Off Campus Living

Price

Common apartment rent prices in the area are typically $500 - $800 per month per person and can be up to $1,200 for one bedroom units.

Some affordability tips:

• Consider renting a house versus an apartment. House rentals tend to cost less per person than apartment rentals near campus. Just be sure to avoid over-occupancy or illegal size bedroom concerns.
• Consider living further from campus. Rentals closest to the edge of campus have higher rents. You pay for the convenience of living close. Tip - If you take the bus or light rail to Northeast Mpls or near the St. Paul campus, you can find cheaper rents but have similar commute times as some of the East Bank Neighborhoods!
• Consider renting from a co-operative for cheaper rent. There are several apartment complexes near campus as well as family and partnered housing that is run in a co-operative model. Tenants get involved in the governance and maintenance of the property in exchange for discounted rent. To identify co-operative locations near campus, search the word co-op on the Off-Campus Listing Service.
• Inclusionary Zoning: the City of Minneapolis has created a requirement for new market rate housing (constructed with a land use application permit filed January 2020 and after) to have some units set aside for affordable housing. Because students are normally excluded from affordable housing national standards, they have set some specific instructions for properties focused on student rentals in the University Overlay District. Those affordable units will specifically adjust rent for students with zero family contribution to their financial aid. To make it easier for them to identify this status, they have said properties can make the lower income units available to college or university students who meet the qualification standard for a federal Pell Grant. Students would just need to provide verification from One Stop Student Services that they are Pell Grant eligible to secure the income adjusted lease price if a unit is available. To see a list of what complexes currently have units designated under inclusionary zoning, visit the Off-Campus Listing Service and filter your search under "intended for" to include "Pell Grant Recipient/Income Adjusted Rental". This just began implementation in 2022. More properties/units will be available as current construction projects finish over time.

Yardcare

House rentals often require tenants to do yard care. Apartment rentals do not. If required, your landlord should provide the tools (lawn mower, rake, snow shovel).

• City ordinance requires you keep your lawn shorter than 8 inches.
• Leaves can be put out in compostable bags by your trash container on garbage day from early April to mid November. Leaves may not be swept into the street.
• Be a good neighbor and be sure to shovel the snow from the sidewalk in front of your house right away during/after a snowfall. They city can fine you for not shoveling after more than 1 inch of snowfall. This is one of the biggest complaints we get from neighbors about student renters.
• Please shovel the sidewalk snow early and often! Tip: If you don’t have a snow shovel or ice chopper and you need one, contact our office for a free voucher* to use at Oak’s Hardware in SE Como to get one! (*while supplies last)
• If you plan to be gone over break, make arrangements with a neighbor, friend or your landlord to shovel the sidewalk for you while you are gone.

Personal Safety

• Always plan your walking routes in advance and let your roommates know your typical route.
• Always walk with a friend or several friends and stay in well lit areas when possible.
• Know where the Code Blue (emergency) phones are on campus and the edges of campus that are on your route.
• Don’t be a target. Using your phone or listening to audio with earbuds while walking distracts you from your surroundings as well as walking while intoxicated- these behaviors make you a target for robbery.
• Make use of the 4-WALK Safe Walk Service from University Security (612-624-WALK (9255) or 4-WALK from any U phone). They walk or bike with you up to a mile to and from campus. Plan ahead and call 15 minutes in advance to request a security monitor.
• Utilize the Gopher Chauffeur for safe rides home from 10:00 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Sundays thru Wednesdays. Service not available on University holidays.

Snow Emergency Parking

During winter, Minneapolis or St. Paul may declare snow emergencies after significant snowfall usually by 6:00 p.m.. Avoid being towed, and pay attention to Day 1, Day 2 or Day 3 rules. Download the app (for either city) on your mobile device to get notifications and see real time maps on where you can and can’t park. Take advantage of the Night Owl parking rate at some University ramps for low cost parking on Snow Emergency days (enter between 5:00 p.m. -12:00 a.m. and leave by 7:00 a.m.).

Responsible Partying

If you're planning a party, just keep in mind that it affects the people who live near you too. Follow these steps to ensure a successful party that won't have the police at your door giving you a fine:

• Let your neighbors know in advance that you're planning a party
• Make sure your guests know where they should/shouldn't park
• Ask your guests to enter and exit quietly
• Don't serve alcohol to ANYONE under age 21
• Make sure your house is equipped for the amount of guests you invite - in particular that it has enough bathrooms - NO PUBLIC URINATION
• Have enough trash/recycling bins to avoid a trashy front or backyard
• Keep the volume down - your neighbors may be sleeping
• HAVE FUN!
• Be sure to clean up right away that night or the next morning.

Party Crashers brochure (PDF)

For more responsible partying tips, contact us at neighbor@umn.edu.

Please keep in mind that the U of MN Code of Conduct does extend off-campus. Meaning if you receive a citation from local police, the Office for Community Standards may contact you about the situation and ask you to come in to meet with them to discuss it.

Minneapolis/St. Paul Ordinances

Social Host Ordinance

You can be charged with a misdemeanor for hosting a party/ event/gathering where people under 21 years old possess or consume alcohol, even if you did not provide the alcohol.

Social Host FAQ (PDF)

Noisy and Unruly Assembly

A noisy assembly ordinance goes into effect at 10 p.m. in residential areas. Parties or gatherings consisting of more than one person that can be heard from the street or are an annoyance can be ticketed for a misdemeanor.