Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Foley, Minnesota

Foley’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New construction, remodeling, relocation, siding, roofing, driveways, signs, decks, and fences inside Foley city.

  • The city building inspector issues a permit only after determining that plans and application comply with city ordinances.
  • A zoning permit remains required when the building code does not require a building permit.

  “Building permits are required for any new construction, remodeling, building relocation, siding, roofing, driveways, signs, decks and fences.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction governed by the building code inside Foley city.

  • Optional chapters are excepted unless specifically adopted by the City.

  “The Minnesota State Building Code is hereby incorporated by reference in this ordinance as if fully set out herein.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Occupied campers, travel trailers, and motor coaches on any lot, tract, or parcel not designated as a manufactured-home park or travel-trailer court inside Foley city.

  • The stated prohibition does not apply to land designated as a manufactured-home park or travel-trailer court.

  “No occupied Manufactured Home, house trailer, camper, travel trailer or motor coach may be located on any lot, tract or parcel of land not designated”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Occupied manufactured homes inside Foley city.

  • The home must be located in a designated manufactured-home park or travel-trailer court.
  • A permit must be applied for and approved before moving into a manufactured home.

  “A permit must be applied for and approved before moving into a Manufactured Home.”

• Well permitLimited

  New private wells on lots in Foley's Drinking Water Supply Management Area.

  • A new private well is unlawful where the lot has reasonable access to city water service.
  • A lot within 150 feet of the city water system is deemed to have reasonable access.
  • For lots without reasonable access, the city requires proof of a Minnesota Department of Health well permit.

  reasonable-access distance: <= 150 feet (Distance to city water system.)

  “New private wells may be allowed on lots without reasonable access to city water service upon proof that a permit for such well has been issued”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater (with conditions)

  New construction on a lot within Foley's Drinking Water Supply Management Area that has reasonable access to city water service.

  • A lot within 150 feet of the city water system is deemed to have reasonable access.
  • A building or occupancy permit will not issue until service is connected or satisfactory assurance is provided.

  reasonable access distance: <= 150 feet (Distance to the city water system.)

  “No building or occupancy permit will be issued for new construction on a lot with access to city water service until such service is connected”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway approaches inside Foley city.

  • The permit fee is set by City Council and is payable as a condition of issuance.
  • For new residential construction or commercial construction requiring site-plan approval, no additional driveway fee is required.
  • County-road approaches require county-engineer review.

  “It shall be unlawful for any person to construct or alter a driveway or driveway approach accessing a public right-of-way [...] without first obtaining a permit”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permits inside Foley city.

  • Fees are assessed according to the City's Fee Schedule.
  • A surcharge applies to permits for work governed by the code.

  “Permit fees shall be assessed for work governed by the code in accordance with the City’s Fee Schedule.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits inside Foley city.

  • The building inspector issues a permit only after determining that the plans and application comply with all city ordinances.

  “The city building inspector will issue a permit only after determining that the building plans, together with the application, comply with all city ordinances.”

Rules another office applies inside Foley

Foley does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in Foley's R-1 Single and Two Family Residential District.

  • Two-family dwellings require at least 11,000 square feet.

  minimum lot area: >= 8000 square feet (Single-family dwelling.)

  “Lot area for lots with a single-family dwelling must be at least 8,000 square feet.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Buildings on lots in Foley's R-1 Single and Two Family Residential District.

  • All other uses may not exceed a floor-area ratio of .40.

  maximum floor-area ratio: <= 0.3 (Not more than 30% of the lot area may be used for floor areas of all buildings on the lot.)

  “The floor-area-ratio may not exceed .30, which means not more than 30% of the lot area may be used for floor areas of all buildings”

• Building heightSpecified

  Single- and two-family dwellings in Foley's R-1 Single and Two Family Residential District.

  • Other principal buildings may not exceed 40 feet.
  • Accessory-building height depends on lot size and garage provisions.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (Single- and two-family dwellings.)

  “Single-family and two-family dwellings may not exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height.”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  Accessory dwelling units in Foley's R-1 Single and Two Family Residential District.

  • An accessory dwelling unit may be no taller than 35 feet and no taller than the principal structure.

  maximum height: <= 35 feet (May not be taller than the principal structure.)

  “Accessory Dwelling Units as defined in Section 4 are allowed to be thirty-five (35) feet in height but no taller than the principal structure.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Foley or Benton County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Foley city.
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Foley city.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for structures inside Foley city.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area for dwellings inside Foley city.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Foley city.

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.