Bill > SF3199

This bill establishes the Yes in God's Backyard (YIGBY) Housing Act, which aims to streamline and facilitate affordable housing development by religious organizations across Minnesota. The legislation requires cities to allow religious organizations to develop residential housing with varying unit counts and densities across different zoning districts, ranging from three-unit buildings in residential areas to 13+ unit buildings in high-density or commercial zones. The bill mandates specific dimensional requirements, such as minimum building heights (up to 8 stories in certain districts), limits on parking spaces, and restrictions on city-imposed regulatory barriers. Religious organizations are given significant flexibility, including the ability to contract with developers and the option to challenge local zoning restrictions that they believe substantially burden their housing development efforts. The bill defines "affordable housing" as rental or owner-occupied units priced for households earning between 50-115% of area median income. Additionally, the legislation includes a $2 million appropriation over two fiscal years to provide grants of up to $150,000 to religious organizations to support affordable housing development, with funds potentially covering costs like technical assistance, demolition, site preparation, and construction. The act also establishes an expedited administrative approval process and provides religious organizations with legal remedies if cities fail to comply with the law's provisions.

Government Affairs

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF3199&ssn=0&y=2025