Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Leonard, Minnesota

Rules another office applies inside Leonard

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

• Building permitRequired

  Code-regulated construction inside Leonard city when a building official administers the applicable State Building Code requirement.

  • Ordinary repairs and enumerated work exemptions in Minnesota Rules part 1300.0120 are not subject to the general permit requirement.

  “An owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any gas, mechanical, electrical, plumbing system, or other equipment, the installation of which is regulated by the code; or cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  An owner building or improving residential real estate inside Leonard city.

  • The owner must occupy or intend to occupy the property for residential purposes, or retain it for rental purposes after completion.
  • The exemption does not apply if construction or improvement is for resale or speculation.

  “an owner of residential real estate who builds or improves residential real estate if the owner occupies or will occupy the residential real estate for residential purposes, or will retain ownership for rental purposes upon completion of the building or improvement. This exemption does not apply to an owner who constructs or improves residential real estate for purposes of resale or speculation.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  State Building Code standards apply to covered construction inside Leonard city.

  • Applies only to buildings and structures of the type governed by the code.

  “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.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Subsurface sewage treatment systems inside Leonard city, which is identified by Clearwater County as City of Leonard.

  • County Environmental Services says it issues sewage permits countywide.

  “The Clearwater County Office of Environmental Services administers and enforces the following: [...] Inspections of new Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems [...] Issues Sewage Permits county wide”

• Off-grid sanitationAllowed (with conditions)

  Privies serving property inside Leonard city where County Environmental Services' SSTS rules apply.

  • A privy must meet required conditions.

  “Privies (outhouses) may be allowed if they can meet required conditions.”

• Well permitLimited

  New water-supply wells inside Leonard city.

  • The contractor or well owner must submit the notification and applicable fee before drilling.
  • Certain other well or boring types require a permit rather than notification.

  “Prior to the start of drilling a water-supply well, the Contractor or well owner must submit a “notification” form, with the appropriate fee, to MDH.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Individual sewage treatment system permits inside Leonard city under Clearwater County's countywide sewage-permit program.

  • The stated schedule identifies a normal individual sewage treatment system permit fee.

  Individual Sewage Treatment System Permit: 25 USD (Normal permit cost.)

  “Individual Sewage Treatment System Permit............... $ 25.00”

Still unanswered

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

• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Leonard city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered structures inside Leonard city limits.
• Local zoning — Land inside Leonard city limits.
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Leonard city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Leonard 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.