Clearwater County, MN Building Permits, Zoning & Septic Rules

Clearwater County, Minnesota has no general countywide building permit or comprehensive zoning ordinance for an ordinary inland home¹. But get near water and the answer changes: the county's Shoreland Management Ordinance requires a land-use permit for any structure, regardless of size or cost, within 1,000 feet of a lake, pond, or flowage or 300 feet of a river or stream²³. Septic is separate again and applies everywhere: the county's Office of Environmental Services permits and inspects every new septic system countywide⁴.

At a glance

Building permit: No general county permit inland; a county land-use permit is required for any structure in shoreland areas near lakes, ponds, or rivers¹³
Zoning: No comprehensive countywide zoning ordinance found; the Shoreland Management Ordinance sets rules only within mapped shoreland distances²
Septic permits: Clearwater County Office of Environmental Services, countywide; $25 sewage permit, $25 land-use permit, or $50 combined⁴⁵
Owner-builder: Building or improving your own home exempts you from Minnesota residential-contractor licensing, capped at one property per 24 months unless kept as a rental⁶⁷
Shoreland minimum lot size: 80,000 sq ft (Natural Environment), 40,000 sq ft (Recreational Development), or 20,000 sq ft (General Development) for riparian lots⁸
Shoreland setbacks: 150, 100, or 75 feet from the ordinary high water level depending on classification, plus 50 feet from a state/county highway and 20 feet from a property line⁹
Building height (shoreland): 25 feet for a primary structure, 15 feet for a secondary structure¹⁰
Septic soil difficulty: 16% of county soils are free of severe limits for a conventional drain field¹¹

Who to call

Septic permits

Clearwater County Office of Environmental Services

Administers the Shoreland Management Ordinance, Subdivision Controls Ordinance, and Sewage and Wastewater Treatment Ordinance; issues land-use permits in shoreland areas and sewage permits countywide

218.694.6183

Courthouse Second Floor, 213 Main Avenue North, Dept. 206, Bagley, MN 56621-8304

Online permits →

Roads & driveways

Clearwater County Highway Department (County Engineer)

County road maintenance and access/driveway permits onto County Roads under the county's Access Management Ordinance

218.694.6132

113 7th Street NE, Bagley, MN 56621

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 23, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Clearwater County, Minnesota?

For an ordinary home away from water, no county building permit or inspection program has been shown to apply, since the county lists no comprehensive countywide zoning permit outside its shoreland program¹. Get close to water, though, and the rule flips: a land-use permit is required for all structures, regardless of size or cost, on land within 1,000 feet of the ordinary high water level of a lake, pond, or flowage, or 300 feet of a river or stream, under the county's Shoreland Management Ordinance³⁸. Minnesota's State Building Code applies statewide as a construction standard, and where a municipality enforces it, an application that meets the code must receive a building permit from a certified building official¹²¹³. If you're building your own home to live in, Minnesota exempts you from residential-contractor licensing, as long as you don't build or improve more than one property within 24 months unless you keep it as a rental⁷.

Who handles permits in Clearwater County, and how do you reach them?

The Clearwater County Office of Environmental Services is the one office to know: it administers the Shoreland Management Ordinance, the Subdivision Controls Ordinance, and the Sewage and Wastewater Treatment Ordinance, issuing land-use permits in shoreland areas and sewage permits countywide¹⁴. It's on the second floor of the Courthouse at 213 Main Avenue North, Dept. 206, Bagley, MN 56621-8304, phone 218.694.6183, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.¹⁴. A land-use permit costs $25, a sewage permit costs $25, and a combined land-use/sewage permit costs $50⁵. For a new or changed access onto a County Road, contact the Clearwater County Highway Department (County Engineer) at 113 7th Street NE, Bagley, MN 56621, phone 218.694.6132¹⁵.

Does Clearwater County have zoning?

Not as a single comprehensive countywide ordinance covering every parcel; the county's own materials describe the Shoreland Management Ordinance and Subdivision Controls Ordinance as the county's land-use controls, and those apply within the mapped shoreland distances rather than across the whole county³. Within shoreland, the rules are specific and enforced by classification: riparian lots need at least 80,000, 40,000, or 20,000 square feet depending on whether they're Natural Environment, Recreational Development, or General Development, with matching water frontage of 200, 150, or 100 feet⁸. Structure setbacks in those same three classifications run 150, 100, or 75 feet from the ordinary high water level, plus 50 feet from a federal, state, or county highway, 20 feet from another road or a property line, and 30 feet from the top of a bluff⁹. Building height in shoreland tops out at 25 feet for a primary structure and 15 feet for a secondary one¹⁰. Minnesota law lets a county with fewer than 300,000 people under the 1950 census carry on county planning and zoning activities, which is the authority behind these shoreland rules, but no official source in this research shows Clearwater County has extended zoning beyond shoreland and subdivision review¹⁶. Minnesota is also a state where townships can zone independently of the county; no township-specific zoning rule for a Clearwater County township was confirmed in this research, so check with your specific township if your land is outside shoreland.

How do septic permits work in Clearwater County?

Every new subsurface sewage treatment system (SSTS) in Clearwater County needs a sewage permit from the county Office of Environmental Services, which inspects new systems and issues permits countywide, not just in shoreland¹⁴⁴. Statewide, Minnesota routes construction permits for most SSTS through the local county, city, or township, reserving only systems designed for more than 10,000 gallons a day for direct state (MPCA) permitting¹⁷. The permit application requires a signed and dated site evaluation and design, and the resulting permit is valid for one year unless the county grants a written extension of up to one more year¹⁸. Soils are a real factor to plan around: 16% of Clearwater County's land is free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field, better than many neighboring counties but still worth a site evaluation before you commit to a design¹¹. If your site instead relies on a primitive toilet-waste device in a low-density area, Minnesota rule requires you to follow any local ordinance, or, absent one, to bury or cover the material and never discharge it to surface water, drainageways, or steep or wet areas¹⁹.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Clearwater County?

No official Clearwater County source directly addresses keeping a single RV or tiny home on your own private land, so this is genuinely unconfirmed. What is confirmed is a different, narrower Minnesota rule: any area, public or private, used to accommodate five or more tents or recreational camping vehicles needs an annual Minnesota Department of Health license, with a special-event version capped at two operations a year and 14 consecutive days each²⁰²¹. That licensing rule governs commercial or multi-unit camping areas, not a single RV or tiny home parked on your own land, so don't rely on it to answer the question for your own parcel. If your land is in a shoreland area, remember that any structure there, regardless of size, needs a county land-use permit before you place it⁸. A new manufactured home must also pass federal installation-standard inspection before occupancy, wherever it's sited in Minnesota²².

Building a home in Clearwater County: the steps, in order

First, find out whether your parcel falls in shoreland, meaning within 1,000 feet of a lake, pond, or flowage or 300 feet of a river or stream; if it does, apply for a land-use permit from the Office of Environmental Services before construction, since a permit is required for any structure there regardless of size or cost¹⁴⁸. Second, get your septic system sited and designed, then apply for your sewage permit, budgeting $25 for sewage alone or $50 for a combined land-use/sewage permit¹⁴⁵. Third, if you're splitting land or your project falls within an Access Management Zone, get an access plan approved before subdivision planning, and a separate access permit from the Highway Department before actually building the access¹⁵²³. Fourth, if your parcel is in a floodplain, know that a preliminary plat there must be sent to the Minnesota DNR for review at least 30 days before the Planning Commission and County Board consider it²⁴. Fifth, confirm whether the state's certified building official process applies to your project locally, since a compliant application must be issued a permit where the State Building Code is enforced¹³. Finally, if you're building your own home to occupy, you're exempt from residential-contractor licensing as long as it's not more than one property in 24 months unless you're keeping it as a rental⁷.

What to check before you buy land in Clearwater County

First check whether the parcel sits in shoreland, since that triggers minimum lot sizes as large as 80,000 square feet, water-frontage minimums, and structure setbacks up to 150 feet from the water, all administered by the county⁸⁹. Soils are workable here relative to many rural counties: 16% of Clearwater County's land carries no severe limitation for a conventional septic drain field, though a site evaluation is still the way to confirm your specific parcel¹¹. The terrain itself is gentle and about half wooded, with 95.7% of the county at 15% slope or less and 56.3% forested, generally favorable for building and clearing²⁵²⁶. Check FEMA flood maps and ask the Office of Environmental Services whether a floodplain district applies, since that adds a DNR review step to any subdivision²⁴. Ask specifically which township your parcel is in and whether that township has its own zoning, since Minnesota townships can regulate independently of the county and no countywide answer was confirmed for land outside shoreland². Budget for carrying costs too: the county's effective property tax rate runs about 0.7%, with a median annual bill near $1,297, against a typical home value around $247,138²⁷²⁸²⁹.

Watch-outs

No official Clearwater County source confirms whether unincorporated, non-shoreland land has a comprehensive zoning ordinance, a minimum dwelling size, or a lot-coverage limit; ask the Office of Environmental Services directly¹⁴.
Minnesota townships can zone independently of the county; no specific Clearwater County township zoning rule was confirmed in this research, so check with your township if your land is outside the mapped shoreland area².
No official source confirms a rule for keeping a single RV or tiny home on ordinary private land; the state licensing rule found here applies to commercial camping areas with five or more units, not a single unit on your own parcel²⁰.

Sources

Written September 23, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

How Clearwater County scores

Seclusion84100% ev.

Self-Sufficiency54100% ev.

Admin Boringness57100% ev.

Durability73100% ev.

Property Autonomy65100% ev.

Carry Cost77100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$247kTypical home

0.7%Property tax

$2,881Land / acre

24.9"Annual rain

7.6% of yrsSevere drought

0.7 / yr (+0.7)Mid-century 100°F days

15 daysMid-century dry spell

1.41" (+7.7%)Mid-century 1-day rain

1.86×Wildfire change factor

100%Forward climate coverage

$1,533Home insurance / yr

3.2% / yrInsurance growth

0.52%Nonrenewal rate

county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis

177,779People within 2 hr

9,204Radius comparison (15 mi)

8.7People / sq mi

2.8%Federal land

95.7%Land at 15% slope or less

16%Septic soil without severe limits

91,697 acWorkable land screen

56.3%Wooded land

30.8 tonsBiomass / forest ac

39.3°FAvg temp

Answers from the rulebook for Clearwater County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Clearwater County rules

Zoning districtsPartial
Published county shoreland-management geography and maps; this claim does not assert that Clearwater County publishes a comprehensive zoning-district map for all county land.
- The published managed-area boundary is 1,000 feet from the ordinary high water level of a lake, pond, or flowage, and 300 feet from a river or stream, or the landward extent of a floodplain designated by ordinance, whichever is greater.
- The official page provides shoreland maps by township, including Hangaard, Winsor, Greenwood, Clover, Pine Lake, Leon, Sinclair, Eddy, Holst, Dudley, Popple, Copley, Shevlin, Falk, Nora, Moose Creek, LaPrairie, Minerva, Rice, Itasca, Long Lost Lake, and Unorganized.
- The source does not publish a complete countywide zoning-district schedule outside the shoreland-management context.
lake, pond, or flowage shoreland distance: 1000 feet from ordinary high water level · river or stream shoreland distance: 300 feet from river or stream (The landward extent of a floodplain designated by ordinance applies when greater.)
“Land located within the following distances from public waters: 1,000 feet from the ordinary high water level of a lake, pond or flowage; and 300 feet from a river or stream, or the landward extent of a floodplain designated by ordinance on a river or stream, whichever is greater.”
Clearwater County Shoreland Management ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)
Riparian residential lots in Clearwater County shoreland classifications Natural Environment, Recreational Development, and General Development
- The Shoreland Management Ordinance Standards applies within shoreland areas; the official Clearwater County Shoreland Management page describes managed areas as land within 1,000 feet of the ordinary high water level of a lake, pond, or flowage and 300 feet from a river or stream, or the landward extent of a designated floodplain, whichever is greater.
- A land-use permit is required before construction; permits are required for all structures regardless of size or cost.
- The standards page also lists water frontage and lot width at the building line of 200 feet, 150 feet, and 100 feet respectively for the three classifications.
Natural Environment riparian lot area: >= 80000 sq ft · Recreational Development riparian lot area: >= 40000 sq ft · General Development riparian lot area: >= 20000 sq ft · Natural Environment water frontage and lot width at building line: 200 ft · Recreational Development water frontage and lot width at building line: 150 ft · General Development water frontage and lot width at building line: 100 ft
“Lot Area-Riparian (sq.ft.)................................ 80,000 40,000 20,000 Water frontage & lot width at building line.... 200ft 150ft 100ft”
Shoreland Management Ordinance Standards ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)
Structures in Clearwater County shoreland classifications Natural Environment, Recreational Development, and General Development
- The standards apply in shoreland areas; the official county page states the Shoreland Management Ordinance has jurisdiction over lands within 1,000 feet of a classified lake and 300 feet of a classified river or stream.
- Permits are required for all structures regardless of size or cost, except interior remodeling or necessary maintenance when the building's outside dimensions do not change.
- Grading and Filling permits are required for grading, excavating, or filling within shoreland areas.
- Bluffs are defined on the standards page as greater than 25 feet in height with a 30 percent or greater slope.
Structure setback from ordinary high water level, Natural Environment: 150 ft · Structure setback from ordinary high water level, Recreational Development: 100 ft · Structure setback from ordinary high water level, General Development: 75 ft · Structure setback from federal, state, or county highway right-of-way: 50 ft · Structure setback from other road right-of-way: 20 ft · Structure setback from property line: 20 ft (or as stated in Section 503.9) · Structure setback from top of bluff: 30 ft
“Structure setback from OHWL....................... 150ft 100ft 75ft [...] Structure setback from Federal, State or County highway right-of-ways.................... 50ft 50ft 50ft [...] Structure setback from top of bluff*.............. 30ft 30ft 30ft”
Shoreland Management Ordinance Standards ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)
Structures in Clearwater County shoreland classifications Natural Environment, Recreational Development, and General Development
- The standards apply in shoreland areas and require permits for all structures regardless of size or cost, except interior remodeling or necessary maintenance when the building's outside dimensions do not change.
- The source lists separate limits for primary and secondary structures.
Primary structure height: <= 25 ft · Secondary structure height: <= 15 ft
“Primary structure height................................. 25ft 25ft 25ft Secondary structure height............................. 15ft 15ft 15ft”
Shoreland Management Ordinance Standards ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
Driveway accessLimited
New, reconstructed, relocated, or changed-use public or private accesses to County Roads or public streets intersecting County Roads, and listed development events within the Access Management Zone.
- An access plan approval is required before subdivision planning or listed redevelopment events.
- An access permit is required before actual construction of the access.
- A property split does not necessarily create a right to a new access for contiguous parcels.
- Access permits are granted for a specific use; changing the current use requires a new access plan and permit.
- Requirements also apply before subdivision, conditional-use, interim-use, site-plan, or zoning-related permit approval within the Access Management Zone.
- Commercial intensity thresholds include a 25 percent or 500-square-foot increase in gross floor area, whichever is greater, or a 25 percent or five-stall increase in parking, whichever is greater.
commercial gross-floor-area increase threshold: 25% or 500 square feet, whichever is greater · commercial parking increase threshold: 25% or 5 stalls, whichever is greater
“An approval of an access plan is required to aid in the planning stages prior to subdivision of land or for redevelopments of land as described below. An access permit is required prior to actual construction of the access.”
Clearwater County Access Management Ordinance ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
Building in a floodplainLimited
Subdivision and plat applications in unincorporated Clearwater County located within a floodplain district.
- The ordinance applies to plats and subdivisions in unincorporated areas, except orderly-annexation areas or areas covered by an agreement between a township, city, and County.
- For a preliminary plat in a floodplain district, the County must distribute the complete application to the Commissioner of the Minnesota DNR at least 30 days before Planning Commission and County Board consideration.
- The source does not establish a comprehensive countywide floodplain-development permit requirement for all development types.
advance DNR distribution period: >= 30 days (Applies to complete preliminary-plat applications.)
“The Zoning Administrator shall distribute copies of the complete application and preliminary plat to the following agencies for review and comment at least thirty (30) days prior to consideration by the Planning Commission and County Board:”
Subdivision Controls Ordinance of Clearwater County ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
Permit feesPublished (with conditions)
Published fees for Clearwater County land-use and sewage permit applications.
- The application form identifies land-use and sewage permit fees, but does not establish that every county permit uses these amounts.
- Land-use permits are issued in shoreland areas and sewage permits are issued countywide.
- The source does not state an effective date for the listed fees.
land use permit fee: 25 USD · sewage permit fee: 25 USD · combination land use/sewage permit fee: 50 USD
“Permit Fee LAND USE $25.00 SEWAGE $25.00 COMBINATION LAND USE/SEWAGE $50.00”
Application for Land Use and Sewage Permit ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
Permit processPublished (with conditions)
County land-use and sewage permit application process, with land-use permits in shoreland areas and sewage permits countywide.
- The application requires proof of sewage treatment system compliance for land-use permits.
- The application requires signed and dated site evaluation and design documentation for sewage permits.
- The site drawing need not be to scale, but all measurements and dimensions must be accurate.
- The site drawing must show building locations and dimensions, surface-water distance to the ordinary high water level within 1,000 feet, sewage-system locations and setbacks, roads, driveways, parking areas, property boundaries, structures, topographical features, wetlands, and water wells.
- If wetlands will be impacted, an approved replacement plan or exemption must accompany the application.
- The permit is valid for one year unless the permitting authority grants a written extension of up to one year.
- The permit may be revoked for violation of Clearwater County ordinances.
permit validity: 1 year (Written extension of up to one year may be granted by the permitting authority.)
“I also understand that this permit is valid for a time period of one year, unless granted a written extemtion of up to one year by the permitting authority.”
Environmental Services - Clearwater County, MN ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
County-wide zoningPresent
Clearwater County administers a Shoreland Management Ordinance and Subdivision Controls Ordinance and issues land-use permits in shoreland areas, though there is no comprehensive county-wide zoning permit for non-shoreland land.
Clearwater County MN - Environmental Services ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Minnesota rules that apply here

Building permitRequired
Construction, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, or occupancy changes involving buildings or building systems governed by the Minnesota State Building Code in Clearwater County.
- The State Building Code applies statewide, but municipal enforcement depends on whether the municipality is required to administer the code or has adopted it by ordinance.
- The State Building Code does not apply to agricultural buildings except for the statutory state-inspection and skylight exceptions.
“shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.”
Chapter 326B Minnesota Statutes ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)
An owner of residential real estate who personally builds or improves residential real estate, as an exemption from the residential contractor licensing requirement.
- The owner must occupy or intend to occupy the residential real estate for residential purposes, or retain ownership for rental purposes after completion.
- The exemption does not apply when the owner constructs or improves residential real estate for resale or speculation.
- An owner is presumed to be building or improving for speculation if the owner constructs or improves more than one property within any 24-month period, unless the properties will be retained for rental purposes.
- This is a contractor-licensing exemption and does not waive applicable building permits, inspections, or certificates of occupancy.
speculation presumption threshold: > 1 additional property within 24 months (The presumption does not apply if the properties will be retained by the owner for rental purposes.)
“The license requirement does not apply to: [...] an owner of residential real estate who builds or improves residential real estate”
Sec. 326B.805 MN Statutes ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Available (with conditions) — An owner of residential real estate performing residential construction or improvement work in Clearwater County that would otherwise require residential contractor licensing.
  “The license requirement does not apply to: [...] an owner of residential real estate who builds or improves residential real estate”
  Minnesota Statutes Section 326B.805 ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)
Construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, and use of buildings and other structures of the type governed by the Minnesota State Building Code throughout Minnesota.
- The State Building Code supersedes the building code of any municipality.
- The State Building Code does not apply to agricultural buildings except for the state inspections and rulemaking identified in Minnesota Statutes section 326B.121, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), clause (1), and the structural-support requirement for translucent panels or other skylights without raised curbs in clause (2).
- The 2020 Minnesota State Building Code is effective March 31, 2020, except the Minnesota Mechanical Fuel Gas Code, which is effective April 6, 2020.
- Municipal enforcement generally requires adoption by local ordinance, subject to statutory requirements for certain municipalities and statutory enforcement responsibilities where no adoption ordinance is in effect.
- The 2024 Minnesota Commercial Energy Code is effective January 5, 2024.
- Requirements for adult changing stations are effective August 15, 2025, and requirements for window-cleaning safety features are effective November 7, 2025, according to the Department of Labor and Industry update page.
2020 Minnesota State Building Code effective date: 2020-03-31 (Minnesota Mechanical Fuel Gas Code effective 2020-04-06) · 2024 Minnesota Commercial Energy Code effective date: 2024-01-05 · Adult changing station supplement effective date: 2025-08-15 · Window-cleaning safety feature supplement effective date: 2025-11-07
“(a) 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.”
2025 Minnesota Statutes, section 326B.121 ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
InspectionsRequired
Work in Clearwater County for which a Minnesota State Building Code permit is required.
- Inspection applies to work for which a permit is required.
- The work must remain accessible and exposed until approved.
- The permit applicant must maintain an inspection record card until final approval.
- The person doing the work must notify the building official when the work is ready and provide access and means for inspection.
- A final inspection is required for all work for which a permit is issued.
“Construction or work for which a permit is required is subject to inspection by the building official”
Minnesota Rules Part 1300.0210, Inspections ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Required — Construction or work for which a Minnesota State Building Code permit is required.
  “Construction or work for which a permit is required is subject to inspection by the building official”
  1300.0210 INSPECTIONS ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
Certificate of occupancyRequired
Use or occupancy of buildings and structures in Clearwater County governed by the Minnesota State Building Code, including changes in occupancy classification.
- A municipality has the option of requiring certificates of occupancy for Group U occupancies constructed under the International Building Code, accessory structures constructed under the International Residential Code, or used manufactured homes moved into or within a jurisdiction.
- The certificate is issued after the building official inspects the building or structure and finds no violations of the code or other enforced laws.
- A temporary certificate may be issued before all work is complete if the occupied portion is safe, for a period set by the building official.
- The certificate may be suspended or revoked if issued in error, based on incorrect information, or if the building or use violates an ordinance, regulation, or code provision.
“No building or structure shall be used or occupied [...] until the building official has issued a certificate of occupancy”
Minnesota Rules Chapter 1300, Certificate of Occupancy ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
Camping on your landLimited
Private or public areas accommodating five or more tents or recreational camping vehicles on a daily, nightly, weekly, or longer basis
- An annual license from the Minnesota Department of Health is required before establishing, maintaining, conducting, or operating a recreational camping area.
- The license requires application, payment of the statutory fee, and approval for operation including plan review.
- A recreational camping area excludes children's camps, industrial camps, migrant labor camps, United States Forest Service camps, state forest service camps, qualifying state wildlife-management or state-owned public-access areas, qualifying temporary holding areas adjacent to motorsports facilities, and a privately owned area used by a private club no more than once annually and no longer than seven consecutive days.
- A special event recreational camping area operates no more than two times annually and for no more than 14 consecutive days.
- The statute does not resolve local zoning or land-use requirements.
minimum accommodated tents or recreational camping vehicles: >= 5 units (Statutory exclusions apply.) · special event operating frequency: <= 2 times annually (Special event recreational camping area.) · special event duration: <= 14 consecutive days (Special event recreational camping area.) · annual license base fee for recreational camping area with 24 or fewer sites: 100 USD (Additional $8 per licensed site; special event areas are excluded from that per-site paragraph.) · annual license base fee for recreational camping area with 25 to 99 sites: 410 USD (Additional $8 per licensed site; special event areas are excluded from that per-site paragraph.) · annual license base fee for recreational camping area with 100 or more sites: 610 USD (Additional $8 per licensed site; special event areas are excluded from that per-site paragraph.)
“"Recreational camping area" means any area, whether privately or publicly owned, used on a daily, nightly, weekly, or longer basis for the accommodation of five or more tents or recreational camping vehicles free of charge or for compensation. [...] "Special event recreational camping area" means a recreational camping area which operates no more than two times annually and for no more than 14 consecutive days. [...] No person, firm or corporation shall establish, maintain, conduct or operate a manufactured home park or recreational camping area within this state without first obtaining an annual license from the state Department of Health.”
2025 Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 327 ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Limited — Temporary camping in a special event recreational camping area, including in Clearwater County.
  “"Special event recreational camping area" means a recreational camping area which operates no more than two times annually and for no more than 14 consecutive days.”
  Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 327 ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
Manufactured homesLimited
New manufactured homes installed for occupancy statewide in Minnesota
- Inspection is required under Federal Installation Standards Programs, CFR 3285 and 3286.
- Manufactured-home alterations require documentation submitted for review to the Department of Labor and Industry or the local authority having jurisdiction before work begins.
- Local building officials and local code enforcement may apply depending on the municipality.
“All new manufactured homes installed in Minnesota for occupancy are required to be inspected according to the Federal Installation Standards Programs, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 3285 and 3286.”
Manufactured home information ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
Who permits septicMixed
Minnesota subsurface sewage treatment systems statewide.
- MPCA establishes the statewide regulatory framework.
- Counties, cities, and townships implement and enforce the rules through local ordinances.
- Local government units may impose requirements stricter than the minimum state requirements.
- Counties, cities, and townships issue construction permits for most SSTS; MPCA permits large systems designed for flows greater than 10,000 gallons per day.
large SSTS permitting threshold: > 10000 gallons per day
“Counties, cities, and townships review designs and issue construction permits for most SSTS in Minnesota, but large sub-surface sewage treatment systems (LSTS) — designed to manage a flow of greater than 10,000 gallons a day — must be permitted by the MPCA”
SSTS design ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
Septic permitRequired
Construction of most Minnesota SSTS, with construction permits issued by the applicable county, city, or township; large SSTS require MPCA permitting.
- Local authority and local ordinance requirements vary.
- Large SSTS designed for a flow greater than 10,000 gallons per day must be permitted by MPCA.
- Local government units may adopt stricter requirements.
large SSTS design flow: > 10000 gallons per day (Systems at or below this threshold are generally reviewed and permitted by counties, cities, or townships.)
“Counties, cities, and townships review designs and issue construction permits for most SSTS in Minnesota, but large sub-surface sewage treatment systems (LSTS) — designed to manage a flow of greater than 10,000 gallons a day — must be permitted by the MPCA”
SSTS design ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
Off-grid sanitationLimited
Primitive dwellings using toilet-waste treatment devices in low dwelling-density areas, and privies governed by Minnesota SSTS rules.
- Septage disposal by the owner must follow local ordinances.
- If no local ordinance exists, septage must not be discharged to surface waters, drainageways, steeply sloping areas, or wet areas in a manner or volume harmful to the environment or public health or that creates a nuisance.
- Material must be buried or covered with soil.
- If site conditions do not meet the rule, solids disposal must be performed under the applicable rule by a licensed maintenance business.
- Privy solids must be removed when the privy is filled to one-half capacity.
- Abandoned pits must have sewage solids and contaminated soil removed and be filled with clean earth and slightly mounded.
privy solids removal threshold: 50 percent capacity
“For primitive dwellings using toilet waste treatment devices in low dwelling density areas, septage disposal from these devices by the owner must be in accordance with local ordinances. If no ordinance exists, the septage must not be discharged to surface waters, drainageways, steeply sloping areas, or wet areas in a manner or volume that is harmful to the environment or public health or that creates a nuisance. The material must be buried or covered with soil.”
Minnesota Administrative Rules, part 7080.2450 Maintenance ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
Well permitLimited
Construction of water-supply wells in Clearwater County under Minnesota’s statewide well-construction program.
- Before construction, a well notification and filing fee must be submitted to the commissioner.
- The notification requirement does not apply before construction of a temporary boring.
- An individual constructing a drive-point water-supply well on owned or leased property for farming, agricultural purposes, or the individual's place of abode must notify the commissioner within ten days after completion; no fee may be charged for that notification.
- The well notification preempts local permits and notifications; a county may require a local permit or notification only if the commissioner has delegated that authority.
- If the well requires a Department of Natural Resources appropriation permit, specified location, aquifer, and pumpage information must be submitted and preliminary approval received before construction.
- Each water-supply well requires notification; the notification must be made before construction and is valid for 18 months from filing.
well notification timing: before construction (Drive-point well owner notification may be filed within ten days after completion under the statutory exception.) · notification validity: 18 months
“a person may not construct a water-supply, dewatering, or environmental well until a notification [...] is filed with the commissioner”
2025 Minnesota Statutes, Section 103I.205: Well Construction ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)
Agricultural buildings in Clearwater County and elsewhere in Minnesota, for purposes of the Minnesota State Building Code
- The exemption is from the State Building Code, not a blanket exemption from county shoreland, subdivision, sewage, or other land-use controls.
- The statute defines an agricultural building as a structure on agricultural land as determined by the governing assessor under Minnesota Statutes section 273.13, subdivision 23; designed, constructed, and used to house farm implements, livestock, or agricultural products under that section; and used by the owner, lessee, sublessee, immediate family members, employees, or persons engaged in pickup or delivery of agricultural products.
- Exceptions remain for state inspections or rulemaking authorized by sections 103F.141, 216C.19, subdivision 9, and 326B.36, and for translucent panels or other skylights without raised curbs, which must have equivalent load-bearing capacity as the surrounding roof.
“The State Building Code does not apply to agricultural buildings except: (1) with respect to state inspections required or rulemaking authorized by sections 103F.141; 216C.19, subdivision 9; and 326B.36; and (2) translucent panels or other skylights without raised curbs shall be supported to have equivalent load-bearing capacity as the surrounding roof.”
Minnesota Statutes § 326B.121 ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)
Subdivision regulation by Minnesota municipalities that adopt subdivision regulations under Minnesota Statutes section 462.358.
- A municipality may adopt subdivision regulations by ordinance; the statute does not establish one uniform ordinance applicable to every municipality.
- Regulations may apply only to certain classes or kinds of subdivisions and must be uniform for each class or kind.
- A municipality may extend its subdivision regulations to unincorporated territory within two miles of its limits, subject to the statutory exception for towns that have adopted subdivision regulations.
- Regulations may address lot size, location, grading, improvements, utilities, site planning, floodplains, shorelands, soils, water, vegetation, energy, air quality, and geologic and ecological features.
- Regulations may prohibit certain classes or kinds of subdivisions when consistent with the comprehensive plan and statutory purposes.
- All subdivisions creating five or more lots or parcels that are 2-1/2 acres or less in size must be platted when subject to the municipal subdivision regulations.
municipal extension distance: <= 2 miles (Unincorporated territory; not in a town which has adopted subdivision regulations.) · mandatory platting threshold: >= 5 lots or parcels (Each lot or parcel is 2-1/2 acres or less in size.) · maximum parcel size for mandatory platting: <= 2.5 acres (Applies to subdivisions creating five or more lots or parcels.)
“a municipality may by ordinance adopt subdivision regulations establishing standards, requirements, and procedures for the review and approval or disapproval of subdivisions.”
2025 Minnesota Statutes, Section 462.358: Official Controls: Subdivision Regulation; Dedication ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
county zoning authorityLimited
County planning and zoning authority over unincorporated areas of Minnesota.
- The authority applies to a county having less than 300,000 population according to the 1950 federal census.
- The statute authorizes county planning and zoning activities generally within the qualifying counties; it does not identify a separate unincorporated-area limitation in this section.
- Except as otherwise provided, a county regardless of population must not enact, amend, or enforce an ordinance eliminating or terminating a lawful use by amortization.
- The amortization prohibition does not apply to adults-only bookstores, adults-only theaters, or similar adults-only businesses as defined by ordinance.
- The amortization subdivision does not prohibit nuisance-prevention or nuisance-abatement enforcement or elimination of a use determined to be a public nuisance without payment of compensation.
population threshold: < 300000 persons (According to the 1950 federal census)
“having less than 300,000 population according to the 1950 federal census is authorized to carry on county planning and zoning activities.”
Minnesota Statutes 2025, section 394.21: Authority to Carry on County Planning and Zoning ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings in Clearwater County shoreland areas subject to the Clearwater County Shoreland Management Ordinance
Lot coverage — Lot coverage in Clearwater County shoreland areas
Tiny homes — Occupancy of tiny homes on private land in Clearwater County, including unincorporated areas.
Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units on private land in Clearwater County, including unincorporated areas.
Mandatory utility hookup — Water and sewer connection requirements for properties in Clearwater County.

1 more unanswered

Short-term rentals

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.

Water rights & wells in Clearwater County

Whether a new home can legally get its own water here — the sub-state groundwater regime, from Minnesota’s water agency.

Actively managed

This basin is under active state management — new water use is scrutinized, though a domestic well is usually still allowed.

Household wellExempt up to a limit

Regulated-riparian: appropriation permits apply above 10,000 gpd / 1 million gal/yr. Domestic use under those thresholds is exempt; a well-construction notification to the MN Dept. of Health is still required. Household use is far below the cap.

Limit: <=10,000 gpd and <=1,000,000 gal/yr serving <=25 persons

Minnesota DNR — Do I need a water permit? ↗

Straight River Groundwater Management Arealocalized of county
DNR-designated GWMA where irrigation withdrawals from a sand-plain aquifer affect trout streams and lake levels; new/expanded appropriation permits get heightened review. Domestic wells exempt.
Minnesota DNR — Straight River GWMA ↗

Regulated-riparian state (large uses permitted). Groundwater rules change and basin boundaries follow the aquifer, not the county line — confirm current well and appropriation rules with the Minnesota state water agency before you buy or drill.Groundwater governance as of Jul 2026, cited to each administering agency.

Living off-grid in Clearwater County, Minnesota

Is Clearwater County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Clearwater County scores 80/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: sparse surroundings — about 9,204 people within 15 miles and manageable long-term carry cost.

Do you need a building permit in Clearwater County, Minnesota?

Clearwater County requires a building permit only in limited cases (such as floodplains or specific zones), and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Clearwater County Office of Environmental Services. Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Clearwater County, Minnesota?

Land in Clearwater County runs about $2,881 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Clearwater County?

Clearwater County gets about 24.9" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 7.6% of years. On water rights, Clearwater County lies in the Straight River Groundwater Management Area — DNR-designated GWMA where irrigation withdrawals from a sand-plain aquifer affect trout streams and lake levels; new/expanded appropriation permits get heightened review. Domestic wells exempt..

How remote is Clearwater County?

A typical private-land location has about 9,204 people within 15 miles and 566,540 within 100 miles. These radius catchments are the published fallback where road routing is unavailable.

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Clearwater County, Minnesota

At a glance

Who to call

Do you need a building permit in Clearwater County, Minnesota?

Who handles permits in Clearwater County, and how do you reach them?

Does Clearwater County have zoning?

How do septic permits work in Clearwater County?

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Clearwater County?

Building a home in Clearwater County: the steps, in order

What to check before you buy land in Clearwater County

Watch-outs

Sources

Clearwater County in Minnesota

How Clearwater County scores

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Parcel due diligence

Answers from the rulebook for Clearwater County

Clearwater County rules

Minnesota rules that apply here

Still unanswered

Water rights & wells in Clearwater County

Living off-grid in Clearwater County, Minnesota

Is Clearwater County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Do you need a building permit in Clearwater County, Minnesota?

How much does land cost in Clearwater County, Minnesota?

What is the water situation in Clearwater County?

How remote is Clearwater County?

How Clearwater compares in Minnesota