September 2019

The City Council held a study session to explore the concept of a renter opportunity to purchase policy.

Read about the Renters’ Opportunity to Purchase Housing Study Session. 

February – November 2020

The City selected the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development (CNHED) and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process as a consultant to work on the project. The City’s consultants engaged stakeholders and researched other Opportunity to Purchase policies around the country, with the goal of applying those learnings to Minneapolis. Over 100 organizations engaged in the process through focus groups and individual interviews. Stakeholders engaged included real estate industry groups, realtors, renter advocates, renters, legal organizations, and state/regional government representatives.

November 2020

LISC and CNHED presented an assessment of Opportunity to Purchase policy options based on 1) feedback from local stakeholders; and 2) an assessment of Opportunity to Purchase policy options in other jurisdictions around the country.

See the Council’s Business, Housing, Inspections and Zoning committee presentation.

A recording of the presentation, as part of the November 17, 2020, Business, Inspections, Housing & Zoning begins around 2:01:00

Watch the meeting. 

January 2021

View the final report completed in January 2021.

March 2020

The BIHZ committee directed the City Attorney’s Office to work with the Council authors and staff from the Community Planning and Economic Development and Regulatory Services Departments to draft an Opportunity to Purchase ordinance and return it to the BIHZ committee.

May 2021 – November 2021

The City retained a consultant, Michelle Basham, Esq., in May 2021 to work with staff in the City Attorney Office (CAO), Community Planning & Economic Development (CPED), and Regulatory Services Departments to draft an Opportunity to Purchase ordinance. The cross departmental process includes a Racial Equity Impact Analysis (REIA) and analysis of all components of the policy to maximize benefits of the policy for renters, for buyers and sellers of real estate, and for all Minneapolis residents and businesses.

October 2021 – December 2021

Stakeholder feedback on the draft ordinance is important to the City.

Take the survey by Friday, January 7, 2022

In addition, two public information sessions were held online via Microsoft Teams Live on the following dates.

Listen to recordings of the events

• December 3, 2021
• December 8, 2021

Next steps will be determined by Mayor and City Council in 2022.