Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Red Wing, Minnesota

Red Wing’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Structures and listed building work inside Red Wing city limits.

  • Permits are also required for installation or replacement of a furnace, air conditioner, water heater, fireplace, swimming pool, fences over 7 feet tall, and retaining walls over 4 feet tall.
  • Fences and retaining walls may also need a zoning permit.
  • The city page states permits become null and void if work does not begin within 190 days of the permit date, or is suspended or abandoned for 180 days.

  fence height threshold: > 7 feet (A permit is required for fences over this height.) · retaining wall height threshold: > 4 feet (A permit is required for retaining walls over this height.)

  “No structure can be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted, or demolished unless a building permit has been obtained from the City.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Red Wing city limits.

  • The city zoning ordinance regulates uses and structures throughout the city.

  “The Zoning Ordinance and the Subdivision (Platting) Ordinance regulate uses and structures throughout the City and provides general development standards.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Red Wing city limits.

  • The city-maintained zoning-ordinance repository includes agricultural and residential district divisions, among other zoning divisions.

  “Division 15-Zoning Districts and Provisions Division 20-Agricultural District Regulations Division 25-Residential District Regulations”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and platting inside Red Wing city limits.

  • The city page describes the subdivision ordinance as regulating uses and structures throughout the city and providing general development standards.

  “The Zoning Ordinance and the Subdivision (Platting) Ordinance regulate uses and structures throughout the City and provides general development standards.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Drive aprons and sidewalks inside Red Wing city limits.

  • The stated permit issuer is the Engineering Department located at Public Works.

  “Drive aprons and sidewalks require permits from the Engineering Department located at Public Works.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Short-term rentals, including VRBOs and Airbnbs, inside Red Wing city limits.

  • Non-owner-occupied units require an Interim Use Permit.
  • Owner-occupied units require a Certificate of Compliance.
  • The city states there are limits on the overall number of short-term rentals and on the number located near each other.
  • The city page identifies Ordinances No. 203 and No. 204 as effective November 4, 2023.

  “Owners of short-term rentals, such as VRBOs or Airbnbs, in Red Wing must apply with the City to receive an Interim Use Permit (for non-owner-occupied rental units) or a Certificate of Compliance (for owner-occupied units).”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  City building and related permits inside Red Wing city limits.

  • The fee schedule is effective January 1, 2026, is subject to change, and states fees are annual unless specified differently.
  • The schedule states state surcharges are applied to appropriate building-inspection and permit fees.

  minimum valuation-based building permit fee: 25 USD (For project valuations from $1.00 to $500.00.)

  “BUILDING INSPECTION AND PERMIT FEES: 1. State surcharges will also be applied to the appropriate fees. 2. Valuation based building inspection and/or building, mechanical, and plumbing permit fee(s) will be the higher of the fee(s) as determined by the valuation schedule or the minimum fee.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits inside Red Wing city limits.

  • Applicants create a Cloudpermit account, apply online, and can track permit progress online.
  • Paper applications may be picked up at the Community Development Building, 419 Bush St.
  • The city states applications are reviewed and a permit is issued for work meeting the Minnesota State Building Code and city requirements.

  “The City of Red Wing uses the online community development platform Cloudpermit for building permits and inspections. You can complete the entire building permit process online on your phone, tablet, or laptop.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Red Wing or Goodhue County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Red Wing city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building work inside Red Wing city limits.
• Inspections — Building work inside Red Wing city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of structures inside Red Wing city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Red Wing 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.