Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Carlton, Minnesota

Carlton’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  All new construction, remodeling, and repairs to existing structures inside Carlton city limits.

  • Applications are submitted to City Administration for review; the Building Official reviews the application and issues the necessary permit and any additional instructions.
  • Applications should be submitted as far in advance of construction as possible.

  “The City of Carlton requires building permits for all new construction and for remodeling and repairs to existing structures.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Carlton city limits, Minnesota.

  • Zoning districts are shown on the official zoning map maintained by the City Clerk.

  “The City is hereby divided into districts as shown on the Official Zoning Map, which, together with the matter thereon and the certificate attached thereto, is hereby adopted and declared to be a part of this Ordinance as if described in detail herein.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Recreational vehicles on private property inside Carlton city limits.

  • A City property owner or guest may seasonally reside in an RV up to 30 days per year.
  • The RV must be at least 20 feet from an adjacent residence.
  • A sewer/water connection must be City-approved; other RVs must observe front-yard setbacks.

  seasonal RV occupancy: <= 30 days per year (City property owner or guest.) · distance from adjacent residence: >= 20 feet

  “a city of Carlton property owner or his/her guests may be allowed to park a recreational vehicle on his/her property for the purpose of seasonally residing therein for a period of up to 30 days per year. Such recreational vehicle shall be parked at least 20 feet from any adjacent residence.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured or mobile homes inside Carlton city limits.

  • A mobile home for residential purposes must be in a Minnesota Department of Health-approved mobile-home park.
  • Replacement of an existing mobile/manufactured home requires application for a building permit and zoning compliance.
  • Manufactured homes remain subject to the general City zoning ordinance.

  “No mobile home for residential purposes shall be permitted on any site within the city unless said site is part of a Mobile Home Park approved by the Minnesota Department of Health in accordance with Minnesota Statute 327.14 through 327.34 as amended, and Minnesota Agency Rule 2MCAR 1.90103.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private wastewater disposal inside Carlton city limits.

  • Private wastewater disposal is allowed only where public sanitary sewer is not available within the City-prescribed distance.
  • A written permit from the Carlton County Zoning Department is required before construction.
  • The system must comply with Carlton County ordinances and regulations and may not discharge to a natural outlet.

  “Where a public sanitary sewer is not available within the distance prescribed by the provisions of Article III, Section 3, the building sewer shall be connected to a private wastewater disposal system complying with the provisions of this Article.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  New construction and properties with wastewater inside Carlton city limits when municipal water or public sewer is available.

  • New construction must connect to municipal water if water is available.
  • Residential non-abutting property within 400 feet of a water main and business/commercial non-abutting property within 600 feet must connect when municipal water becomes available within the period determined by City Council.
  • Wastewater-producing property must connect at construction/new use or within 90 days of official notice if public sewer is adjoining or within proximity determined by the City.

  residential water-main distance: <= 400 feet (Non-abutting residential property; connection when municipal water becomes available.) · commercial water-main distance: <= 600 feet (Non-abutting business or commercial property; connection when municipal water becomes available.) · sewer connection deadline after official notice: <= 90 days (Existing property when qualifying public sewer is available.)

  “All new construction shall be required to connect to the municipal water system if municipal water is available to the property. All abutting, as well as non-abutting property which, in the case of residential use is within 400 feet and in the case of business or commercial use is within 600 feet of any water main, the owner shall; at the time municipal water becomes available make a direct connection to the public system within a period of time as determined by the City Council.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions within Carlton city limits.

  • The ordinance also has an extraterritorial application area, but this claim is limited to property inside the City.
  • Exceptions include qualifying five-acre divisions without a new street, one approved two-lot division in a 12-month period, and transfers by will or court order.

  “all subdivisions hereafter platted within the City shall fully comply with the regulations hereinafter set forth in this ordinance.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permits inside Carlton city limits.

  • Downloadable application forms are submitted to City Administration for review.
  • The Building Official reviews the application, issues the necessary permit, and may provide additional instructions.
  • Applications should be submitted as far in advance of construction as possible.

  “Application forms can be downloaded from this site and submitted to the City Administration office for review. The Building Official will review the application and issue the necessary permit along with any additional instructions deemed appropriate. Applications should be submitted as far in advance of construction as possible.”

Rules another office applies inside Carlton

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

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in Carlton's R-1 Low Density Residential District.

  minimum floor area: >= 850 square feet (First unit in the residential-district chart.)

  “2. Per Unit Square Foot Floor Area (SF) 850 1st unit, 750 second unit”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwellings in Carlton's R-3 Agricultural Residential District.

    “2. Per Unit Square Foot Floor Area (SF) 850 sq. ft”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in Carlton's R-1 Low Density Residential District.

  minimum lot area: >= 5000 square feet (Single-family dwelling.)

  “1. Lot Area (SF) Single Family Dwelling 5,000 5,000 5 acres”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwellings in Carlton's R-3 Agricultural Residential District.

    “Minimum Lot dimensions. See Table Two (2) a) Area: Minimum 5 acres. b) Width: Three hundred (300) feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Primary buildings in Carlton's R-1 Low Density Residential District.

  • Corner-lot side yard facing a street is 15 feet.

  front-yard setback: >= 25 feet · rear-yard setback: >= 30 feet · side-yard setback: >= 10 feet (15 feet for the side yard of a corner lot facing a street.)

  “4. Front Yard Set Back 25’ 25’ 50’ 5. Side Yard Set Back 10’ 10’ 50’ 6. Rear Yard Set Back 30’ 30’ 50’ 7. Corner Side Set Back 15’ 15’ 50’”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Primary buildings in Carlton's R-3 Agricultural Residential District.

    “a) Front Yard…..Fifty (50) feet b) Rear Yard…. .Fifty (50) feet c) Side Yard….. Fifty (50) feet”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Buildings in Carlton's R-1 Low Density Residential District.

  maximum building coverage: <= 30 percent

  “e) Building Coverage may not exceed thirty (30) percent.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Buildings in Carlton's R-3 Agricultural Residential District.

    “d) Building Coverage may not exceed ten (10) percent.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings in Carlton's R-3 Agricultural Residential District.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet

  “Subd.5 - Maximum Building Height a) Thirty five (35) feet”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private wastewater disposal systems inside Carlton city limits where public sanitary sewer is not available.

  • The City Code requires a private system where public sanitary sewer is unavailable within the distance prescribed by Article III, Section 3.
  • The owner must operate and maintain the system in compliance with applicable state and county regulations.

  “Before commencement of construction of a private wastewater disposal system the owner shall first obtain a written permit from the Carlton County Zoning Department.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction of a private wastewater disposal system inside Carlton city limits.

  • The requirement applies before construction begins and where a private system is used because public sanitary sewer is unavailable.

  “Before commencement of construction of a private wastewater disposal system the owner shall first obtain a written permit from the Carlton County Zoning Department.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Carlton city limits.
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Carlton city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Carlton city limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Carlton city limits.
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Carlton 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.