City of Minneapolis News Update: Oct. 8 Shortening approval time for construction permits, bringing art and music to unexpected spaces and more

Oct. 8, 2026

This newsletter provides updates on important news and information from the City of Minneapolis and partners. Find updates at minneapolismn.gov/news.

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Shortening approval time for construction permits

We've announced a series of changes to the building permit process. The changes shorten development timelines for developers, business owners and residents. Instead of weeks, the process shortens approval time for certain permits to days. The changes are informed by City staff who work directly with the permitting process, as well as feedback from residents, property owners and contractors about their experiences.

The revised process still requires projects to comply with applicable building codes but removes the building plan review requirement for specific project types. With this improvement, we expect hundreds of permits each year to be issued, or available for payment, within one to two days of application. Some permits may be available immediately.

Learn more about the new process on our website.

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Discover Minneapolis Amplified

Take in local music and art at unexpected small businesses throughout the city with Minneapolis Amplified. The new program brings local artists to neighborhood spots you might not expect, from a hot dog joint to a flower store or auto shop, while supporting the small businesses that make our city special.

The series kicks off Saturday with Dance Agenda and other local artists bringing music and energy to Uncle Franky’s in Northeast Minneapolis.

Minneapolis Amplified: Uncle Franky’s
1- 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10
Uncle Franky’s, 729 Broadway St. NE

More events are coming soon, with plans for unexpected small businesses across the city through December.

Minneapolis Amplified is led by Dance Agenda in partnership with the City’s Arts & Cultural Affairs Department. The program is funded by the City of Minneapolis through Minneapolis Forward to support local businesses and bring people together through music and cultural experiences.

Find upcoming events and participating venues on the Dance Agenda website.

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Celebrate Latino businesses this weekend and all year round

Latino Business Week concludes with two family-friendly events: a pop-up market on Main Street and an open house at Mercado Central on Lake Street. Come out this weekend to shop and connect with Minneapolis’ vibrant Latino business community.

Latino Business Pop-Up Market
11 a.m.- 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10
Shop local businesses at a pop-up on Historic Main Street during Cine Latino. Look for vendors across from The Main Cinema and under the Third Ave. Bridge.

Sabores y Colores de Latinoamérica
11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11
Explore the flavors and colors of Latin America at Mercado Central. Pick up a passport and visit participating businesses to shop, watch demonstrations, and take part in hands-on activities.

Mercado Central is also featured in a new video highlighting local businesses that received support through our Small Business Resiliency Fund.

Watch the video and find event details.

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Family Gathering Concert Series continues Oct. 10 at Animales Barbeque Co.

Bring the kids for a free morning of live music, creative activities and fun.

Family Gathering Concert Series: Cole Diamond and Line Dancing with School of Rock
11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10
Animales Barbeque Co., 241 Fremont Ave. N.

The series is produced in collaboration with the Minnesota Independent Venue Alliance and funded by the City of Minneapolis through Minneapolis Forward to support community and economic resilience.

Get event details and see who's performing.

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City of Minneapolis Open Streets takes place along Hennepin Avenue this weekend

The City’s Open Streets events transform city streets into car-free spaces for a day, giving people a chance to walk, bike, roll and enjoy local businesses, events and activities.

This weekend’s event features entertainment, local vendors and activities along the corridor:

Hennepin Avenue between W. 26th Street and W. 34th Street
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11
Hosted by the Uptown Association

Learn more about Open Streets Hennepin.

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Reduce the risk of lithium-ion battery fires during Fire Prevention Week

From the phone charging on the nightstand to the power tools in the garage, lithium-ion batteries are all around us. Since 2021, there have been at least 225 fires and three deaths attributed to lithium-ion batteries in Minnesota.

“Lithium-ion batteries are in so many of the things we use every day that most people probably don’t even think about them anymore,” said State Fire Marshal Dan Krier. “They’re in our homes, our garages and our pockets. That’s why understanding how to use and charge them safely is so important. A few simple precautions can help keep a convenient piece of technology from becoming a fire hazard.”

For Fire Prevention Week, we're sharing tips to help Minnesotans protect the people and places they care about. Get tips for safely charging devices with lithium-ion batteries.

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Back to School emergency preparedness

We want everyone to be safe, so we recommend four steps from the CDC you can take to help keep your family safe, even when you’re apart:

• Know the emergency plans for schools or childcare facilities your family attends.
  • Every school and childcare center should have a written emergency plan. This isn’t shared widely, but you can ask to confirm the school or childcare center has a current plan.
  • This plan will include information such as how they will contact parents in an emergency, and where children will go if they have to evacuate the facility.
  • Ask how you can contact the school or childcare center during an emergency.
  • Ask how parents or caregivers will reunite with their children.
  • Talk with your children about these plans so they know what to expect if something happens. This will help reinforce the drills that their school runs.
  • Talk to the administrators and safety officials at your child’s school about safety drills.
  • Ask what safety drills are taking place in your child's school or childcare facility.
  • Talk with your child’s teacher or childcare professional about how to help your child see safety drills as empowering instead of scary.
• Help children memorize emergency contacts or have them written in a safe place, like a backpack.
  • Fill out and print a Family Emergency Communication Plan from Ready.gov.
  • Make sure the school has your latest contact information, too, including your child’s emergency information such as medications and allergies.
  • Give a copy of this information to your child’s guardian, too.
• Practice evacuation plans and emergency procedures with children on a regular basis.
  • Practicing is so essential — it builds that muscle memory for when bad things happen and gives you confidence to take action. It puts you in a place to say, “I know what to do."
• Involve your children in preparing for an emergency.
  • Teach them when and how to call 911.
  • For your family’s emergency plan, get them to help select meeting locations and involve them in making the emergency kit for your home.

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For reasonable accommodations or alternative formats please contact City Communications. 

People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. TTY users call 612-263-6850.

Para asistencia, llame al 311. Rau kev pab 311. Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay 311. 

minneapolismn.gov