Sustainable Building Policy

Achieving sustainability in the built environment

Cities throughout Minnesota seek to improve public health, environmental justice, and environmental and economic sustainability. Many cities are taking advantage of building-related strategies to reduce carbon emissions and waste, protect natural resources, and mitigate stormwater runoff. With a sustainable building policy, cities can use public financing and their authority over land use to make meaningful progress toward achieving their sustainability goals.

To support our climate action plan goals and building investment, the City of Northfield adopted and approve a sustainable building policy on January 4, 2022.

Download the Sustainable Building Policy (PDF)

Leveraging financial incentives, a sustainable building policy establishes minimum sustainability criteria that go beyond existing state code for new construction and redevelopment. Included sustainability criteria typically target reducing pollution and conserving resources. This policy is voluntary for developments not seeking financial incentives.

What are the benefits?

  • Ensures new construction is on the forefront of efficient building construction.
  • Improves Northfield’s building stock with healthy and sustainable buildings.
  • Creates demand for sustainability in the property market.
  • Supports Northfield’s Climate Action Plan goal to achieve 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030 and being a 100% carbon-free community by 2040.

Policy framework

The sustainable building policy applies to projects that receive funding from the City of Northfield, Housing & Redevelopment Authority and Economic Development Authority. Compliance with the policy is based on the amount of funding received and size of the project (additions and renovations only). The policy is structured to give developers the power to choose their preferred third-party rating system based on building type, as well as their expertise and experience.

Policy details

Policy triggers

New construction and redevelopment projects that receive at least $150,000 in funding from the following funding sources will trigger the policy:

  • Tax increment financing (TIF)
  • Housing & Redevelopment Authority loans
  • Economic Development Authority loans
  • Land write-downs
  • Bonds
  • Conduit financing
  • Other City of Northfield funding

In addition to receiving at least $150,000, interior renovations and new additions must also be 10,000 square feet or larger, and include the replacement of the mechanical, ventilation or cooling systems to trigger the policy.

Funding tiers

Policy triggers are structured into two tiers:

  • Tier 1: Projects receiving $150,000 to $300,000 in funding from a combination of the eligible funding sources will be asked to provide a proforma demonstrating the infeasibility of adopting a rating system if they are unable to follow the policy.
  • Tier 2: Projects receiving more than $300,000 in funding from a combination of the eligible funding sources will be required to follow the policy.

Sustainable rating systems

Developers can select from the following third-party rating systems to adhere to the policy:

  • LEED
  • B3 Guidelines
  • Green Star Homes
  • Green Communities
  • Park Smart
  • Other rating systems as approved

Northfield green requirement

In addition to building to a sustainable rating system standard, projects will be asked to evaluate the feasibility of 2% of on-site renewable energy and feasibility of electrifying their building (i.e., powering their building with only electricity).

Joining sustainability leaders

Northfield, with its adopted policy, has joined the cities of Duluth, Maplewood, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, St. Louis Park, and Rochester who all have a formal sustainable building policy, along with another city that is in the process of creating its own policy. The cities of Saint Paul and St. Louis Park have been implementing their policies for more than 10 years, providing multiple local examples of successful policy implementation.

Technical assistance for implementation

Hennepin County Efficient Buildings Collaborative provides cities with a platform of shared resources to lower costs and exchange best practices. Hennepin County is currently undergoing a competitive RFP process to hire a vendor to provide education, technical resources, and compliance assistance. Upon policy passage and joint powers agreement approval, the City of Northfield and developers will have access to the selected vendor. It is important to the City that the appropriate technical resources are available for successful sustainable building construction.

View All