Ordinance 744.docxCITY OF CHANHASSEN
CARVER AND HENNEPIN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE NO. 744
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 1 AND CHAPTER 20
CHANHASSEN CITY CODE,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA ORDAINS:
Section 1. Section 1-2 of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby amended to
include the following:
Section 1-2 Rules of Construction and Definitions
Dwelling, Attached or Internal Accessory Dwelling Unit, means a residential dwelling unit that
is subordinate and clearly incidental to a primary structure, located on the same lot as a single-
family dwelling unit, within the same building as the single-family dwelling unit with its own
kitchen, living, bathroom and sleeping area.
Section 2. Section 20-59 of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby deleted in
its entirety.
Section 3. Section 20-573 of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, which regulates the
A-2 Agricultural Estate zoning district is hereby amended to include a new subsection (l) to read
as follows:
(l) Attached or Internal Accessory Dwelling Unit (subject to the requirements of section 20-
974).
Section 4. Section 20-593 of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, which regulates the
RR Rural Residential zoning district is hereby amended to add a new section (k) to read as
follows:
(k) Attached or Internal Accessory Dwelling Unit (subject to the requirements of section 20-
974).
Section 5. Section 20-613 of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, which regulates the
RSF Residential Single Family zoning district is hereby amended to add a new subsection (j) to
read as follows:
(j) Attached or Internal Accessory Dwelling Unit (subject to the requirements of section 20-
974).
Docusign Envelope ID: BC282275-B78D-4402-93D5-EE4F01568055
Section 6. Section 20-633 of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, which regulates the
R-4 Mixed Low Density Residential zoning district is hereby amended to add a new subsection
(i) to read as follows:
(i) Attached or Internal Accessory Dwelling Unit (subject to the requirements of section 20-
974).
Section 7. Section 20-643 of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, which regulates the
RLM Residential Low and Medium Density zoning district is hereby amended to add a new
subsection (h) to read as follows:
(h) Attached or Internal Accessory Dwelling Unit (subject to the requirements of section 20-
974).
Section 8. Section 20-502 of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, which regulates the
Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning district is hereby amended to add a new subsection (d)
to read as follows:
(d) Attached or Internal Accessory Dwelling Unit (subject to the requirements of section 20-
974).
Section 9. Section 20-974 of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby added to
read as follows:
Sec 20-974 Attached or Internal Accessory Dwelling Units
(a) Purpose and Intent. In order to accommodate the housing needs of residents while
protecting the public health, safety and general welfare of the community, the Council
finds that these regulations are necessary in order to:
(1) Create new housing units while respecting the appearance and cha racter of
single-family dwellings;
(2) Provide housing that responds to changing family needs, privacy standards and
household sizes;
(3) Make more efficient use of existing housing stock and infrastructure; and
(b) Standards
(1) Zoning district. Attached or Internal Accessory Dwelling Units may only be
located within the A2, RR, RSF, R -4, RLM, and PUD-R residential zoning
districts.
(2) Location. An accessory dwelling unit may be attached to or internal to a single -
family dwelling with building permit approval.
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(3) Design and access. Accessory Dwelling Units may be separate from the single -
family dwelling unit by means of a wall or floor and have a separate entrance
than the primary dwelling unit. The separating wall may have a door connecting
the accessory dwelling unit to the primary dwelling unit.
(4) Size. Accessory Dwelling Units must meet the following size standards:
(a) Minimum size. Accessory Dwelling Units must be at least 200 square
feet in area.
(b) Maximum size. Accessory Dwelling Units must be less than 960
square feet in area.
(5) Bedrooms. No more than one bedroom is permitted in the accessory dwelling
unit.
(6) Number of Accessory Dwelling Units. Not more than one accessory dwelling
unit shall be allowed per single -family detached lot.
(7) Setbacks. Any accessory dwelling unit shall comply with the same minimum
building setback requirements as required for the principal dwelling unit .
(8) Stairways. Stairways leading to an internal accessory dwelling unit located
above the ground floor of a principal res idential structure shall be enclosed or
located entirely to the rear of the principal residential structure.
(9) Height. The maximum height for an accessory dwelling unit shall be as
prescribed for principal structures in the applicable zoning district .
(10) Impervious Lot Coverage. The allowed area for an attached accessory dwelling
unit shall be determined by the permitted hardcover percentage in the applicable
zoning district as well as any restrictions associated with applicable shoreland
regulations.
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(11) Architectural Design. An accessory dwelling unit shall be a clearly incidental
and subordinate use. The exterior design of an accessory dwelling unit shall
incorporate similar architectural style s, roof pitch, colors, and materials as the
principal building on the lot, and shall be compatible with the character of the
surrounding residential buildings, subject to approval by the Community
Development Director or their designee.
(12) Parking. No additional off-street parking spaces are required with the
construction of an accessory dwelling unit.
(13) Owner Occupancy. An owner of the property that includes an accessory
dwelling unit that is internal or attached to a principal residential structure, and
where the accessory dwelling unit is not a separate dwelling unit under the
Minnesota State Building Code, must occupy at least one (1) dwelling unit on
the zoning lot as their primary place of residence. If an owner is unable or
unwilling to fulfill the requirements of this section, the own er shall remove
those features of the accessory dwelling unit that make it a dwelling unit.
Failure to do so will constitute a violation of this section.
(14) Rental. Accessory Dwelling Units may not be used as rental properties,
including short -term rentals, as defined by the City Code.
(15) Utilities. Unless otherwise approved by the City Engineer, the accessory
dwelling unit shall not have separate public sewer or water utility services from
the principal structure.
(16) Building Code Compliance. The principal dwelling unit and accessory
dwelling unit shall be created and maintained in compliance with Chapter 7 -II of
the City Code. The accessory dwelling unit and the associated single -family
dwelling unit shall also meet current State Building Code provisions, including,
but not limited to, fire resistance standards between units.
(17) Fire Code Compliance. The principal dwelling and accessory dwelling unit
shall be created and maintained in compliance with Chapter 5 of the Mi nnesota
State Fire Code.
(18) Property Maintenance Code. The principal residential structure and the
accessory dwelling unit shall be constructed and maintained in compliance with
the property maintenance requirements set forth in the City Code.
(19) Shoreland and Watershed District. All applicable state shoreland and watershed
district requirements must be met.
(c) Accessory Dwelling Unit application requirements. Any application for an accessory
dwelling unit must be accompanied by:
(1) Existing conditions survey showing property lines, existing and proposed
structures, existing and proposed impervious surface areas, and setbacks.
Docusign Envelope ID: BC282275-B78D-4402-93D5-EE4F01568055
(2) Elevation drawings depicting the proposed structure from all four directions; and
(3) A floor plan of the accessory dwelling unit indicating points of entrance and floor
areas.
(4) In the event an accessory dwelling unit is proposed entirely within the existing
floor area of a single-family dwelling, the existing conditions survey is not
required, and elevations drawings are required only for those elevations proposed
to be altered.
(d) Temporary family health care dwellings. Pursuant to the authority granted by
M.S. 462.3593, subd. 9, as it may be amended from time to time, the city opts-out
of the requirements of M.S. 462.3593, which defines and regulates temporary
family health care dwellings.
Section 10. Section 20-904(a)(1) of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby
amended to read as follows:
(1) In the A2, RR, RSF, RLM and R-4 districts the total square footage of all accessory
structures shall not exceed 1,000 square feet. In the RSF, RLM and R4 districts these
structures may encroach into the rear setback as follows:
a. Less than 140 square feet, minimum rear setback is five feet.
b. One hundred forty-one to 399 square feet, minimum rear setback is ten feet.
c. Four hundred square feet and above, minimum rear setback is 30 feet, except in the
RLM district where the minimum rear setback is 25 feet.
Section 11. This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its passage and publication.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 12 day of May, 2025, by the City Council of the City of
Chanhassen, Minnesota
______________________________ ________________________________
Jenny Potter, City Clerk Elise Ryan, Mayor
(Published in the Sun Sailor on May 22, 2025)
Docusign Envelope ID: BC282275-B78D-4402-93D5-EE4F01568055