Emergency Regulation No. 2022-2

In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, this emergency regulation helps bars, restaurants, and other businesses temporarily expand premises to attract business in a healthy and safe manner.

Proclamation of the Mayor

I, Jacob Frey, Mayor of the City of Minneapolis, subject to the authority granted to me pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Ch. 12.29 and Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 128.50-60 do hereby proclaim the following Emergency Regulation:

Seal of the City of Minneapolis, MN

Emergency Regulation No. 2022-2

Whereas, on March 16, 2020, I declared a local public health emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the City of Minneapolis (“City”) and assumed executive responsibilities attendant thereto; and

Whereas, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) identified new variants of the

COVID-19 virus which are present in the United States and medical experts determined that some of these variants are significantly more contagious than previously known variants; and

Whereas, the COVID-19 Delta and Omicron variants, which have been identified in Minnesota, have been determined by the CDC to be a “variants of concern” due to their high transmissibility, and continues to account for a large number of new cases sequenced in Minnesota and the City of Minneapolis, thereby substantially increasing the potential risk of infection and the spread of the virus through the community; and

Whereas, the City and the CDC continue to reinforce that the strongest defense against the Delta, Omicron, and other potentially dangerous variants is through vaccination, with additional protections provided by properly using a face mask, avoiding crowded spaces, improving air flow, observing good hand hygiene, and staying home when sick; and

Whereas, it is a priority that our bars, restaurants, and other spaces of public accommodation be given every opportunity to attract business in a healthy and safe manner and in accordance with previously issued guidelines; and

Whereas, pursuant to the authority granted to me pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Ch. 12.29, and Minneapolis Code of Ordinances, Sections 128.50 and 128.60, I am authorized to promulgate emergency regulations to protect the public health, safety, and welfare during this declared emergency; and

Whereas, to aid in these efforts, pursuant to the emergency authorities vested in the Mayor pursuant to the emergency declaration to make and issue rules and regulations on matters reasonably related to the protection of life and property as affected by such emergency and adopt additional protections for the preservation of public health and safety;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jacob Frey, Mayor of the City of Minneapolis, do hereby order the following emergency regulation:

  1. Notwithstanding any existing City Health, Zoning, or Business Licensing regulations and in adherence to the State of Minnesota fire code, City staff shall expedite all applications determined to be necessary for temporary expansion of licensed premises or other retail premises, to all feasible areas surrounding the business premises and those temporary expansions may be administratively approved, denied, modified, or revoked by City staff beginning immediately.
  2. All fees associated with applications for temporary expansions as set forth herein are waived.

Additional Terms

  1. This Order is effective upon issuance and continuing until 45 days after the end of the local peacetime public health emergency.
  2. A violation of this Emergency Regulation may be enforced by the issuance of warning letter(s), administrative citation to City-licensed businesses, and/or misdemeanor prosecution, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 12.45 and Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 1.30.

January 7, 2022

See the official signed copy