Filing Period

Candidate Requirements

1. Candidate must be an eligible voter.
2. Candidate is, or will be on assuming the office, 21 years of age or older.
3. Maintained residence in the district from which the candidate seeks election for 30 days before the general election. Please visit the poll finder to determine what ward you reside in.

Filing Documents 

• The following forms and fee are required to be filed with the City Clerk when filing for office:
  • Affidavit of Candidacy 
  • Code of Ethics Disclosure Form
  • Statement of Economic Interest (due within 14 days of close of filing)
  • $5 filling fee
• Minnesota Secretary Of State - Campaign Filing Packet provides additional Campaign Filing forms, handouts, and website resources.

City Council candidates must complete Campaign Financial Reporting Forms 

• The initial report is due within 14 days after receiving contributions or making disbursements of more than $750.
• Subsequent reports are due:
  • 10 days before the primary or special primary (even if candidate is not on primary ballots)
  • 10 days before the general election or special election
  • 30 days after the general election or special election
  • By Jan. 31 of each year until a final report is filed
• A final report is due when all assets are settled and all assets are disposed of in excess of $100.

• Minnesota Secretary of State – Becoming a candidate for elected office in Minnesota 
• Minnesota Secretary of State – Campaigning in Minnesota

Campaign signage Zoning Ordinance regulations

Please note that campaign signage cannot be placed in the public right of way on county or state roadways

Below is a summary of the Zoning Ordinance regulations:

• They can be in the boulevard but need permission of the adjacent landowner.
•  If there is a City trail or a sidewalk, they need to be at least 1 foot behind the trail or sidewalk.
• If no City trail or sidewalk, they should be set back at least 4 feet behind the curb.
• They can’t obstruct traffic visibility – can’t be in a median or an island.
• Can’t be on a fence.

Below is the complete language from the Zoning Ordinance:

Non-commercial Signs. Temporary non-commercial signs of any size and in any number may be posted from 46 days before the state primary in a state general election year until ten days following the general election, and from 13 weeks prior to any special election until ten days following the special election. Signs shall be removed not more than ten days after an election. The owner or manager of the sign, the landowner granting consent for placement of the sign on his/her property or within the directly abutting public boulevard, and the political candidate shall be equally responsible for the proper location, maintenance, and ultimate removal of such signs. Such signs may be placed on private property upon consent of the landowner, or may be placed within the public boulevard directly abutting a private property (i.e., right-of-way area between a private property and any abutting public trail, sidewalk, or street / roadway) upon consent of the abutting landowner and subject to the regulations of this provision. Such signs shall not be placed: 1) within the traveled roadway (between the outermost curb lines of a public street or roadway, or in the absence of curbing, between the outermost limits of the road bed including any shoulders); or 2) within center medians / traffic islands; or 3) on any public trail or sidewalk; or 4) within a public boulevard that is located between a public trail or sidewalk and any abutting public street/roadway; or 5) on public park property; or 6) on any city-, county-, state-, or federally-owned property except as described and allowed by this provision. Such signs shall be set back at least one foot from public trails and sidewalks. If there is no public trail or sidewalk, such signs shall be set back at least four feet from the back-of-curb of public streets/roadways, or in the absence of curbing, such signs shall be set back at least four feet from the outermost limits of the road bed including any shoulders. Additionally, placement of such signs shall not impede safety by obstructing vision of pedestrians, bicycles, or motor vehicle operations. Such temporary non-commercial signs do not require a sign permit, pursuant to Section 21155.07, Subd. 2(h) of this Section.

(Amended by Ord. No. 2010-05, 05/11/10; Ord. No. 2019-01, 02/12/19)