Say Yes to Homes!
Every Minnesotan should be able to find a home that fits their needs and that they can afford. Minnesota needs 100,000 new homes, and this shortage is what is driving up the cost to own or rent.
Yes to Homes is a statewide coalition working to remove barriers and make it easier to build the homes Minnesotans need.
More homes in a wider range of types and sizes can lower costs, strengthen communities, and expand opportunities to rent or own. Working together, we can create more home choices, lower costs, and give more people the opportunity to rent or own a home.
Our Solutions
Allow New Starter Homes in Minnesota
Outdated local rules often make starter homes difficult or impossible to build. Mandates of extra-large lots or limits on the kinds of homes that can be built push homeownership out of reach for too far many Minnesotans.
Minnesota needs common-sense ground rules that make it possible to build starter homes again, helping more families find homes that work for them—whether they rent or own.
More Homes Where We Already Live
In many Minnesota communities, outdated rules allow only certain kinds of homes on many residential lots. That leaves fewer options for first-time buyers, growing families, seniors looking to downsize, and workers who want to live near their jobs.
Minnesota needs to make it easier to build backyard cottages, townhomes, duplexes, and detached homes on smaller lots. Clear statewide rules would give Minnesotans the certainty they need while creating more home choices at a wider range of prices.
More Homes Where We Work and Shop
Many local rules separate homes from workplaces, stores, and other everyday destinations. This can require people to travel farther, increase traffic, and leave local businesses farther from their customers.
We believe Minnesotans should be able to live closer to the places they need and want to be. Allowing more homes near schools, jobs, stores, and other amenities — including duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes — would give people more choices about where to live, support local businesses, and make better use of infrastructure.
Make Permitting Simpler and Faster
It can take years from when a new apartment or neighborhood is proposed before the first renter or buyer moves in. Unnecessary conditions for approval such as excessive parking requirements and mandates on luxury materials and add cost and price-out Minnesotans.
Minnesota needs a modern, streamlined process to approve new homes that meet all reasonable standards and requirements. Standardized land use and building permitting processes can reduce delays and provide greater certainty for families and builders.
About Yes to Homes
Yes to Homes brings together leaders and organizations from across Minnesota, including housing advocates, community organizers, home builders, businesses, labor, environmental and faith-based groups, and transportation advocates.
Together, we advance proven, practical housing policies that create more home choices, support thriving communities, and help more Minnesotans find a home they can afford.
Take Action
Individuals
Tell state leaders that Minnesotans need action on the home shortage
Organizations
Join Yes to Homes
.