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2/2/24, 12:03 PM Focus on New Laws: Sacred Settlements - League of Minnesota Cities <br />https://www.lmc.org/news-publications/news/all/fonl-sacred-settlements/#:~:text=During the 2023 legislative session,permitted use or conditional …1/3 <br />Focus on New Laws: Sacred <br />Settlements <br />September 5, 2023 <br />Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, cities must allow faith communities to site micro units on religious <br />property to house chronically homeless individuals, extremely low-income individuals, and <br />volunteers. <br />During the 2023 legislative session, the Legislature passed a bill authorizing religious <br />institutions beginning Jan.1, 2024, to site micro-unit dwellings on religious institution property. <br />It also requires cities to permit sacred settlements of micro units either via a permitted use or <br />conditional use. <br />The bill was signed into law as Chapter 53 in 2023 Session Law. The language can be found in <br />Chapter 53, Article 11, Section 57. <br />Micro-unit eligibility <br />Micro-unit dwellings within sacred settlements are intended to provide an additional means <br />for faith communities to serve chronically homeless individuals, designated volunteers, and <br />extremely low-income individuals in accordance with their religious vocations. <br />An individual who meets the definition of being chronically homeless is someone who is <br />unhoused and lives or resides in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in <br />an emergency shelter for at least one year, or on at least four separate occasions in the last <br />three years. <br />An individual who meets the definition of being extremely low income has an income that is <br />equal to or less than 30% of the area median income. <br />A designated volunteer is an individual who has not experienced homelessness and is <br />approved by the religious institution to live in the sacred settlement as their sole form of <br />housing. <br />The language defines a religious institution to include a church, synagogue, mosque, or <br />religious organization organized under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 315. <br />Micro-unit requirements <br />There are myriad of requirements and minimum standards in the statutory language that <br />address both the standards for the micro units themselves as well as requirements and <br />restrictions for faith communities that chose to establish a sacred settlement of micro units on <br />their religious property. <br />Under the new law, micro units must meet certain building requirements and standards to be <br />allowed for placement in a sacred settlement on religious property.