Building Standards
Minnesota Housing establishes minimum design standards to help meet Minnesotans' needs for decent, safe and sustainable affordable housing. These standards also provide assistance to architects and contractors in understanding their role within Minnesota Housing's development process and associated requirements with their services.
2021 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.
Architect's Guide - Requirements, information and best practices for architects
Contractor's Guide - Requirements, information and best practices for general contractors
Environmental Standards - Information and policy requirements for both new construction and rehabilitation projects
Physical Needs Assessment Template (Multifamily Buildings)
Physical Needs Assessment Template (Single Family Homes)
20 Year Capital Expenditure Template (Scattered Site/Multiple Building Type Version)
20 Year Capital Expenditure Template
20 Year Capital Expenditure Template Instructions
Architects Opinion Letter (for Loan Closing and Commitment)
Construction Close-out
Certificate of General Contractor and Owner (for Construction Close-out Checklist)
Limited Scope Project Documents
To be used only with Minnesota Housing approval
Limited Scope Project Sustainability Requirements
Limited Scope Project Abbreviated Design Standards
Sustainability
2021 MN Overlay & Guide to the 2020 Green Communities Criteria
Multifamily Intended Methods Worksheet
Single Family Intended Methods Worksheet
Criteria 5.1b Prescriptive Pathway Compliance Worksheet
2020 Enterprise Green Communities Criteria 1.1 Integrative Design Project Priorities Survey
Enterprise Green Communities Criteria
Effective April 2021, the 2015 version of the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria (EGCC) is not applicable. The 2021 MN Overlay and Guide adopts and overlays the 2020 version of the EGCC. The 2020 version of EGCC is available on the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria website.
Universal Design
Universal Design Worksheet (UD Worksheet) (for use when UD selection points are awarded)
Waiver Request
Waiver Request Form (for use when requesting waiver from any Building Standards such as Rental housing Design/Construction Standards, MN Overlay, Environmental Policy, Architect's Guide, Contractor's Guide, etc.)
