Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Spring Valley, Minnesota

Spring Valley’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, improving, removing, converting, or demolishing a building or structure in Spring Valley city.

  • A separate building or mechanical permit is required for each building, structure, or mechanical component.

  “It is unlawful for any person to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert or demolish any building or structure, or any part or portion thereof, including, but not limited to, the plumbing, electrical, ventilating, heating or air conditioning systems therein, or cause the same to be done, without first obtaining a separate building or mechanical permit for each building, structure or mechanical components from the city.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction regulated within Spring Valley city limits.

  • The adopted code includes Minnesota Rules Chapter 1335 flood-proofing regulations.

  “The Minnesota State Building Code (SBC), including the following option, Ch. 1335, Flood-Proofing Regulations; and”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction projects in Spring Valley city.

  • Inspection stages vary by project; the city page identifies footings, framing, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical as examples.
  • State electrical inspections are conducted by Minnesota rather than SAFEbuilt.

  “Depending on the project, different inspections must take place at various points (footings, framing, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, etc.).”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Structures or uses for which a certificate of occupancy is appropriate under the city zoning code.

  • The Building Inspector issues or denies the certificate after conferring with the Zoning Administrator based on conformity with the chapter.

  “Whenever appropriate, a certificate of occupancy shall be submitted to the Building Inspector for review. The Building Inspector, after conferring with the Zoning Administrator, shall either issue or deny the certificate depending upon whether the structure or its use conforms to this chapter.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  All lands, structures, and waters within Spring Valley city corporate limits.

  • City zoning permits are required for all projects.

  “This chapter shall be applicable to all lands, structures and waters within the corporate limits of the city.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Multi-family dwellings of three or more families in the Multi-Family Residential (R-3) district inside Spring Valley city limits.

  • Listed minimum floor areas apply by unit bedroom count.

  efficiency-unit minimum floor area: >= 500 square feet · one-bedroom-unit minimum floor area: >= 600 square feet · two-bedroom-unit minimum floor area: >= 750 square feet · three-bedroom-unit minimum floor area: >= 960 square feet

  “Minimum floor area. Multi-family dwellings of three or more families. (1) Efficiency: 500 square feet; (2) One-bedroom: 600 square feet; (3) Two-bedroom: 750 square feet; (4) Three-bedroom: 960 square feet; and”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots in the Suburban Residential (R-1) district inside Spring Valley city limits.

  minimum lot area: >= 9000 square feet · minimum lot width: >= 75 feet · minimum lot depth: >= 120 feet

  “Lot area. The minimum lot area shall be 9,000 square feet. (E) Lot width and depth regulations. (1) Minimum lot width: 75 feet; and (2) Minimum lot depth: 120 feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Lots in the Suburban Residential (R-1) district inside Spring Valley city limits.

  • For corner lots, a front-yard setback applies on each road or highway side.
  • Driveways or other flat hard-surfaced areas may have a two-foot side and rear setback.

  minimum side yard: 10% of building line width, but not less than 7.5 feet (Driveways or other flat hard-surfaced areas may have a two-foot side and rear setback.)

  “The minimum side yard shall be 10% of the building line width, but not less than seven and one-half feet; except that, driveways or other flat hard surfaced area is allowed a two-foot side and rear setback.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Lots in the Suburban Residential (R-1) district inside Spring Valley city limits.

  • The limit includes accessory buildings.

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

  “Lot coverage. The maximum lot coverage of all buildings including accessory buildings shall not exceed 50%.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Existing lots of record inside Spring Valley city limits where city sewage service is unavailable.

  • The private sewage disposal system must meet the standards of the state Pollution Control Agency.

  “For existing lots of record where city sewage service is not available, the private sewage disposal system shall meet the standards of the state’s Pollution Control Agency (6 MCAR #4.8040).”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Each new occupied building inside Spring Valley city limits where city sewage disposal service is available.

  • For an existing lot of record where city sewage service is unavailable, the private sewage disposal system must meet state Pollution Control Agency standards.
  • All dwelling units in the R-1 district must hook up to city sewers.

  “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 state’s Pollution Control Agency (6 MCAR #4.8040).”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions of land within Spring Valley city corporate limits.

  • The subdivider must submit a general development plan and obtain Planning and Zoning Commission approval of the general development plan and preliminary and final plat approval by the Commission and Council.

  “These subdivision regulations shall apply to all subdivisions of land, as defined herein, located within the corporate limits of the city and the unincorporated land within two miles of its corporate limits.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Development in Spring Valley floodplain districts.

  • Structures below the regulatory flood protection elevation must meet stated flood-proofing classifications.
  • More than 1,000 cubic yards of fill requires an erosion/sedimentation control plan.
  • Uses requiring a conditional use permit may proceed only through the prescribed application process.

  fill threshold requiring erosion/sedimentation control plan: > 1000 cubic yards (When located on a parcel at any one time.)

  “When, at any one time, more than 1,000 cubic yards of fill or other similar material is located on a parcel for such activities as on-site storage, landscaping, sand and gravel operations, landfills, roads dredge spoil disposal or construction of flood-control works, an erosion/sedimentation control plan must be submitted.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications inside Spring Valley city limits.

  • Application exhibits may be waived by the Zoning Administrator.
  • Applicants must obtain necessary state and federal permits before a building permit is granted.
  • A conforming proposal is to receive a permit within 30 days after completed form and fee submission.

  issuance period for conforming proposed development: <= 30 days (After completed form and Council-established fee are submitted.)

  “If the proposed development conforms in all respects to this chapter, a building permit shall be issued by the Zoning Administrator within a period of 30 days.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-performed residential construction inside Spring Valley city limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Spring Valley city limits.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Spring Valley city limits.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Spring Valley city limits.
• Who permits septic — Individual sewage treatment systems inside Spring Valley 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.