Minneapolis City Council approves safe parking program for people sleeping in their vehicles

Local News Minneapolis City Council approves safe parking program for people sleeping in their vehicles By Chloe Rosen Chloe Rosen Digital Producer, CBS Minnesota Chloe is a digital producer at CBS Minnesota in Minneapolis and has worked in numerous positions at the station, including Assignment Editor, Digital Line Producer and Web Producer. She started her career at CBS Minnesota in 2015. Read Full Bio Chloe Rosen Updated on: October 29, 2026 / 2:06 PM CDT / CBS Minnesota Add CBS News on Google The Minneapolis City Council has passed an ordinance allowing people without homes to stay in their vehicles in designated areas overnight. Under the ordinance, the areas would be managed off-street parking lots that provide a safe place to sleep in a car, connect with services, and receive support. The sites will be open from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. and have enforced quiet hours. Those staying would be required to leave during the day. The ordinance was authored by Council Members Jason Chavez, Aisha Chughtai, Aurin Chowdhury, and Soren Stevenson. "This commonsense policy, which has been proven effective in cities across the country, will help people stay safe and get connected to services, support, and housing," said Chavez. "The residents who will stay at a safe parking site are simply looking for some peace, basic amenities, and help finding their way into permanent housing. This ordinance is about improving their circumstances as well as livability concerns across neighborhoods and communities.""These are our neighbors. Without a safe, designated place to go, people will continue moving from one parking spot to another, with limited access to services and no reliable place to stabilize their circumstances," said Chowdhury. "We have an opportunity to replace that cycle with stability, services, and a path toward housing." A similar program is in place in Duluth, Minnesota.  In: Homelessness Minneapolis Featured Local Savings Minnehaha Park to end off-leash dog park status in December Village of Lemont looking into creating ordinance after 76 dogs rescued from home DeKalb leaders approve ban on urban camping after debate Minneapolis seeing "very high" early voter turnout for midterms Minneapolis park upgrade is long time coming for Lucy Laney students No charges yet after break-in at Minneapolis' Basilica of St. Mary Former College Park police chief files lawsuit against city 4 arrested in connection to deadly 2025 altercation at Grass Valley skate park