, however other AAS forms created by the development team are acceptable.)

Minnesota Housing Logo Usage - Partners and developers may need to use a Minnesota Housing logo for brochures, conference materials, signage or other uses.