Bill

SF 4685

Certain fees prohibition for residential improvements necessary to accommodate the disability of a veteran

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Zach Duckworth and 2 co-sponsors

Municipalities must waive permit and inspection fees for residential improvements needed to accommodate a veteran’s disability, and cannot delay approvals if fees are unpaid.

Author added Duckworth

#disabilitiesandaccess #housingandhousingfinanceagency #veteransandveteransaffairsdepartment

WeVote Research Nonpartisan

Bill Summary · SF 4685

Summary of SF 4685 (2025-2026) – Minnesota

Purpose

SF 4685 seeks to remove or waive municipal fees associated with residential improvements that are necessary to accommodate the disability of a veteran. The bill adds a new statute, Minnesota Statutes, chapter 326B, § 326B.161, establishing that certain fees imposed by municipalities cannot be charged when the improvement is required to accommodate a veteran’s disability.

Key Provisions

New law creation: Introduces a new section, 326B.161, titled “Fees waived for residential improvement for veteran with a disability.”
Definitions (Sec. 1, Subd. 1):
- Disability: A physical or mental impairment of a veteran that receives a disability rating under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(a) (Title 38, United States Code).
- Municipality: A county, statutory or home rule charter city, or town.
- Residential improvement: A remodel, renovation, or other improvement to a residential property that requires a license, building permit, inspection, or other municipal approval.
- Veteran: As defined in Minnesota law (likely referencing § 197.447).
Fees waived (Sec. 1, Subd. 2):
- Municipalities may not charge certain fees for a residential improvement required to accommodate the veteran’s disability. Specifically, no fee may be charged under the provisions cited (and any other law or rule authorizing a municipal fee) for improvements qualifying under this section. The listed sections include: 326B.148, 326B.151, 326B.153, 326B.154, 326B.184, 326B.37, 326B.49, 326B.92, 326B.986, or 462.353, among any other applicable fee authority.
Nonpayment and permit/approval process (Sec. 1, Subd. 3):
- Municipalities may not refuse to issue a license, building permit, or other approval, nor may they withhold inspections or other necessary activities, due to nonpayment of the associated fee. In short, the absence of payment of the fee cannot block the required permitting or inspection steps for the veteran’s disability-related improvement.
Application and proof (Sec. 1, Subd. 4):
- Applicants must still complete and submit any required applications or documentation to obtain a permit or approval.
- A veteran must provide proof of veteran status and attest, as required by the municipality, that the remodel/renovation is required to accommodate the veteran’s disability.
Effective date:
- The act would take effect the day after final enactment.

Who is Affected

Veterans with disabilities seeking residential improvements necessary to accommodate their disability.
Municipalities (counties, cities, towns) that issue building permits, licenses, and inspections for residential renovations.
Contractors and homeowners undertaking remodels that qualify as disability accommodations, who would benefit from waivers of certain permit/inspection fees.

Practical Impact

Reduces financial barriers for veterans requiring home modifications (e.g., accessibility ramps, doorway widening, bathroom remodels) by waiving related municipal permit and inspection fees.
Ensures that lack of payment of such fees does not impede the permit process or necessary inspections for disability-related improvements.
Maintains required documentation and verification processes to establish veteran status and need for the modification.

Procedural/Timeline Notes

The bill was introduced and referred to State and Local Government (03/23/2026) and includes a nonpartisan effective date that activates on the day after enactment.
The bill includes typical enactment language and requires proof of veteran status during the application process.