Minneapolis's delivery app fee cap: 15% commission, and no fees you didn't agree to
Updated October 20, 2026
Last updated: 20 October 2026. Read from Minneapolis Code of Ordinances chapter 353, Third-Party Delivery Services.
Minneapolis bars delivery apps from charging a licensed food establishment more than 15% of the order's menu price as a commission for delivery. A restaurant can choose to pay more for advertising or other extras, and an app that offers a delivery option at 15% or less may sell higher-priced plans, but it can't refuse service to a restaurant that picks the 15% option. The rule was made permanent by Ordinance 2021-058, adopted on 10 December 2021.
In short
- The cap: 15% of the purchase price (menu price, without tax, tips and other fees) per online order, for delivery.
- Extras: a restaurant may choose to pay more for advertising or other products.
- No surprise fees: an app may not charge any fee the restaurant hasn't voluntarily agreed to, or perform services or share information about it without consent.
- Phone orders: no fee for a forwarded phone call that doesn't result in an actual sale during the call.
- Who's covered: licensed food establishments in Minneapolis, but not convenience or grocery stores.
What does the Minneapolis ordinance say?
| Rule | Minneapolis Code chapter 353 |
|---|---|
| Commission cap | No more than 15% of the purchase price per online order for delivery (§353.20(c)) |
| Choosing to pay more | Restaurants may pay a higher commission or supplemental fee for extra advertising, products or services (§353.20(c)) |
| Higher-priced plans | Allowed for an app that offers a delivery option at 15% or less; it may not refuse service to a restaurant that picks that option (§353.20(d)) |
| Consent | No services or disclosure of information without the restaurant's consent; no fees it hasn't voluntarily agreed to pay (§353.20(a)–(b)) |
| Phone orders | No fee for a phone order if the call doesn't produce an actual transaction (§353.20(h)) |
| Customer disclosure | Before checkout, the app must show the customer every fee it charges them; afterwards a receipt with menu price, tax, fees and tip (§353.20(f)–(g)) |
| Drivers | No cutting driver pay or garnishing tips to comply (§353.20(e)) |
| Covered businesses | Licensed food establishments, excluding convenience and grocery stores; orders for delivery or pickup within the city |
| Enforcement | Complaints in writing to the city's licensing official; notices, administrative citations or misdemeanor prosecution, with each day a separate violation (§353.20(i)–(k), §353.30) |
What it means on a $30 order
| Option | Fee on a $30 order | You keep |
|---|---|---|
| The app's 15% delivery option | at most $4.50 | $25.50 |
| A plan with extra advertising you chose, e.g. 30% | $9.00 | $21.00 |
| Your own ordering page with Stripe (2.9% + 30¢) | $1.17 | $28.83, before your plan fee and delivery costs |
Worked example: a Northeast Minneapolis Somali restaurant takes 200 app deliveries a month at $30, plus 40 forwarded phone calls that don't end in an order. Under chapter 353 the deliveries cost at most $900 a month on the 15% option, and the 40 unanswered or unsold calls cost nothing. On a 30% plan the same deliveries cost $1,800.
Uber Eats lists a 15% Lite delivery rate in Minneapolis (20% in most of the US). See Uber Eats commission in the US.
How the cap started
Mayor Jacob Frey first capped fees at 15% by emergency regulation in December 2020. The City Council made the cap permanent with Ordinance 2021-058, adopted 10 December 2021, which created chapter 353 of the city code.
How to complain
Send a written complaint to the city's licensing official (Business Licensing division) with all the information you rely on. The licensing official investigates, tells the app and sends both sides a summary of findings; apps must keep records the city can demand.
Minneapolis caps app commission at 15%; your own page charges none. See the.
Frequently asked questions
What is the delivery app commission cap in Minneapolis?
15% of the order's menu price per online order for delivery. Restaurants may choose to pay more for extra advertising or services, and apps must offer a 15% delivery option.
Can an app charge me for a phone call in Minneapolis?
Not if the call doesn't result in an actual transaction during the call. Chapter 353 bans fees for forwarded phone orders that don't produce a sale.
Does the Minneapolis cap apply to grocery stores?
No. The ordinance covers licensed food establishments but excludes convenience and grocery stores.
When did Minneapolis make the cap permanent?
With Ordinance 2021-058, adopted on 10 December 2021, after an emergency 15% cap that started in December 2020.
Who enforces the Minneapolis delivery fee cap?
The city's licensing official, who investigates written complaints and can issue notices, administrative citations or refer cases for misdemeanor prosecution.
Sources (2)
- Minneapolis Code of Ordinances, Title 13, chapter 353 "Third-Party Delivery Services" (§§353.10–353.30, "Ord. No. 2021-058, § 1, 12-10-21"): https://library.municode.com/mn/minneapolis/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TIT13LIBURE_CH353THRTDESE (read 20 Oct 2026 in a browser; blocks automated requests).
- City of Minneapolis news, "Mayor Frey signs emergency regulation capping third-party food service delivery fees" (21 Dec 2020): http://news.minneapolismn.gov/2020/12/21/mayor-jacob-frey-signs-emergency-regulation-capping-third-party-food-service-delivery-fees/ (seen in search results 20 Oct 2026).