Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Farmington, Minnesota

Farmington’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, alteration, repair, relocation, enlargement, demolition, or change of use or occupancy of a building or structure regulated by the State Building Code inside Farmington city limits.

  • Includes additions, decks, sheds larger than 200 square feet, permanent weather-resistant-surface work, and finishing previously unfinished spaces.

  shed threshold: > 200 square feet (Sheds larger than this size are included in the listed permit-required work.)

  “A building permit is required for any construction, alteration, repair, relocation, enlargement, demolition or change of use or occupancy to any building or structure regulated by the State Building Code. This includes building additions, decks, sheds larger than 200 square feet, work to a permanent weather-resistant surface (siding, roofing, windows) and finishing of previously unfinished spaces.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Farmington city limits.

  • The city is updating Title 10.

  “The City worked with HKGi to update the City’s Zoning Code (Title 10).”

• Manufactured homesAllowed

  Manufactured homes in the R-1 Low Density Residential District inside Farmington city limits.

  • Applies to the R-1 district.

  “Single-unit detached dwelling. Group daycare, twelve (12) or fewer persons. Group home, six (6) or fewer persons. Manufactured home. Public parks and playgrounds.”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed

  Accessory apartments in the A-1 Agriculture District inside Farmington city limits.

  • Listed as an accessory use in A-1.

  “Accessory apartment. Accessory structures. Daycare facilities, in home. Home occupations. Kennels, residential hobby. Solar energy systems.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision plats inside Farmington city limits.

  • The plat must be prepared, approved, and acknowledged as prescribed by Title 11 before recording in the Dakota County recorder's office.

  “Before any plat shall be of validity, it shall be referred to the city planning commission and approved by the city council as having fulfilled the requirements of this title.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Commercial and residential building-permit applications inside Farmington city limits.

  • Applications must be submitted through the city's cloud-based permitting system.

  “All commercial and residential building permit applications must be submitted online through our cloud‑based permitting system, which offers convenient access, easy document uploads, and faster communication.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Farmington city limits.
• Inspections — Building inspections for development inside Farmington city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Farmington city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Farmington city limits.
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Farmington 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.