Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Deerwood, Minnesota

Deerwood’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Work governed by Deerwood's building-code ordinance inside city limits.

  • Optional chapters are excepted unless specifically adopted in the ordinance.
  • The code is administered and enforced by the municipality's designated Minnesota Certified Building Official.

  “The Minnesota State Building Code, as adopted by the Commissioner of Administration pursuant to Minnesota Statutes chapter 16B.59 to 16B.75, including all of the amendments, rules, and regulations established, adopted, and published from time to time by the Minnesota Commissioner of Administration, through the Building Codes and Standards Division is hereby adopted by reference with the exception of the optional chapters, unless specifically adopted in this ordinance.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Deerwood city limits.

  • The City Planning Commission reviews proposed amendments and requests under the zoning ordinance.

  “Pursuant to M.S. § 462.357, Subd. 4, as it may be amended from time to time, the Planning Commission shall review all proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance, conduct public hearings as directed by the City Council or city policy, and make recommendations to the City Council concerning zoning ordinance amendments and their relation to the city comprehensive plan and other land use controls.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

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

  • The city regulates these systems under its wastewater chapter; systems must comply with Minnesota Rules chapter 7080.

  “Where a public sewer is not available under the provisions of 51.018, the building sewer shall be connected to a private wastewater disposal system complying with the provisions of this subchapter and Minn. Rules Ch. 7080, Design Standards for Individual Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems, as they may be amended from time to time.”

• Septic permitRequired

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

  • The owner must obtain a written city permit before construction and provide plans, specifications, and other information the city deems necessary.

  “Prior to commencement of construction of a private wastewater disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the city. The application for the permit shall be made on a form furnished by the city, which the applicant shall supplement by any plans, specifications and other information as are deemed necessary to the city.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Permitted private wastewater disposal systems inside Deerwood city limits.

  • The permit is ineffective until installation satisfies the city or authorized representative.
  • Applicant must notify the city before underground portions are covered; inspection must occur within 24 hours of notice.

  “A permit for a private wastewater disposal system shall not become effective until the installation is completed to the satisfaction of the city or its authorized representative. The city or its representative shall be allowed to inspect the work at any stage of construction, and in any event, the applicant for the permit shall notify the city when work is ready for final inspection, and before any underground portions are covered. The inspection shall be made within 24 hours of the receipt of notice.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private wastewater disposal inside Deerwood city limits where public sewer is unavailable.

  • Private wastewater systems must comply with the city wastewater chapter and Minnesota Rules chapter 7080.
  • The city requires a written permit before construction.

  “Where a public sewer is not available under the provisions of 51.018, the building sewer shall be connected to a private wastewater disposal system complying with the provisions of this subchapter and Minn. Rules Ch. 7080, Design Standards for Individual Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems, as they may be amended from time to time.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Wastewater-generating properties inside Deerwood city limits adjacent to a city public sanitary sewer.

  • Existing properties must connect within 365 days after the public sewer becomes operational if it is within 200 feet of the wastewater-generating structure.
  • Future buildings adjacent to public sewer must immediately connect.

  public sewer distance: <= 200 feet (Measured from the structure generating wastewater.) · existing-property connection deadline: 365 days (From date public sewer is operational.)

  “The owners of all houses, buildings or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other purposes from which wastewater is discharged, and which is situated within the city and adjacent to any street, alley or right-of-way in which there is now located, or may in the future be located, a public sanitary sewer of the city shall be required at the owner's expense to install a suitable service connection to the public sewer in accordance with provisions of this code within 365 days of the date the public sewer is operational; provided, the public sewer is within 200 feet of the structure generating the wastewater.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Deerwood city limits.

  • The Planning Commission makes recommendations under the applicable ordinance and reports to City Council.

  “The Planning Commission may make recommendations in relation to the subdividing of land as prescribed by the ordinance and may conduct public hearings as directed by the City Council or city policy. The Planning Commission shall report its recommendations to the City Council for action.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveways in areas zoned for residential use inside Deerwood city limits.

  • Driveway width is limited at the front or side lot line.
  • Where more than one driveway is desired or required, driveways must be separated by at least 70 feet.

  maximum driveway width: <= 25 percent of lot width (At the front or side lot line.) · multiple-driveway separation: >= 70 feet (Where more than one driveway is desired or required.)

  “Driveways in any area zoned for residential use shall not exceed 25% of the width at the front or side lot line. Where more than one driveway is desired or required, they shall be at least 70 feet apart.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Work governed by Deerwood's adopted building code.

  • Fees follow the fee schedule adopted by the City.
  • A surcharge is collected on all permits issued for work governed by the code under Minnesota Statutes section 16B.70.

  “Permit fees shall be assessed for work governed by this code in accordance with the fee schedule adopted by the City. In addition, a surcharge fee shall be collected on all permits issued for work governed by this code in accordance with Minnesota Statute 16B.70.”

• Permit processPartial

  Private wastewater disposal-system permitting inside Deerwood city limits.

  • Application is made on a city-provided form.
  • Applicant must supply plans, specifications, and other information deemed necessary by the city.

  “Prior to commencement of construction of a private wastewater disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the city. The application for the permit shall be made on a form furnished by the city, which the applicant shall supplement by any plans, specifications and other information as are deemed necessary to the city.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — General residential building construction inside Deerwood city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Deerwood city limits.
• Inspections — General residential building construction inside Deerwood city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered dwellings inside Deerwood city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Deerwood 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.