Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Manhattan Beach, Minnesota

Manhattan Beach’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction of any structure inside Manhattan Beach city limits under the City's zoning ordinance.

  • A zoning permit application must be made to the Zoning Administrator.
  • Uses requiring Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, or City Council action require that approval before the zoning permit.
  • Structures not exceeding 25 square feet and specified other items are exempt from the zoning-permit requirement.

  “A zoning permit is required prior to commencement of construction of any structure, the installation and/or alteration of sewage treatment systems, and those grading and filling activities not exempted by Section 8 of this ordinance.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Sewage-system installations or alterations and structures or activities requiring a conditional-use permit inside Manhattan Beach city limits.

  • The certificate states land use conforms to the ordinance.
  • A conditional-use certificate remains subject to continuous compliance with permit conditions.

  “The Zoning Administrator shall issue a certificate of zoning compliance for the installation and/or alteration of each sewage treatment system and for every structure or activity requiring a conditional use permit.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Manhattan Beach city limits.

  • The ordinance allows variances where specifically provided.

  “The provisions of this ordinance shall apply to the City of Manhattan Beach.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Manhattan Beach city limits.

  • District boundaries are shown on the official map filed in the City Clerk's office.
  • The map may be amended under Section 10.01.

  “The City of Manhattan beach is hereby divided into the land use districts provided below as shown on the official map, which may be amended from time to time according to the procedures of Section 10.01.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Rural Residential single-family district inside Manhattan Beach city limits.

  • The standard in the Section 5.01 table is four acres and 300 feet lot width.
  • Shoreland lots are subject to Section 8 shoreland standards.

  minimum lot area: >= 4 acres (Rural Residential single-family district) · minimum lot width: >= 300 feet (Rural Residential single-family district)

  “Lot Area (in acres) * * * 4ac 5ac * 20,000 sq. feet Lot Width * * * 300 200 * 100”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Rural Residential district inside Manhattan Beach city limits.

  • The listed limit is impervious coverage.
  • Open District shoreland lots have separate limits by water classification.

  maximum impervious coverage: <= 20 percent (Rural Residential district)

  “Impervious Coverage 20% 20% 20% 20% 20% 20% 35% 35% 25%”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Rural Residential district inside Manhattan Beach city limits.

  • Agricultural buildings and churches may be taller.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (Rural Residential district; agricultural buildings and churches may be taller)

  “No structures in non-shoreland area residential districts, except churches and agricultural buildings, shall exceed 35 feet in height.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Recreational-vehicle use on private lots inside Manhattan Beach city limits other than campgrounds.

  • A zoning permit allows temporary use for one June-through-May calendar year and may be renewed for three consecutive years.
  • Use beyond three years requires an interim-use permit.
  • Guest use up to 21 consecutive days per year needs no permit.
  • Temporary use is only allowed on lots with conforming water supply and sewage systems.

  guest use without permit: <= 21 consecutive days per year · zoning-permit renewal period: 3 consecutive years (Use beyond three years requires an interim use permit.)

  “Temporary placement for use of recreational vehicles other than in a campground shall be allowed with a zoning permit for one (1) calendar year (June through May). The zoning permit may be renewed for three (3) consecutive years. Any use of a recreational vehicle greater than three (3) years requires an interim use permit.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camping use inside Manhattan Beach city limits.

  • Camping is conditional in Rural Residential and Commercial districts.
  • Camping is prohibited in Residential Shoreland, Commercial Shoreland, Public, and Open districts.

  “P = Denotes Permit Required I = Denotes Interim Use Permit Required C = Denotes Conditional Use Permit Required A = Denotes Allowed Use W/O Permit X = Denotes Prohibited Use”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  A second dwelling on a single lot inside Manhattan Beach city limits.

  • A conditional-use permit is required.
  • No dwelling unit may be rented, leased, or subleased more than four times per year.

  maximum rental, lease, or sublease occurrences: <= 4 times per year

  “Second dwellings on a single lot may be allowed only under a conditional use permit. However, no dwelling unit shall be rented, leased, or subleased more than four times per year.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-site sewage treatment systems inside Manhattan Beach city limits.

  • The City Zoning Administrator issues the required zoning permit.
  • Installation inspection and acceptance is by the authorized Minnesota-licensed septic inspector for the City.

  “No part of the sewage treatment system shall be covered until it has been inspected and accepted by the authorized, Minnesota-licensed septic inspector for the city.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation or upgrading of a sewage treatment system inside Manhattan Beach city limits.

  • The project requires a proper zoning permit before installation or upgrading begins.
  • The system must be installed in accordance with Minnesota PCA chapter 7080.

  “A proper zoning permit for the project shall be obtained prior to commencement of installation or upgrading of any sewage treatment system.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New or altered sewage treatment systems inside Manhattan Beach city limits.

  • No part of the system may be covered before inspection and acceptance.
  • The applicant or installer must notify the City septic inspector when ready for inspection.
  • Commercial Shoreland systems must be inspected and have sewage removed if the inspector deems it necessary at least every two years.

  “No part of the sewage treatment system shall be covered until it has been inspected and accepted by the authorized, Minnesota-licensed septic inspector for the city. It shall be the responsibility of the applicant and/or the installer to notify the city septic inspector when the job is ready for inspection.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private sewage treatment for human occupancy inside Manhattan Beach city limits where publicly owned sewer is unavailable.

  • Private systems must meet or exceed MPCA Chapter 7080 individual sewage treatment system standards.
  • On-site systems must comply with ordinance setbacks.

  “All private sewage treatment systems must meet or exceed the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's standards for individual sewage treatment systems contained in the document titled, "Individual Sewage Treatment Systems Standards, Chapter 7080, a copy of which is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this ordinance.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Premises used for human occupancy inside Manhattan Beach city limits.

  • Publicly owned sewer systems must be used where available.
  • If no public sewer is available, a private system must meet or exceed MPCA individual sewage treatment system standards.

  “Publicly-owned sewer systems must be used where available.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision plats inside Manhattan Beach city limits.

  • The Planning Commission makes recommendations on preliminary plats and final plats.
  • Final plats require City Council approval and recording with the County Recorder.
  • A preliminary plat is valid for one year unless the applicant and City Council agree otherwise.

  preliminary subdivision approval period: <= 120 days (Unless the City and applicant agree to an extension) · final approval certification period: <= 60 days (If the applicant complies with all applicable conditions and requirements)

  “A subdivision shall be preliminarily approved or disapproved within 120 days following submission of an application completed in compliance with this ordinance, unless an extension of the review period has been agreed to by the City and the applicant.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  A driveway entrance onto a City street inside Manhattan Beach city limits.

  • Application, permit fee, and construction deposit must be delivered before construction.
  • County-road access requires a Crow Wing County permit.
  • The driveway must meet City intersection, width, setback, spacing, culvert, and wetland-permit standards.

  “An application for a driveway entrance permit, along with the permit fee and construction deposit shall be delivered to the City prior to commencement of construction of a driveway entrance onto a City street.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Rental, lease, or sublease of dwelling units inside Manhattan Beach city limits.

  • No dwelling unit may be rented, leased, or subleased more than four times per year.
  • The cited rule occurs in the City's residential-use standards.

  maximum rental, lease, or sublease occurrences: <= 4 times per year

  “However, no dwelling unit shall be rented, leased, or subleased more than four times per year.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  City permits, variances, and plats inside Manhattan Beach city limits.

  • The City Council annually adopts the fee schedule.
  • Fees are due when the application is submitted to the Zoning Administrator.

  “CityofManhattanBeach ZoningPermit FeeSchedule (Non-refundable)”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning-permit applications inside Manhattan Beach city limits.

  • Apply to the Zoning Administrator using the forms provided.
  • The application must provide information needed to determine site suitability and whether a compliant sewage treatment system will be provided.
  • Where another City approval is required, that approval must issue before the zoning permit.

  “Application for a permit shall be made to the Zoning Administrator on the forms provided. The application shall include the necessary information so that the Zoning Administrator can determine the site's suitability for the intended use and that a compliant sewage treatment system will be provided.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Manhattan Beach city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption and enforcement inside Manhattan Beach city limits.
• Inspections — General building inspections for construction inside Manhattan Beach city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Manhattan Beach city limits.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Manhattan Beach 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.