Bolthole Index

Fillmore County, Minnesota

Building permits, zoning and septic in Jordan Township, Minnesota

Jordan Township, Minnesota is subject to state building-code standards, but we could not confirm the local building-permit issuer or inspection authority.1 Building permits are required for covered work where the State Building Code is administered and enforced; ask the township clerk to identify the building official before construction.2 Fillmore County Land Use administers septic systems, while township zoning approval needs separate confirmation with the clerk.34

At a glance

Building permits
Required for covered work where the state code is administered and enforced; local issuer unconfirmed2
Zoning and lot size
Confirm township rules; where county Agricultural District zoning controls, at least 2.5 buildable acres54
Septic permits
New and replacement systems require construction permits; contact Fillmore County Land Use63
RV living
Township residential RV permission unconfirmed; ask the clerk before buying for that use4
Tiny homes
State residential-code compliance applies; township occupancy permission unconfirmed7
Owner-builder
Conditional contractor-license exemption for an owner occupying the home or retaining it for rental8
Wells
State well notification generally required before construction9

Who to call

Planning & zoning

Jordan Township Clerk

Township contact for confirming zoning approval and identifying the building-permit and inspection authority

651-329-4012

[email protected]

16598 120th st se chatfield, mn 55923

Septic permits

Fillmore County Land Use Department

County septic administration and county floodplain and shoreland controls; not a verified Jordan Township building-code office

507-765-3325

courthouse, 101 fillmore street po box 466 preston, mn 55965

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

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Do you need a building permit in Jordan Township, MN?

Jordan Township construction is subject to Minnesota State Building Code standards for buildings governed by the code.1 The state permit rule covers construction, alterations, moving, demolition and occupancy changes where the code is administered and enforced, with exemptions for listed work.2 We could not confirm Jordan Township’s building official, inspection schedule or local enforcement arrangement; ask the township clerk for the correct building-permit contact before submitting plans.4

Jordan Township owner-builders may qualify for an exemption from residential contractor licensing when occupying the property or retaining ownership for rental; construction for resale or speculation does not qualify.8 Agricultural buildings have a separate, conditional state building-code exemption, which does not remove other applicable zoning or environmental requirements.10

Does Jordan Township have zoning, lot-size rules or setbacks?

We could not confirm Jordan Township’s current zoning ordinance, setback schedule or zoning-permit application process; ask the township clerk for the ordinance and the approvals required for the specific parcel.4 Where Fillmore County Agricultural District zoning controls land in Jordan Township, a dwelling lot must contain at least 2.5 buildable acres, excluding wetlands, floodplain and poor-drainage areas.5 That district-specific acreage should not be treated as proof that a proposed house site is approved.5

Ask the clerk to confirm the parcel’s district, dwelling eligibility and township setbacks before choosing a house footprint or purchasing a small rural lot.4 For the county’s answers for land beyond Jordan Township, see the Fillmore County guide.5

How do septic permits work in Jordan Township?

Jordan Township septic systems must meet Minnesota minimum standards, with local administration; Fillmore County Land Use is the verified county septic contact.113 New and replacement septic systems require a construction permit before installation begins.6 New and replacement systems also require a compliance inspection by an authorized qualified employee or an independent licensed inspection business.12

Fillmore County’s soil figures are countywide: only 9.9% of soils are rated not limited for a conventional septic drain field, so the township parcel needs its own site evaluation rather than a county average as assurance of suitability.13 Contact Land Use about septic design, inspection arrangements and current septic-permit fees before committing to a home site.3

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Jordan Township?

We could not confirm permission to use an RV as a residence on a private Jordan Township parcel; ask the township clerk about residential occupancy, temporary camping and living on-site during construction.4 We also could not confirm a township minimum dwelling size or tiny-home-specific occupancy rule; request those answers for the intended parcel before buying a unit.4

Minnesota requires tiny houses used as dwelling units to comply with the Residential Code, subject to the tiny-house appendix, while local zoning governs location, building size and other land-use details.7 Off-grid sanitation is also regulated: Minnesota’s primitive-dwelling provisions require septage disposal to follow local ordinances and do not grant blanket permission to discharge waste.14

What steps should you take to build in Jordan Township?

Start with the Jordan Township clerk: request the applicable zoning ordinance, parcel-specific zoning approval requirements and the name of the building official responsible for the proposed work.4 Where county Agricultural District zoning applies, confirm the buildable acreage before fixing the house location.5

Next, contact Fillmore County Land Use about the septic proposal and any county floodplain or shoreland review.3 Obtain the septic construction permit before installation and arrange the required compliance inspection.612 For work requiring a state-code building permit, the written application must describe the work and property, intended use, construction information and proposed valuation, with required documents and an applicant signature.15 Ask the identified building official to confirm building-permit fees and inspection requirements for the project.16

What should you check before buying land in Jordan Township?

Ask Fillmore County Land Use whether the intended house, septic system, fill or excavation lies in a regulated floodplain; county floodplain development requires approval before the covered work begins.173 Minnesota floodway rules normally prohibit dwellings, enclosed structures and fill that obstructs flood flows.18

For a private water supply, Minnesota generally requires a well notification and filing fee before constructing a water-supply well, with special rules for personally constructed drive-point wells.9 A new or modified direct driveway connection to a state highway requires a MnDOT Access Driveway Permit.19 Confirm access to a township road with the township clerk before treating existing field access as approved residential access.4

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Jordan Township’s building-inspection authority or occupancy-approval process; ask the township clerk to identify the responsible official before construction.4
  • The 2.5-acre rule applies only where county Agricultural District zoning controls the Jordan Township parcel, and excludes wetlands, floodplain and poor-drainage areas from buildable acreage.5
  • An owner-builder contractor-license exemption does not establish an exemption from required building permits.82

Sources

  1. 2025 Minnesota Statutes, section 326B.121 (Minnesota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  2. Minnesota Administrative Rules, Part 1300.0120 — Permits (Minnesota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  3. Fillmore County Land Use Department (co.fillmore.mn.us)
  4. Jordan Township Clerk (co.fillmore.mn.us)
  5. Fillmore County Zoning Ordinance (Jordan Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. Minnesota Rules 7082.0500: Permit Program for SSTS, quoted and re-checked
  7. Tiny Houses and the 2020 Minnesota Residential Code (Minnesota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. revisor.mn.gov (Jordan Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. 2025 Minnesota Statutes, section 103I.205: Well Construction (Minnesota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. revisor.mn.gov (Jordan Township), quoted and re-checked
  11. Minnesota Rules Chapter 7080 (Jordan Township), quoted and re-checked
  12. Minnesota Rules 7082.0700: Inspection Program for SSTS, quoted and re-checked
  13. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  14. Minnesota Administrative Rules, part 7080.2450 Maintenance (Minnesota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Code Administration Manual (Minnesota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Minnesota Building Code Adoption Guide (Minnesota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Fillmore County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  18. Floodplain Regulations (Minnesota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. 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 Jordan Township

Rules another office applies inside Jordan Township

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

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, or occupancy changes governed by the State Building Code inside Jordan township.

    • The rule includes code-specific exemptions, including certain small accessory structures and other listed work.
    • Agricultural-building exceptions apply under §326B.121.
    “An owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any gas, mechanical, electrical, plumbing system, or other equipment, the installation of which is regulated by the code; or cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    An owner of residential real estate inside Jordan township who builds or improves the property.

    • The owner must occupy or intend to occupy the property for residential purposes, or retain ownership for rental purposes after completion.
    • The exemption does not apply to construction or improvement for resale or speculation.
    • More than one property within any 24-month period creates a presumption of speculation unless retained for rental.
    “an owner of residential real estate who builds or improves residential real estate if the owner occupies or will occupy the residential real estate for residential purposes, or will retain ownership for rental purposes upon completion of the building or improvement. This exemption does not apply to an owner who constructs or improves residential real estate for purposes of resale or speculation.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Dwellings in the Fillmore County Agricultural District applicable to land inside Jordan township where county zoning controls.

    • A dwelling is limited to two dwellings per quarter section.
    • The minimum buildable lot size is 2.5 acres or more.
    • Wetlands, floodplain, and poor-drainage areas are excluded.

    minimum buildable lot size: >= 2.5 acres

    “There shall be a minimum buildable lot size of 2.5 acres or more.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Subsurface sewage treatment systems inside Jordan township.

    • Minnesota establishes the minimum standards statewide.
    • Those standards are adopted countywide and administered and enforced by local units of government.
    • Fillmore County's ordinance and fee schedule evidence county administration in relevant areas.
    “These environmental protection standards shall be adopted countywide and administered and enforced by local units of government as directed by chapter 7082 and Minnesota Statutes, section 115.55.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Agricultural buildings in Jordan township.

    • The State Building Code does not apply to agricultural buildings except for state inspections and the other statutory exception identified in §326B.121.
    • Other permits, zoning, septic, floodplain, and environmental requirements may still apply.
    “The State Building Code does not apply to agricultural buildings except: (1) with respect to state inspections required or rulemaking authorized by sections 103F.141; 216C.19, subdivision 9; and 326B.36; and (2) translucent panels or other skylights without raised curbs shall be supported to have equivalent load-bearing capacity as the surrounding roof.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Jordan Township or Fillmore County directly.

  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Jordan township.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings inside Jordan township.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Jordan township.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage for residential land inside Jordan township.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Jordan township.
2 more unanswered
  • Accessory dwellings
  • 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 Jordan Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Fillmore County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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