Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Emmons, Minnesota

Emmons’s own rules

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Emmons city limits.

  • The accompanying Zoning Map is part of the ordinance.
  • Property not specifically included in a district and territory annexed after the ordinance's effective date defaults to R-1 until rezoned.

  “AG District - Agricultural District 2. R-1 District - Residential District 3. R-2 District - Multiple Family Residential District 4. C-1 District - General Commercial District 5. M District - Manufacturing District”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Travel trailers and motor home coaches used as temporary dwellings on lots or parcels in Emmons.

  • Travel trailers and motor home coaches may be used only for a period not over four weeks.

  maximum temporary-dwelling period: <= 4 weeks (Applies to travel trailers and motor home coaches.)

  “travel trailers and motor home coaches can be used for such purpose for a period of not over four (4) weeks.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Campgrounds and tourist campsites inside Emmons city limits.

  • Campgrounds require a conditional use permit in the AG District.
  • Tourist campsites require a conditional use permit in the R-1 District.

  “public and private parks, campgrounds, gun clubs, museums, and related commercial uses. [...] truck gardens and nurseries, tourist campsite, and cemeteries.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured-home parks inside Emmons city limits.

  • A manufactured-home park is a conditional use in the R-2 District.
  • A City permit is required before a manufactured-home park may be established, maintained, or operated.

  “manufactured home parks [...] shall first procure a permit from the City of Emmons.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Proposed new subdivisions inside Emmons city limits.

  • Lots must meet the minimum size and width for their district.
  • The plat must conform with Minnesota statutes and City ordinances and regulations.

  “No proposed plat of a new subdivision shall hereafter be approved unless the lots within such plat shall be equal to or exceed the minimum size and width”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Published City zoning permits and applications inside Emmons city limits.

  • The fee schedule is reviewed and updated annually.

  conditional use permit fee: 200 USD (Published City fee schedule.) · variance application fee: 150 USD (Published City fee schedule.)

  “Conditional Use Permit $200 Variance Application $150 [...] This schedule is reviewed and updated annually”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Site-plan approval and conditional-use permits inside Emmons city limits.

  • Seven copies of a site plan must be filed with the Zoning Administrator.
  • The Zoning Administrator gives written approval or disapproval within 60 days.
  • A conditional-use application is filed on City forms and requires the City Council fee.

  site-plan review deadline: <= 60 days (From filing of the site plan.)

  “Seven copies of the site plan shall be filed with the Zoning Administrator. [...] Within sixty days from the time the site plan is filed, the Zoning Administrator shall give a written approval or disapproval.”

Rules another office applies inside Emmons

Emmons 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-1 Residential District inside Emmons city limits.

  • Minimum lot width is 100 feet abutting the public right-of-way and 100 feet at the building line.

  minimum lot area: >= 12000 square feet (R-1 District.)

  “Lot Area 12,000 square feet Lot Width 100' abutting the public right of way and 100' at the building line”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 Residential District inside Emmons city limits.

  • Side yard is 10% of the front lot line but never less than 8 feet.
  • Corner-lot yards abutting a street must meet front-yard setbacks.

  front yard: >= 40 feet (Measured from the public right-of-way in the R-1 District.) · rear yard: >= 10 feet (R-1 District.)

  “Front Yard Structures shall be at least 40' from the public right of way [...] Rear Yard Structures shall be at least 10' from the rear lot line.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 Residential District inside Emmons city limits.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 25 percent (R-1 District.)

  “Lot Coverage Structures shall not exceed 25% of the lot area”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 Residential District inside Emmons city limits.

  • Public and semi-public buildings, churches, and schools may reach 55 feet when additionally set back one foot from all lot lines for each foot above 35 feet.

  maximum residential building height: <= 35 feet (Or two and one-half stories, in the R-1 District.)

  “no residential building, hereafter erected or altered, shall exceed thirty-five (35) feet or two and one-half (2 1/2) stories in height.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Emmons city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Emmons city limits.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Emmons city limits.
• Inspections — Construction inside Emmons city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered structures inside Emmons 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.