Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Graceville, Minnesota

Graceville’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, altering, or moving a building or structure inside Graceville city limits when the cost exceeds $500.

  • The application must be made to the zoning administrator on city forms.
  • The application must comply with the building code and include the specified scaled plan and property information.
  • The administrator must determine compliance with the ordinance and applicable building, housing, and fire-prevention codes before issuing a permit.

  project-cost threshold: > 500 USD (Applies to erecting, altering, or moving a building or structure.)

  “No person shall hereafter erect, alter or move any building or structure, the cost of which exceeds $500.00 without first obtaining a building permit.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Vacant land and structures constructed, reconstructed, relocated, or structurally altered inside Graceville city limits.

  • Agricultural purposes are excepted.
  • The use or occupancy must conform to law and applicable ordinances.
  • For structures, the certificate is issued within ten days after work is completed and approved by the zoning administrator.

  issuance period after completion and approval: <= 10 days (Applies to structures constructed, reconstructed, relocated, or structurally altered.)

  “From and after the effective date of this ordinance, no vacant land and no structure hereafter constructed, reconstructed, relocated or structurally altered with the city shall be occupied or used for any purpose other than agricultural purposes unless a certificate of occupancy is first obtained from the zoning administrator.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Graceville city limits.

  • The ordinance establishes use districts and regulates the location, erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, and use of structures and land.

  “This Ordinance shall be known as the “Zoning Ordinance of the City of Graceville, Minnesota,” except as referred to herein, where it shall be known as “this Ordinance.””

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Graceville city limits.

  • The zoning map is on file with the City Clerk and is incorporated by reference.

  districts: A-O Agricultural-Open Space; R-1 Low Density Residential; R-2 Medium Density Residential; C-1 Commercial

  “The following zoning districts are hereby established within the City. A-O, Agricultural-Open Space District R-l, Low Density Residential District R-2, Medium Density Residential District C-1, Commercial”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Certificate-of-occupancy requirement for land and structures inside Graceville city limits used for agricultural purposes.

  • The exception is only from the zoning ordinance's certificate-of-occupancy requirement; it does not establish a general exemption from all permits, codes, or other laws.

  “From and after the effective date of this ordinance, no vacant land and no structure hereafter constructed, reconstructed, relocated or structurally altered with the city shall be occupied or used for any purpose other than agricultural purposes unless a certificate of occupancy is first obtained from the zoning administrator.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits and listed zoning applications inside Graceville city limits.

  • Fees are payable when applications are filed and are nonrefundable unless the application is withdrawn before referral to the Planning Commission.
  • The ordinance also requires applicants to pay specified staff, consulting, and material costs for certain development requests.

  single-family housing development fee: 50 USD · driveway permit fee: 10 USD

  “The fees to be paid for building permit shall be as follows: 1. Single Family Housing Development $50.00”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications inside Graceville city limits.

  • The application must be on city forms and must include a scaled plan and the specified lot, legal-description, structure, and accessory-structure information.
  • The zoning administrator may require other information necessary for enforcement.
  • Permit issuance depends on compliance with the ordinance, applicable city ordinances, and applicable building, housing, and fire-prevention codes.

  “Applications for a permit shall be made to the zoning administrator on forms provided by the city. Each application shall comply with the building code and shall be accompanied by a plan drawn to scale showing the dimensions of the lot or parcel on which the structure is or is to be located; the legal description of the lot or parcel, size and location of the structure and accessory structures if any, to be constructed, reconstructed or structurally altered on the lot or parcel, and such other information as may be deemed necessary by the zoning administrator for the proper enforcement of this ordinance.”

Rules another office applies inside Graceville

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

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings inside Graceville city limits that are governed by the Minnesota State Building Code.

  • The state statute excludes agricultural buildings except for specified state-inspection or rulemaking provisions and skylight-panel requirements.

  “The State Building Code is the standard that applies statewide for the construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, and use of buildings and other structures of the type governed by the code.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Dwellings in the R-1 Low Density Residential District inside Graceville city limits.

  • The ordinance's architectural requirements apply to all dwellings in this residential district.

  minimum dwelling width: > 22 feet · minimum dwelling length: > 28 feet

  “Dwellings shall exceed twenty-two (22) feet in width and shall be over twenty-eight (28) feet in length.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in the R-1 Low Density Residential District inside Graceville city limits.

  • The minimum applies to single-family dwellings; a two-family dwelling requires 21,000 square feet.
  • The rule applies to dwellings erected, enlarged, or moved.

  minimum lot area: >= 11700 square feet (Single-family dwelling.) · minimum width at front-yard setback line: >= 100 feet (One- or two-family dwelling lot.) · minimum lot depth: >= 117 feet (One- or two-family dwelling lot.)

  “A lot area of not less than eleven thousand seven hundred (11,700) square feet is required for single family dwelling and a minimum lot area of twenty-one thousand (21,000) square feet is required for every two family dwelling hereinafter erected, enlarged, or moved.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Lots in the R-1 Low Density Residential District inside Graceville city limits.

  • At intersections of two or more streets, the side yard along the side street must be at least 15 feet.
  • Accessory buildings must be at least five feet from the rear lot line.

  front yard: >= 35 feet · side yard: >= 10 feet (Or ten percent of front-yard width, whichever is less.) · rear yard: >= 20 feet

  “Front Yards. A front yard of not less than thirty-five (35) feet is required. B. Side Yards. Two (2) side yards are required, each with a width of not less than ten feet or ten percent (10%) of the front yard width, whichever is less.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Lots in the R-1 Low Density Residential District inside Graceville city limits.

  maximum building or structure lot coverage: <= 35 percent

  “No more than thirty-five (35) percent of the lot area shall be occupied by buildings or structures.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings in the R-1 Low Density Residential District inside Graceville city limits.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet

  “Maximum Building Heights. Building heights shall not exceed thirty-five (35) feet.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Apartments within existing single-family dwellings in the R-1 Low Density Residential District inside Graceville city limits.

  • The use is listed as a conditional use.

  “Apartments within existing single family dwellings.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Graceville or Big Stone County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Graceville city limits.
• Inspections — Building projects inside Graceville city limits.
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Graceville city limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Graceville city limits.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Graceville city limits.

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.