Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Comfrey, Minnesota

Comfrey’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Structures erected, added to, structurally altered, or moved inside Comfrey city limits.

  • A storage shed of 160 square feet or less that complies with all other ordinance requirements does not require a building permit.
  • The structure must comply with Chapter 11; the applicant must submit the specified scaled layout or plot plan and stake the proposed structure location.

  permit expiration: 1 year (unless construction is actually commenced; extensions are governed by §9.05)

  “No structure shall be erected, added to, structurally altered, or moved until a permit therefore has been issued by the Zoning Committee, which permit must be conspicuously displayed on the premises prior to commencing any work.”

• Building code adoptedPartial

  Plumbing work inside Comfrey city limits.

  • The City Code applies where it is more restrictive regarding allowable materials.

  “Plumbing Code. The Minnesota Plumbing Code as in effect on July 1, 2002, is adopted, together with all changes and amendments, and the provisions thereof, including the terms defined therein, shall be enforced and in effect in the City of Comfrey, except as otherwise modified pursuant to the terms of the Comfrey City Code.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Comfrey city limits in Brown and Cottonwood Counties, Minnesota.

  • District boundaries are delineated on the official zoning map kept by the City Clerk.

  “Residential District: All areas of the City of Comfrey not classified as commercial districts above shall be classified as residential districts until amended or changed in the manner prescribed in this Section.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Comfrey city limits.

  • District boundaries are on the official zoning map available for public inspection in the City Clerk's office.

  “The boundaries of the use districts as specified above shall be delineated on the official zoning map, which shall be on permanent file and available for public inspection in the City Clerk’s office.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Travel trailers, motorized dwellings, tent trailers, and similar recreational equipment on residential lots inside Comfrey city limits.

  • The restriction applies when equipment is parked or stored on a residential lot or another location not approved for the use.

  maximum living, sleeping, or housekeeping use: <= 7 consecutive days (when parked or stored on a residential lot or in a location not approved for that use)

  “No such equipment shall be used for living, sleeping, or housekeeping purposes for more than seven consecutive days when parked or stored on a residential lot, or in any location not approved for such use.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Comfrey zoning building permits.

  • The City Council establishes the fee by resolution; no dollar amount was stated in the opened Code provision.

  “The fee for a building permit shall be established by resolution of the City Council. The Zoning Committee shall issue the building permit only if it determines that the building plans and the application comply with the terms of this Section.”

Rules another office applies inside Comfrey

Comfrey 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

  Residential District lots inside Comfrey city limits.

  • The minimum depends on whether the area was platted before or after October 1, 1979.

  minimum lot area: >= 7000 square feet (area platted prior to October 1, 1979) · minimum lot area: >= 8400 square feet (area platted after October 1, 1979)

  “Lot area shall be a minimum of 7,000 square feet in any area platted prior to October 1, 1979, and a minimum of 8,400 square feet in any area platted after October 1, 1979.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Comfrey city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Comfrey city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — New dwellings inside Comfrey city limits.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Comfrey city limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Comfrey 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.