Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Claremont, Minnesota

Claremont’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, improving, removing, converting, or demolishing a building or structure inside Claremont.

  • The brochure excepts work exempted within that document.
  • Permit must be obtained before work commences.

  “Building permits must be obtained PRIOR to commencement of work.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  All land, structures, and waters inside Claremont city limits.

  • The city code chapter applies within the corporate limits.

  “This Chapter shall be applicable to all lands, structures and waters within the corporate limits of Claremont, Minnesota.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles on residential lots and public property inside Claremont.

  • One vehicle may be parked in the rear yard of any district, but permanent living quarters exceeding 10 days may not be maintained.
  • Overnight public-property parking is allowed only in public areas designed for overnight or en-route stops; camping there may not exceed 10 consecutive days or nights.

  maximum nonpermanent RV occupancy: <= 10 days (Rear-yard parking of one vehicle is allowed, but no permanent living quarters may be maintained.)

  “Recreation vehicles shall not be parked or occupied on the premises of any occupied dwelling or any residential lot; except, the parking of one vehicle in the rear yard of any district may be allowed, provided that no permanent living quarters (occupancy exceeding 10 days) shall be maintained or business practiced in the vehicle.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camping on public property and campgrounds inside Claremont.

  • Camping of trailers in authorized public areas may not exceed 10 consecutive days or nights.
  • Resort campgrounds are conditional uses in the Agricultural District.

  authorized public-area camping duration: <= 10 consecutive days or nights (Applies to camping of trailers in authorized areas.)

  “Recreation trailers, boats, campers, or associated equipment shall not be allowed on any public property overnight except in those public areas specifically designed for overnight stops, or en-route stops. Camping of trailers in authorized areas shall not exceed ten (10) consecutive days or nights.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Manufactured homes in all residential districts inside Claremont.

  • The manufactured home must exceed 20 feet in width at its narrowest side.
  • The dwelling must be placed on a continuous permanent frost-free foundation.

  minimum width at narrowest side: > 20 feet

  “Manufactured homes shall be permitted in all residential districts provided they meet the following standards: A. Exceeds twenty (20) feet in width at the narrowest side. B. The dwelling is placed on a continuous permanent frost-free foundation consisting”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private sewage disposal for existing lots of record in Claremont where city sewage service is unavailable.

  • Private sewage disposal must meet Minnesota Pollution Control Agency standards.
  • A new occupied building must connect to city sewage disposal where available.

  “Each new occupied building shall be required to connect to the city sewage disposal system where it is available. For existing lots of record where city sewage service is not available, the private sewage disposal system shall meet the standards of the Minnesota Pollution control Agency (6MCAR #4.8040).”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Each new occupied building inside Claremont where city sewage disposal is available.

  • For an existing lot of record where city sewage service is unavailable, the private sewage-disposal system must meet Minnesota Pollution Control Agency standards.

  “Each new occupied building shall be required to connect to the city sewage disposal system where it is available. For existing lots of record where city sewage service is not available, the private sewage disposal system shall meet the standards of the Minnesota Pollution control Agency (6MCAR #4.8040).”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Access drives to principal structures and all lots or parcels inside Claremont.

  • County-road access drives require County Engineer review.
  • Driveways must be at least 10 feet wide and have road strength for emergency and fire vehicles.
  • Lots must have direct adequate physical access from a dedicated public roadway or Council-approved private roadway.

  minimum driveway width: >= 10 feet (Must also have road strength capable of supporting emergency and fire vehicles.)

  “Access drives onto county roads shall require a review by the County Engineer. The County Engineer shall determine the appropriate location, size, and design of such access drives and may limit the number of access drives in the interest of public safety and efficient traffic flow.”

Rules another office applies inside Claremont

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

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Plats after January 1, 1996, in Claremont's R-1 Suburban Residential District.

  • The regulation applies to plats after January 1, 1996.

  minimum lot area: 10000 square feet (All plats after January 1, 1996.)

  “Lot Area. The minimum lot area for all plats after January 1, 1996, shall be 10,000 square feet.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Buildings in Claremont's R-1 Suburban Residential District.

  • Includes accessory buildings.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 50 percent (Includes all buildings and accessory buildings.)

  “Lot Coverage. The maximum lot coverage of all buildings including accessory buildings shall not exceed fifty (50%) percent.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings in Claremont's R-1 Suburban Residential District.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (Two and one-half stories maximum.)

  “Height Regulations. The maximum height of all buildings shall not exceed two and one-half (2-1/2) stories or thirty-five (35) feet.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Claremont city limits.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Claremont city limits.
• Inspections — Building construction inside Claremont city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered buildings inside Claremont city limits.
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes used as dwellings inside Claremont 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.