Bolthole Index

Faribault County, Minnesota

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Wells, Minnesota

Wells, Minnesota requires building permits for most construction projects, with applications available at City Hall.1 Wells administers city zoning, while Faribault County zoning applies outside incorporated city limits.23 Where public sewer is unavailable inside Wells, private wastewater construction requires a written city permit and compliance with Minnesota standards.45

At a glance

Building permits
Required for most construction; obtain applications at City Hall1
Zoning
City zoning; confirm the parcel’s district2
Private wastewater
Written city permit before construction where public sewer is unavailable4
RV living
We could not confirm permission; ask Wells City Hall6
Tiny homes
State dwelling standards apply; Wells zoning permission remains unconfirmed7
Lot size
R-2 single-family use: minimum 7,000 square feet8
Sewer connection
City connection permit and sufficient downstream capacity required9

Who to call

Building permits

Wells Building Official

City building-permit applications and construction review

507-553-6371

[email protected]

125 South Broadway Wells MN 56097

Planning & zoning

Wells Planning & Zoning Commission

City land-use approvals, variances, conditional uses, rezoning and subdivision applications

507-553-6371

[email protected]

125 South Broadway Wells MN 56097

Septic permits

Wells City Hall

Starting contact for the city private-wastewater permit and sewer-connection review

507-553-6371

[email protected]

125 South Broadway Wells MN 56097

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 Wells means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Wells, MN?

Wells requires building permits for most construction projects, and many projects also need zoning approval.1 Obtain the building-permit application at Wells City Hall and ask the Building Official to identify the approvals your specific work needs before construction begins.1 The Wells Building Official reviews proposed work against state building-code and city-code provisions; a decision may be appealed to the City Council.10

Wells sets building-permit fees through its city fee schedule, and the full fee is due when you apply.11 Wells says building permits are not valid until paid for and doubles the building-permit fee when the permit is issued after construction has begun.1

Who handles building permits and zoning applications in Wells?

Contact the Wells Building Official through City Hall at 507-553-6371; the city lists [email protected] for building correspondence.1 Wells City Hall is at 125 South Broadway, Wells MN 56097.1 Use the city building-inspection page for construction applications and the Planning & Zoning Commission page for land-use applications.16

The Wells Planning & Zoning Commission page directs applicants to print and return completed forms to City Hall.6 Wells zoning inspections check land-use compliance as part of the building-inspection process.12 For a private wastewater system within Wells, start with City Hall for the written city permit rather than assuming a building application also approves septic construction.413

Does Wells have zoning, lot-size rules and setbacks?

Wells has city zoning, and land uses must conform to the parcel’s zoning district and the other zoning-code requirements.2 Wells districts include general residential, multi-family residential, central business, general business, general industrial and agricultural zones.14 Ask Wells City Hall to confirm the district before choosing a house plan or buying a lot.6

In Wells’s R-2 Multi-Family Residential District, single-family use requires a minimum lot area of 7,000 square feet.8 For that same R-2 single-family use, the front and corner-side yards are 20 feet, the rear yard is 35 feet, and the interior-side yard is 10 feet.15 Those dimensions are district- and use-specific; the R-2 table gives different requirements for other uses.15

How do septic permits and sewer connections work inside Wells?

Where public sewer is unavailable inside Wells, private wastewater construction requires a written permit signed by the city before work starts.4 The application uses a city form and may require plans, specifications and other information.4 A private system must comply with Minnesota standards, and additional Minnesota Pollution Control Agency or Department of Health requirements may apply.5

Wells may inspect private wastewater work at any stage; the permit holder must notify the city for final inspection before underground portions are covered, with inspection within 72 hours after notice.16 When public sewer becomes available to property served by a private system, Wells requires connection within 30 days.9 A public-sewer connection also requires a written city permit and sufficient downstream capacity.9 Ask City Hall about sewer availability before budgeting for a private system.13

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on land in Wells?

We could not confirm whether Wells allows residential RV occupancy, temporary camping while building, or a tiny home on a particular lot; ask Wells City Hall about the proposed use and zoning district before buying.6 Minnesota’s tiny-house rules require dwelling units to meet residential building standards, while municipal zoning controls matters such as location, foundation type and building size.7 State tiny-house construction standards therefore do not establish permission for residential occupancy on a Wells parcel.7

Wells’s R-2 rules allow approved manufactured homes subject to R-1 design standards, approved skirting when no permanent foundation is used, and the manufactured-home-park provisions.17 That manufactured-home provision does not answer the separate RV or tiny-home question; request the city’s decision on the actual dwelling you propose.176

Building a home in Wells: what are the steps, in order?

  1. Confirm the Wells zoning district and whether the proposed residential use complies with city zoning before finalizing the layout.2
  2. Ask City Hall whether public sewer is available; obtain the appropriate city sewer-connection or private-wastewater permit.94
  3. Submit the building application through Wells City Hall and pay the full city building-permit fee at application.111
  4. Allow time for review: Wells asks for new-construction building applications at least 14 days before work starts and remodeling applications at least 7 days beforehand.1
  5. Arrange required land-use inspections and, for a private wastewater system, notify the city before covering underground work.1216

For land outside Wells city limits, consult the Faribault County guide: county zoning review applies outside incorporated cities.3 Direct driveway connections to a Minnesota state highway require a MnDOT access permit before construction or modification.18

Watch-outs

  • Wells doubles the building-permit fee for building permits issued after construction has begun.1
  • R-2 single-family lot dimensions are not a citywide standard for every Wells district or use.815
  • We could not confirm Wells’s local certificate-of-occupancy or private-well procedures; ask the Building Official and City Hall before scheduling a move or well work.113

Sources

  1. Wells Building Official (cityofwellsmn.gov)
  2. Chapter 152: Zoning Code (Wells), quoted and re-checked
  3. Administrative Split/Combine Information & Form, quoted and re-checked
  4. § 50.18 Private Wastewater Disposal (Wells), quoted and re-checked
  5. § 50.18 Private Wastewater Disposal (Wells), quoted and re-checked
  6. Wells Planning & Zoning Commission (cityofwellsmn.gov)
  7. Tiny Houses and the 2020 Minnesota Residential Code (Minnesota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. codelibrary.amlegal.com (Wells), quoted and re-checked
  9. § 50.19 Building Sewers and Connections (Wells), quoted and re-checked
  10. § 152.137 Building Permits (Wells), quoted and re-checked
  11. § 152.137 Building Permits (Wells), quoted and re-checked
  12. § 152.155 Zoning Administrator (Wells), quoted and re-checked
  13. Wells City Hall (cityofwellsmn.gov)
  14. § 152.020 Classification of Zones (Wells), quoted and re-checked
  15. codelibrary.amlegal.com (Wells), quoted and re-checked
  16. § 50.18 Private Wastewater Disposal (Wells), quoted and re-checked
  17. § 152.053 Performance Standards (Wells), quoted and re-checked
  18. MnDOT Access Management Manual, Chapter 4 (Minnesota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

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 Wells

Wells’s own rules

  • InspectionsRequired

    Land-use compliance inspections conducted as part of the building inspection process inside Wells city limits.

    • The Zoning Administrator conducts inspections as directed by the Planning and Zoning Commission or City Council.
    “Conduct inspections of land use as part of the building inspection process and as directed by the Planning and Zoning Commission or City Council to determine compliance with terms of this chapter;”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Wells city limits; the city adopts and administers Chapter 152, Zoning Code.

    • Land uses must conform to the specific zone regulations and other chapter regulations.
    “The land areas of the city have been divided into zoning districts that vary in their regulation of land uses.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Wells city zoning districts.

    • The code states that land uses must conform to the specific zoning-district regulations.
    “For the purpose of this chapter, the following zones are hereby established: (1) R-1 General Residential District Zone; (2) R-2 Multi-Family Residential District Zone; (3) C-1 Central Business District Zone; (4) C-2 General Business District Zone; (5) I-1 General Industrial District Zone; and (6) A Agricultural District Zone.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes in the R-2 Multi-Family Residential District inside Wells city limits.

    • An approved manufactured home must comply with all R-1 design standards.
    • A manufactured home not placed on a permanent foundation must be skirted as approved by the City Building Official.
    • Manufactured homes must conform to the manufactured-home-park section.
    “An approved manufactured home shall comply with all R-1 design standards. In addition, all manufactured homes not placed on a permanent foundation shall be skirted in a manner approved by the City Building Official.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Private wastewater systems inside Wells city limits.

    • The city issues the private wastewater permit and inspects the work.
    • The system must comply with the cited Minnesota sewage-treatment standard.
    • Additional MPCA or Minnesota Department of Health requirements may apply.
    “Prior to commencement of construction of a private wastewater disposal system, the owner(s) shall first obtain a written permit signed by the city.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction of a private wastewater disposal system inside Wells city limits where public sewer is unavailable.

    • A written permit signed by the city is required before construction begins.
    • The application uses a city form and may require plans, specifications, and other information.
    “Prior to commencement of construction of a private wastewater disposal system, the owner(s) shall first obtain a written permit signed by the city.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Private wastewater disposal systems inside Wells city limits.

    • The city may inspect at any construction stage.
    • The permit holder must notify the city for final inspection before underground portions are covered.
    • Inspection must occur within 72 hours after notice.

    inspection deadline after notice: 72 hours

    “The city or its representative shall be allowed to inspect the work at any stage of construction, and, in any event, the applicant for the permit shall notify the city when work is ready for final inspection, and before any underground portions are covered. The inspection shall be made within 72 hours of the receipt of notice.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private wastewater disposal where public sewer is unavailable inside Wells city limits.

    • A city permit is required.
    • The system must comply with Minnesota standards.
    • Additional state health or MPCA requirements may apply.
    “Where a public sewer is not available under the provisions of § 50.17(D), the building sewer shall be connected to a private wastewater disposal system complying with the provisions of this section.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Buildings inside Wells city limits when public sanitary sewer is available.

    • When public sewer becomes available to a property served by a private system, direct connection must be made within 30 days.
    • New connections are prohibited unless downstream capacity is available.
    • A written city permit is required before making a public-sewer connection.
    • The connection and inspection occur under supervision of the Superintendent or authorized representative.

    connection deadline after public sewer availability: 30 days (private system must also be cleaned and rendered inactive) · new connection capacity condition: sufficient downstream capacity (including flow, B.O.D.5., and suspended solids)

    “At the time as a public sewer becomes available to a property serviced by a private wastewater disposal system, a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer within 30 days in compliance with §§ 50.15 et seq.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Building and land-use permits inside Wells city limits.

    • Fees are set by City Council and reflected in the city fee schedule.
    • The full permit fee is due at application.
    • Reinspection fees may apply.
    • Renewal costs equal the full original permit fee plus an additional 50%.

    renewal surcharge: 50 percent of original permit fee (plus the full original permit fee)

    “Permit fees will be charged in accordance with the amount established by the City Council and reflected in the city fee schedule. The full permit fee must be paid at the time of application.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building and land-use permit process inside Wells city limits.

    • Applications are reviewed by the Building Official.
    • Applicants must pay the full permit fee at application.
    • Building Official decisions may be appealed to the City Council.
    • The permit may be suspended or revoked for error, incorrect application information, or violation of state building code or city code.
    “The city’s Building Official shall have the authority to issue permits and may make such determination based off the activity proposed in the application in compliance with the State Building Code and city code provisions. The decision of the Building Official may be appealed to the City Council.”

Rules another office applies inside Wells

Wells 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

    R-2 Multi-Family Residential District, 1-family use, inside Wells city limits.

    • The § 152.053 table also provides 12,000 square feet for 2-family, 18,000 square feet plus 2,000 square feet for each unit above 3 for multi-family, and 14,000 square feet for all other uses.

    minimum lot area: 7000 square feet (R-2 1-family use)

    “Lot area | 7,000 | 12,000 | 18,000 and additional 2,000 for each unit above 3 | - | 14,000”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-2 Multi-Family Residential District, 1-family use, inside Wells city limits.

    • The table gives different setbacks for 2-family, multi-family, accessory, and all-other uses.

    front yard and corner side yard: 20 feet (R-2 1-family use) · rear yard: 35 feet (R-2 1-family use) · interior side yard: 10 feet (R-2 1-family use)

    “Front yard and corner side yard | 20 | 20 | 25 | Behind the principal structure | 25 Rear yard | 35 | 35 | 35 | 5; 8 from alley | 35 Interior side yard | 10 | 10 | 15 | 5; 8 from alley | 15”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Wells city limits.
  • Building code adopted — Building-code adoption inside Wells city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate-of-occupancy requirements inside Wells city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Wells city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Wells city limits.
11 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

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 Wells publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Faribault County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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