Bolthole Index

Dodge County, Minnesota

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Kasson, Minnesota

Kasson, Minnesota requires a building permit for a home; the city Planning & Zoning Department reviews and issues building permits inside city limits.1 Kasson sets its own zoning, while Dodge County’s zoning applies to rural land outside incorporated cities.23 For a property using private septic, Dodge County Environmental Services requires a permit for a new septic system; ask Kasson Planning & Zoning whether private sanitation is allowed on the parcel.4

At a glance

Building permits
City Planning & Zoning reviews and issues building permits1
Zoning
Kasson has city zoning districts2
Private septic
New systems require a Dodge County permit; confirm city approval for the parcel4
RV living
Motorhome or travel-trailer living or sleeping: at most 3 days per 12 months, except in a licensed trailer coach park5
Tiny homes
State dwelling-code requirements apply; ask Kasson for parcel-specific zoning approval6
Owner-builder
State contractor-licensing exemption may apply; building permits and inspections still apply7

Who to call

Building permits

Kasson Planning & Zoning Department

City building permit applications, zoning, variances and conditional-use questions

507-634-6326

401 5th St. S.E.

Building permits

Kasson Building Permit Process

Application documents, construction inspections and completion requirements

Septic permits

Dodge County Environmental Services Department

New private septic system permits, soil verification and installation inspections; confirm jurisdiction for the Kasson address

507-635-6272

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Kasson means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Do you need a building permit in Kasson, MN?

A home in Kasson needs a city building permit, and the Planning & Zoning Department reviews and issues building permits for compliance with zoning and construction requirements.1 Kasson’s building permit fees are based on construction valuation, with the applicable charges set through the City Fee Schedule; pay the fees when collecting the building permit before construction.8 A qualifying owner-builder can be exempt from Minnesota residential contractor licensing, but that exemption does not waive building permits, inspections or occupancy requirements.7

Who issues building permits in Kasson, and how do you apply?

Start with Kasson Planning & Zoning at City Hall, 401 5th St. S.E., or call 507-634-6326 for building and planning questions.1 Kasson building permit applications can be downloaded, printed and returned to City Hall for processing; building inspections and engineering are contracted services.1 The city’s published building permit process says review and issuance normally takes 10 to 14 working days; ask the department for current timing before scheduling construction.9 Arrange electrical permits and electrical inspections through the Minnesota State Electrical Inspector.9

Does Kasson have zoning, and what should you check on a lot?

Kasson has its own zoning districts inside city limits; Dodge County’s rural zoning ordinance is not the city’s zoning ordinance.23 Kasson Planning & Zoning handles variance, conditional-use and related planning questions, and the city requires structures to meet setback and easement requirements.1 Before choosing a house footprint, ask the department to identify the parcel’s district, permitted residential use, setbacks and easements.1 We could not confirm a general city minimum dwelling size or a complete district-specific lot-size and setback table; request those standards from Kasson Planning & Zoning.1

How do private septic systems and wells work in Kasson?

For a Kasson project without municipal water or sanitary sewer, the city’s building application instructions request on-site and well information.9 Confirm with Kasson Planning & Zoning whether the parcel may use private sanitation before ordering a septic design.1 Dodge County Environmental Services requires a permit for every new septic system and soil verification before approval; hire a designer for the site evaluation and design.4 A septic installer may begin only after permit approval and must notify Environmental Services 24 hours before construction for inspection.4 Minnesota generally requires a well notification and filing fee before construction, subject to statutory exceptions; we could not confirm a separate Kasson private-well rule.10

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Kasson?

Kasson limits use of a motorhome or travel trailer as living or sleeping quarters on private premises to 3 days in any 12-month period, except while the vehicle is in a licensed trailer coach park.5 That limit makes an RV on a private lot unsuitable as a long-term home during construction.5 Minnesota requires tiny houses used as dwellings to meet residential-code requirements, with local zoning controlling siting and building characteristics.6 We could not confirm a Kasson-specific tiny-home occupancy provision; bring the proposed dwelling type and parcel to Kasson Planning & Zoning before buying.1

What are the steps for building a home in Kasson?

  1. Ask Kasson Planning & Zoning to review the proposed use, setbacks and easements for the lot.1
  2. Submit the building permit application with a site plan showing property boundaries, building locations and distances to property lines, plus the property’s legal description and address.9
  3. Include 2 sets of plans with footing, foundation, wall and roof details, and on-site and well information if municipal utilities are absent.9
  4. Collect the building permit and pay the fees before construction; the owner-builder must arrange the required inspections.9
  5. Complete the approved work for issuance of the certificate of occupancy.11

What should you check before buying land in Kasson?

Confirm the parcel is inside Kasson city limits: for land outside incorporated cities, consult the Dodge County guide for the county’s rural zoning requirements.3 Ask Kasson Planning & Zoning about mapped floodplain restrictions before planning excavation or a house; Minnesota requires floodplain permits for projects such as houses, fill and culverts in regulated areas.112 Direct construction or modification of a driveway connecting to a Minnesota state highway requires a MnDOT access permit.13 Budget separately for the parcel’s tax bill: Dodge County’s effective property tax rate is 1.1%, a county-level figure rather than a Kasson parcel quote.14

Watch-outs

  • Kasson’s motorhome and travel-trailer sleeping limit is 3 days per 12 months on private premises, with an exception for licensed trailer coach parks.5
  • We could not confirm complete Kasson rules for off-grid sanitation or private-well eligibility; ask Kasson Planning & Zoning before committing to an unserved lot.1
  • An owner-builder licensing exemption does not eliminate Kasson building permits, inspections or occupancy requirements.7

Sources

  1. Kasson Planning & Zoning Department (cityofkasson.com)
  2. § 154.095 Base districts established (Kasson), quoted and re-checked
  3. Dodge County Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  4. Dodge County Environmental Services Department (dodgecountymn.gov)
  5. § 71.52 Use or occupancy on private property (Kasson), quoted and re-checked
  6. Tiny Houses and the 2020 Minnesota Residential Code (Minnesota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. revisor.mn.gov (Minnesota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. § 151.05 Permits; fees (Kasson), quoted and re-checked
  9. Kasson Building Permit Process (cityofkasson.com)
  10. 2025 Minnesota Statutes, section 103I.205: Well Construction (Minnesota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. City of Kasson Building Permit Process (Kasson), quoted and re-checked
  12. Floodplain Regulations (Minnesota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. MnDOT Access Management Manual, Chapter 4 (Minnesota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 12, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Kasson

Kasson’s own rules

  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Typical permitted building work inside Kasson city limits.

    • The certificate is issued upon completion of all approved work.
    “Certificate of Occupancy shall be issued upon completion of all approved work.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Kasson city limits.

    • The city code contains Chapter 154, Zoning, and establishes city zoning districts.
    “The incorporated area of the city is hereby divided into the following districts”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Use or occupancy of motorhomes and travel trailers as living or sleeping quarters on private premises inside Kasson city limits.

    • Use is limited to no more than three days in any 12-month period.
    • The rule does not apply while the vehicle is located in a licensed trailer coach park.

    maximum occupancy period: <= 3 days per 12 months (Licensed trailer coach parks are excluded)

    “No motorhome or travel trailer shall be used or occupied as living or sleeping quarters for more than three days in any 12-month period”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Building permits inside Kasson city limits.

    • The building permit fee and extension fee may be set from time to time by ordinance and refer to the City Fee Schedule.
    • The city permit-process document states permit fees are based on valuation established from Minnesota data sheets.
    • Applicant pays fees when picking up the permit before construction.
    “The fee for a building permit and the fee for an extension of a building permit may be set from time to time by ordinance”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders performing construction inside Kasson city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family residential districts inside Kasson city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Lots inside Kasson city limits.
  • Building height — Buildings inside Kasson city limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping generally inside Kasson city limits.
5 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Building in a floodplain

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Kasson publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Dodge County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Dodge County: county rules, score and offices