Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Springfield, Minnesota

Springfield’s own rules

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts and mapped parcels inside Springfield city limits.

  • The cited amendment changes permitted uses and reclassifies specified parcels from R-1 to R-2.
  • The amendment took effect upon passage and publication.

  “The real estate described as Lot One (1), Block One (1), St. John Addition; and the east 565.75 feet of Lot Seven (7) Wendt Addition; and Lot Eight A (8A) Wendt Addition, City of Springfield, Brown County, Minnesota, is reclassified from R-1 (Single and Two Family Residential) to R-2 (Multi-Family Residential), and the Zoning map is hereby amended to incorporate such reclassification. SECTION 5. Effective Date. The effective date of this ordinance shall be upon passage and publication.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Structures in the R-1 Single & Two Family Residential District inside Springfield city limits.

  • The minimum ground-floor area is reduced if the average ground-floor area of principal structures on adjacent lots is less.
  • The dwelling minimum width is 20 feet.

  minimum ground floor area: 860 square feet (Or the average ground-floor area of principal structures on adjacent lots, whichever is less.) · minimum dwelling width: 20 feet

  “The minimum ground floor area of a structure within this District shall be eight hundred sixty square feet (860) or the average ground floor area of the principal structures on adjacent lots, whichever is less. The minimum width of a dwelling shall be 20 feet.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 Single & Two Family Residential District inside Springfield city limits.

  • The minimum is reduced to the average lot area of adjacent parcels if that average is less.
  • An additional 2,000 square feet is required for each dwelling unit over two.

  minimum lot area: >= 12000 square feet (Plus 2,000 square feet for each additional dwelling unit in excess of two, or the average lot area of adjacent parcels, whichever is less.)

  “The lot area in a residential district shall be a minimum of 12,000 square feet plus 2000 more square feet for each additional dwelling unit in excess of two dwelling units, or the average lot area of adjacent parcels as defined in this Ordinance, whichever is less.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 Single & Two Family Residential District inside Springfield city limits.

  • The front and rear standards use the average setback of adjacent parcels when that average is less.
  • Corner lots have two front-yard setbacks.

  minimum front setback: 30 feet (Or the average front setback of adjacent parcels, whichever is less.) · minimum side setback: 6 feet · minimum rear setback: 10 feet (Or the average rear setback of adjacent parcels, whichever is less.)

  “The minimum front setback shall be thirty (30) feet or the average front setback of adjacent parcels, whichever is less. [...] Corner lots shall have two front yard setbacks as per Section 18.04, Subd. 5(D) above. [...] There shall be minimum side yard setback of six feet. [...] There shall be a minimum rear yard setback of ten (10) feet or the average rear setback of adjacent parcels, whichever is less.”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 Single & Two Family Residential District inside Springfield city limits.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet

  “Building height. The maximum building height shall be 35 feet.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Travel trailers within a manufactured home park inside Springfield city limits.

  • Travel trailers have a seven-day limit within the park.

  travel trailer stay limit: <= 7 days (Within a manufactured home park.)

  “Travel Trailers. There shall be a seven (7) day limit on travel trailers within the park.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Placement of a manufactured home on a lot inside Springfield city limits.

  • A zoning permit from the City is required before placing a manufactured home on a lot.
  • A minimum permit fee is charged and set annually by the Council.

  “A zoning permit shall be obtained from the City before placing a manufactured home on a lot.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Sewage disposal for newly constructed principal structures inside Springfield city limits where municipal sewers are unavailable.

  • Applies where municipal sewers are unavailable.
  • Sewage facilities must connect to approved septic tanks and disposal fields.

  “Where municipal sewers are not available all sewage facilities must be connected to approved septic tanks and disposal fields.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Newly constructed principal structures inside Springfield city limits.

  • Connection is required when sewer or water facilities are within 350 feet of proposed development and/or development is in an area guided toward future urban development in the Comprehensive Plan.
  • Where municipal sewers are unavailable, sewage facilities must connect to approved septic tanks and disposal fields.

  utility availability distance: <= 350 feet (Facilities measured from the proposed development; future-urban-development areas also trigger connection.)

  “All newly constructed principal structures must be connected to the City’s public sewer and water services when: 1. Said sewer/water facilities are within 350 feet from the proposed development; and/or, 2. The proposed development is located within a area guided toward future urban development within the Comprehensive Plan.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and platting of property inside Springfield city limits.

  • The ordinance uses the titles Zoning/Subdivision Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance, Chapter, and Ordinance.

  “The rules and regulations governing plats and subdivision of land contained herein shall apply within the boundaries of the City of Springfield.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  City zoning permits for placement of manufactured homes inside Springfield city limits.

  • The minimum permit fee is set annually by the Council.

  “A minimum permit fee will be charged. This fee will be set annually by the Council.”

• Permit processPartial

  Administrative zoning permits and approvals inside Springfield city limits.

  • The required information may be waived by the Zoning Administrator.

  “Application for a permit from the Zoning Administrator or Zoning Administrator approval shall be filed by the property owner or designated agent with the Zoning Administrator on forms to be provided by the City. Required applications shall be accompanied by the information required in Subd. 10(B) below unless specifically waived by the Zoning Administrator.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential building construction inside Springfield city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Springfield city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Springfield city limits.
• Inspections — Residential building inspections inside Springfield city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Springfield 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.