FAQs

Questions frequently asked by the public

• Cable TV provider
• Digging in your yard, Gopher State One Call
• Drainage
• Legal processes and contacts
• Motor Vehicle Office
• Pets
• Planning Division procedures
• Plat drawings
• Police
• Residential property
• Sewers
• Sign placement and usage
• Street maintenance
• Utility billing: landlords
• Utility billing: residential
• Water and water testing
• Water hydrants and meters

Cable TV provider

• Who is our cable provider?
• Does Comcast have an exclusive agreement to provide cable service in Bloomington?
• Is the cable television ordinance available online?
• Is the cable franchise agreement available online?
• Are cable rates regulated?
• Does the City decide which cable channels are carried in Bloomington?
• How do I resolve a problem with Comcast?

Digging in your yard, Gopher State One Call

• I need to dig in my yard. How do I get my utilities marked?

Drainage

• What is required if I want to dig or fill in my yard?
• What is a drainage and utility easement?

Legal processes and contacts

General

• Does the City Attorney’s Office represent private individuals?
• How do I file a claim against the City?
• How do I file a complaint against the Bloomington Police Department?
• How do I address private trespass issues such as intruding tree branches, fallen trees or branches, snow placement, fence placement or other boundary issues?

Crime victims and witnesses

• I'm the victim of a domestic assault. Is there someone I can call for help?
• Someone has committed a crime against me. What is the legal process?
• How do I get a domestic order for protection (“OFP”)?
• How do I get a harassment restraining order (“HRO”)?
• How do I obtain information about my participation in a criminal case as a witness or victim?  
• How do I respond to a subpoena?

Neighborhood quality-of-life issues

• How do I report nuisance conduct or conditions on my neighbor’s property?
• How do I respond to an administrative citation?
• How can I get help in resolving an ongoing dispute with my neighbor, such as animal control issues, private trespass issues or other nuisances that do not qualify as a criminal offense or City code violation?

Criminal defendants

• What should I do in response to a traffic ticket?
• How do I find out if there's a warrant against me?
• What should I do if I missed, or need to continue, my court date?
• How do I get a copy of a police report, accident report or other discovery in a criminal case?
• How do I have my criminal conviction expunged?
• How do I get my property back from the police?
• How do I speak with the prosecutor about my criminal case?

Motor vehicle and driver's license

• What is needed for a new resident to obtain Minnesota title and license plates?
• How can I obtain a duplicate driver's license if mine has been lost or stolen?
• How do I renew my Minnesota license plates if I do not have a notice?

Pets

• What pets need to be licensed?
• When should I license my pet?
• What is needed to complete a pet license application?
• How do I know when I need to renew my pet's license?
• Why should I license my pet?
• Must my pet wear a license tag?
• What if my pet loses its tag?
• Can I let my licensed pet run loose?
• What if we just moved here and my dog has a current license from my last hometown?
• What if my dog dies?
• Is there a limit to how many dogs and cats I can have?

Planning Division procedures

• What is a Conditional Use Permit?
• What is a variance?
• How do I file Final Site and Building Plans for my project?
• What is a Zoning Letter? What information will be provided to me if I request one? Is there a guarantee for the accuracy of information provided?
• How can I find development standards applicable to my project to comply with the City Code?

Plat drawings

• Is there a plat drawing of my property available?

Police

• Where is the Bloomington Police Department located?
• What are the responsibilities of the Bloomington Police Department's Divisions?
• What are the hours of the Bloomington Police Department?
• I was in a motor vehicle crash. Do I need to contact the police?
• How can I obtain a copy of my Accident/Police report?
• Where can I get a MN State Accident Reporting form?
• How can I get a background check done on myself?
• How can I obtain my Minnesota driving record?
• I would like to report a non-violent crime with no suspects or witnesses.
• I have been a victim of Identity Theft, what do I do?
• How do I obtain a restraining order/order for protection?
• I lost my cell phone and my cell phone carrier says I need a police report in order to get reimbursed for my phone.
• How do I obtain a permit to acquire a firearm?
• How do I obtain a permit to carry a firearm?
• I have lost my citation; how can I pay my fine?
• I lost something and want to know if it was turned into the police department or I want to see if I can retrieve my confiscated property. Who do I contact?
• If the Bloomington Police towed my car, where would it be?
• I locked my keys in my car. Will the police respond to open my vehicle for me?
• What are Bloomington’s curfew hours for juveniles?
• Does the Bloomington Police Department provide fingerprinting services?
• I would like my child seat to be inspected that it was installed properly. Does the Bloomington Police Department have someone certified to do this?

Residential property

• I want to put an addition/deck/garage on my home. Do I need a permit? What steps do I have to take?
• Where can I store my firewood?
• Can I expand my driveway using rock or gravel instead of asphalt?
• I have a home occupation. Do I need a permit?
• Can I store materials or equipment in my backyard?
• Where can I store my boat / trailer / R.V.?
• Can I park my work truck on my lot? See motor vehicle handout.
• How do I find my property lines?
• How do I get setback information for my property?
• How do I get zoning information for my property?

Sewers

• What should I do if my sewer backs up?
• Where does my sewage go when it leaves my house or business?
• Are the sanitary and storm sewer lines separated or combined?
• Where should I direct my sump pump water?
• What are some of the oddest items Wastewater Collection has encountered while working in the sewer lines?

Sign placement and usage

• Where can I place a sign?
• When do I need to get a sign permit?
• What is the process for acquiring a sign permit?
• What kind of paperwork do I include with my sign permit?
• How much does a sign permit cost?
• What is a Uniform Sign Design (USD)?
• Where can I get a copy of a property's USD?

Street maintenance

• What can be done to improve my street?
• When will my street be improved?
• How will I know when the city plans to improve my street?

Utility billing: landlords

• How many of the City's single-family residential properties are rentals?
• Why are City utilities the responsibility of the property owner, when it is the tenant or occupant using the water?
• Does the City have authority to make me responsible for utilities used by the tenant?
• What difficulties has the City encountered in billing the property's tenant?
• Why are City Utility charges like street assessments?
• Will the City continue to shut off the water for non-payment?
• Can I still have the bill sent to my property manager?
• Where can I have my bill sent?
• What happens if I don't pay the bill by the due date?
• What constitutes a 'delinquent bill'?
• What, if anything, happens before the City disconnects?
• What if the current tenant was not the user for the water reflected in the entire bill, is the water still shut off?
• How much has to be paid to re-connect water shut off for non-payment?
• Can the property still be rented without water service?
• When will the City require a deposit?
• How much will it be?
• What happens to the security deposit?
• When the City draws on the deposit, do I have to replenish it?
• Do I ever get the deposit back?

Utility billing: residential

• Why is my bill so high?
• Why is my bill lower than normal?
• What are my options for paying my bill?
• Where do I find out more about water quality, softness, etc.?
• Who do I call for meter service or to have an outside reading device installed on my house?

Water and water testing

• What is the hardness of our city water?
• Why am I having water pressure problems?
• Why is my tap water cloudy?
• Should I buy a home softening system?
• Should I buy a home filtration system?
• What should I do about frozen water in my pipes?
• Where do I report a water main break?
• Does the City provide water testing?

Water hydrants and meters

• Where do I report a leaking or damaged hydrant?
• What can I do to "adopt a hydrant"?
• How do I read my water meter?
• Where is my water meter located?
• Who is responsible for water meter repairs?
• My water meter is in a well pit. How can I keep it from freezing?

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