Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Elmore, Minnesota

Elmore’s own rules

• InspectionsRequired

  Installation of a building sewer connecting to Elmore's public sewer inside city limits.

  • The sewer must not be covered before inspection by the Council or its duly appointed representative.

  “Any sewer that has been laid from the street line to a public sewer shall, in no instance be covered until the same has been inspected by the Council, or their duly appointed representative.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Elmore city limits subject to the City's zoning and land-use permit program.

  • A zoning permit is required for changes to a property's layout, including the examples stated by the City.

  “Zoning Permits are required for all things that change the layout of your property, such as decks, fences, storage buildings and or containers, garages, etc. Please pick up the forms you need at City Hall.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Parking a recreational camping vehicle on City streets or rights-of-way inside Elmore city limits.

  • The rule does not resolve long-term RV occupancy on private land.
  • Parking more than 24 continuous hours is allowed only where signs designate a campsite or in a mobile home park.

  continuous street-or-right-of-way parking: <= 24 hours (Except where signs designate the place as a campsite or in a mobile home park.)

  “It is unlawful for any person to leave or park a recreational camping vehicle on or within the limits of any street or right-of-way for a continuous period in excess of twenty-four (24) hours, except where signs are erected designating the place as a campsite or in a mobile home park.”

• Off-grid sanitationProhibited

  Construction or maintenance of a privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool, or other facility intended or used for wastewater disposal inside Elmore city limits.

  • The prohibition is subject to provisions otherwise provided in the City's sewer-and-water chapter.

  “Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it shall be unlawful to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool or other facility intended or used for the disposal of wastewater.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Wastewater-generating houses, buildings, and properties inside Elmore city limits adjacent to a public sanitary sewer.

  • The public sewer must be within 200 feet of the wastewater-generating structure.
  • Existing qualifying property must connect within 365 days after the public sewer becomes operational.
  • Future buildings on property adjacent to public sewer must connect immediately.
  • A new connection is prohibited unless downstream capacity is available, as determined by the Utilities Superintendent.

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

• Driveway accessLimited

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

  • Where more than one driveway is desired or required, the driveways must be at least 70 feet apart.

  maximum driveway width at front or side lot line: <= 25 percent (Applies in any area zoned for residential use.) · multiple-driveway spacing: >= 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 feesPublished (with conditions)

  Public sewer-connection permits inside Elmore city limits.

  • The fee need not be paid by an owner whose property was previously assessed the fee.
  • The Code allows payment in ten equal annual installments with interest of not more than six percent annually on the unpaid balance.

  sewer connection fee: 125 USD (May be paid in ten equal annual installments if arranged as specified by the Code.)

  “No permit for connection to any public sewer or drain shall be issued until the owner of the property to be so connected, or his appointed representative, has deposited with the Clerk a sewer connection fee of One Hundred Twenty-five ($125.00) Dollars or has signed a request to have said fee paid in ten equal annual installments, each of which shall include an interest charge of not more than six (6%) per cent per annum on any unpaid balance of said fee, that said installments shall be annually certified to the County Auditor of Faribault County, on or before October 10th of each year, to be spread by him on the proper tax rolls of said County for collection along with other City taxes, except that said fee shall not be required of the owner of any property which has previously been assessed said fee.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Applications for public sewer-connection permits inside Elmore city limits.

  • Applications are made to the Clerk by the owner or appointed representative.
  • The application must state or show the construction plan and locations of branches, traps, and fixtures.
  • The Council must approve the application before the connection may be made.

  “All applications for sewer connection permits shall be made to the Clerk by the owner or the appointed representative of the owner of any property requesting permission to connect to the public sewer or drain system of the City. Such application shall state or show the plan of construction of said sewer or drain, the location of all branches, traps and fixtures connected therewith.”

Rules another office applies inside Elmore

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

• Well permitLimited

  Construction of a water-supply well inside Elmore city limits.

  • Before drilling, the contractor or well owner must submit the required notification form and fee to the Minnesota Department of Health.
  • The cited state procedure describes a notification rather than a construction permit for a water-supply well; other well or boring types may require permits.

  “Prior to the start of drilling a water-supply well, the Contractor or well owner must submit a “notification” form, with the appropriate fee, to MDH.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Elmore city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Elmore city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered dwellings inside Elmore city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Elmore city limits.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Elmore 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.