Minnesota gun ban sign requirements: the exact sign the law describes
Minnesota lets a private business ask permit holders not to bring guns inside, and a posted sign is one of two ways to make that request. The statute specifies the sign down to the typeface. This page is about the sign, not the policy: what it must say, how big, where it hangs, and what it can and cannot do.
The sign, line by line
The rule is Minn. Stat. 624.714, subd. 17. It lets the operator of a private establishment make a “reasonable request” that firearms not be brought inside, and a posted sign is one of the two ways to make it. The statute defines that sign precisely:
| Requirement | What the statute says |
|---|---|
| Wording | “(INDICATE IDENTITY OF OPERATOR) BANS GUNS IN THESE PREMISES.” For example: MAIN STREET HARDWARE BANS GUNS IN THESE PREMISES. |
| Lettering | Black Arial typeface, at least 1-1/2 inches high |
| Background | Bright and contrasting, at least 187 square inches in area |
| Where | At every entrance to the establishment |
| Placement | Readily visible, within four feet to either side of the entrance, with the bottom of the sign 4 to 6 feet above the floor |
That 187 square inches is exactly 11 × 17 inches, the smallest standard sheet that qualifies. A 12 × 18 inch sign gives you 216.
Will the wording fit? The math at 1-1/2 inch letters
The required wording is long. Set in Arial at exactly 1-1/2 inches, the full sentence runs about 35 inches on one line, so every compliant sign stacks it. We measured the pieces:
| Line | Width |
|---|---|
| BANS GUNS IN THESE PREMISES. (one line) | 34.6 in |
| THESE PREMISES. | 19.0 in |
| BANS GUNS IN | 15.0 in |
| PREMISES. | 11.4 in |
| MAIN STREET HARDWARE (a sample name) | 26.9 in |
Two practical results. Hung tall, an 11 × 17 sign is only 11 inches wide, and the word PREMISES. alone runs 11.4 inches, so it does not fit. Hung wide, 11 × 17 works for a short name in five lines: the name, BANS GUNS IN, THESE, PREMISES., with room between them. A longer business name needs 12 × 18 or larger. We lay the sign out at full size before you approve it, so the letters measure what the statute says.
Mistakes that keep a sign from counting
- A symbol instead of the sentence
The statute’s request is its specific wording. A pistol in a red circle does not contain it.
- Clear window decals
Black letters on clear glass have no bright background. A window decal needs its own opaque, bright panel of at least 187 square inches behind the letters.
- The wrong typeface
The statute names Arial. A condensed or decorative face is not Arial.
- Too small or in the wrong place
Letters at least 1-1/2 inches, the bottom of the sign 4 to 6 feet up, within four feet of the entrance.
- One door only
The sign goes at every entrance, including side and back doors the public uses.
What the sign does, and what it doesn’t
- What it does
A person carrying who remains after a reasonable request may be ordered to leave. Failing to leave is a petty misdemeanor, with a first-offense fine of no more than $25, and the firearm is not subject to forfeiture.
- The other way to ask
Instead of a sign, the operator or an agent can personally tell the person that guns are prohibited and demand compliance.
- Parking lots
An establishment may not prohibit lawful carry in its parking facility or parking area.
- Officers and guards
It may not keep a peace officer out, though it may ask for credentials. The subdivision does not apply to security guards working in the course of their employment.
- Homes and rentals
It does not apply to private residences, where the occupant may prohibit firearms in any lawful way. A landlord may not restrict lawful carry by tenants or their guests.
- Employees
A separate subdivision lets employers set policies restricting carry by employees while they are working.
- Public buildings
The rule covers private establishments, meaning nongovernmental owners for a nongovernmental purpose. Government buildings run under different rules.
Ordering a sign that meets the spec
We set the statute’s wording in black Arial at 1-1/2 inches or larger on a bright background of at least 187 square inches: on aluminum or rigid plastic with holes or tape for mounting, or as window graphics with an opaque bright panel for glass doors. Tell us your business name as it should appear and how many entrances you have, and we will proof each one at full size.
One plain reminder: this page describes the sign the statute defines; whether to post one is your decision, and nothing here is legal advice. The Office of the Revisor of Statutes has the current text, and an attorney can answer questions about your situation.
Gun ban sign FAQ
“(Name of the operator) BANS GUNS IN THESE PREMISES.” The statute supplies the wording; the operator’s identity goes at the start.
The background must be bright, contrasting and at least 187 square inches, which is 11 by 17 inches. The lettering must be black Arial at least 1-1/2 inches high.
At every entrance, readily visible, within four feet to either side of the door, with the bottom of the sign 4 to 6 feet above the floor.
No. The statute says a private establishment may not prohibit the lawful carry or possession of firearms in a parking facility or parking area.
They may be ordered to leave. Failing to leave is a petty misdemeanor with a first-offense fine of no more than $25, and the firearm is not subject to forfeiture.
Not as the posted request the statute describes, which requires its specific wording, black Arial letters at least 1-1/2 inches high and a background of at least 187 square inches. Telling the person directly is the other way to make the request.
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