Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Whalan, Minnesota

Whalan’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Projects covered by Whalan's City Land Use Permit Application, including a new home, addition, move-in structure, or other listed project inside Whalan city limits.

  • No work may begin before the permit is obtained.
  • If work begins before issuance, a $400 late fee is due in addition to the permit fee.

  late fee for beginning work before permit issuance: 400 USD (In addition to the permit fee.)

  “NO WORK MAY BEGIN UNTIL A PERMIT IS OBTAINED. IF WORK HAS BEGUN ON THE PROJECT BEFORE A PERMIT IS ISSUED, A $400.00 LATE FEE MUST BE PAID IN ADDITION TO THE PERMIT FEE.”

• InspectionsRequired

  All new dwellings inside Whalan city limits.

  • Footings must be dug and inspected before actual construction of the dwelling begins.

  “SITE INSPECTIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL NEW DWELLINGS: The footings must be dug and inspected before the actual construction of the dwelling may begin.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Land-use permit projects inside Whalan city limits.

  • New homes, additions, porches, decks, attached garages, moved-in homes, and mobile or manufactured homes are assessed by living area.
  • All other structures are assessed separately.
  • The stated minimum charge is $8.
  • Beginning work before permit issuance triggers a $400 late fee in addition to the permit fee.

  listed residential-project permit fee: per 7.5 USD per 100 square feet of living space (New homes, home additions, porches, decks, attached garages, homes moved in, and mobile or manufactured homes.) · other-structure permit fee: per 5 USD per 100 square feet (All other structures.) · minimum permit charge: 8 USD · late fee: 400 USD (Work began before permit issuance; added to permit fee.)

  “NO WORK MAY BEGIN UNTIL A PERMIT IS OBTAINED. IF WORK HAS BEGUN ON THE PROJECT BEFORE A PERMIT IS ISSUED, A $400.00 LATE FEE MUST BE PAID IN ADDITION TO THE PERMIT FEE. The following projects are assessed $7.50 per 100 square feet of living space; New Homes, Home Additions, Porches, Decks, an attached garage, homes being moved in, and mobile or manufactured homes. All other structures are assessed at $5.00 per 100 square feet. A minimum is $8.00.”

• Permit processPartial

  Land-use permit projects inside Whalan city limits.

  • The application requires an aerial photograph showing the proposed-construction location.
  • The application calls for measuring specified setbacks.
  • No work may begin until a permit is obtained.

  “An aerial photo of the site must be provided with the application”

Rules another office applies inside Whalan

Whalan 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

  Specified well and boring types statewide, including inside Whalan city limits.

  • Construction permits apply to some other well or boring types, including monitoring wells and bored geothermal heat exchangers.
  • Applications must be submitted to MDH for review and written approval before work begins.

  “For some other types of wells or borings [...] construction permits are required.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Whalan city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Whalan city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of structures inside Whalan city limits.
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Whalan city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Whalan 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.