Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Elbow Lake, Minnesota

Elbow Lake’s own rules

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts within Elbow Lake city limits.

  • The City publishes Agricultural, Residential A, Residential B, Commercial, Industrial, and Commercial-Industrial district headings.

  “Agricultural (A), (AS) [...] Residential A (RA), (RAS) [...] Residential B (RBS) [...] Commercial (CA) [...] Commercial (CB) [...] Industrial (I) [...] Commercial-Industrial (CI)”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Dwelling units constructed in the Agricultural (A) district.

  • The rule applies to dwelling units constructed in Agricultural (A).

  minimum lot area: >= 1 acre · minimum lot width: >= 150 feet

  “No dwelling unit shall be constructed in the district on a lot of less than one acre in area or on a lot of less than 150 feet in width.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Each dwelling unit and accessory buildings hereafter erected in Residential A (RA).

    “Each dwelling unit together with its accessory buildings hereafter erected shall be located on a lot having an area of not less than 10,000 square feet and width of not less than 75 feet and depth of not less than 120 feet.”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Agricultural Shoreland (AS) district lots.

  • Applies to all impervious structures on the lot.

  maximum impervious coverage: <= 30 percent

  “The total area of all impervious structures on a lot shall not exceed 30% of the total lot area.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Dwellings and accessory buildings in Residential A (RA).

    “All dwellings and accessory buildings on any lot shall not cover more than 30% of the area of the lot.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Non-agricultural structures in the Agricultural (A) district.

  • Limit applies to non-agricultural structures.

  maximum height: <= 35 feet (Non-agricultural structures.)

  “Height limit. Non-agricultural structures shall not exceed a height of 35 feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Residential A (RA) district structures.

    “Height limit, (RA). Same as specified for (A) districts.”

• Camping on your landAllowed (with conditions)

  Camp sites in the Agricultural (A) district within Elbow Lake city limits.

  • Camp sites are a use by special permit in the Agricultural district.

  “Camp sites, resorts and mobile home courts.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Individual sewage-disposal systems installed inside Elbow Lake city limits.

  • The permit is issued by the Clerk-Administrator-Treasurer or another Council designee.

  “permit from the Clerk-Administrator-Treasurer”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation of an individual sewage-disposal system inside Elbow Lake city limits.

  • Permit must be obtained before installation.
  • The application fee is $5.
  • The permit is valid for six months from issuance.
  • Two soil percolation tests by a certified tester are required before permit issuance.

  permit fee: 5 USD · permit validity: 6 months

  “No person, firm, or corporation shall install an individual sewage disposal system in the city without first obtaining a permit from the Clerk-Administrator-Treasurer or any other person designated by the Council for the specific installation and at the time of applying for said permit, shall pay a fee therefor of $5. Such permits shall be valid for a period of six months from the date of issue.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Individual sewage-disposal systems installed inside Elbow Lake city limits.

  • No part of the system may be covered before inspection and acceptance.
  • The applicant must notify the City when ready for inspection or reinspection.
  • A certificate of approval follows satisfactory completion and final inspection.

  “The Clerk-Administrator-Treasurer or any other person designated by the Council shall cause such inspection or inspections as are necessary to determine compliance with this chapter. No part of the system shall be covered until it has been inspected and accepted.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Alternative sewage-disposal methods inside Elbow Lake city limits.

  • Alternative facilities may be permitted only if they meet Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Minnesota Department of Health standards, criteria, rules, and regulations.

  “Alternative methods of sewage disposal, such as holding tanks, privies, electric or gas incinerators, biological and/or tertiary waste treatment plants or land disposal systems, may be permitted; provided such facilities meet the standards, criteria, rules, and regulations of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Department of Health.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Buildings or property within Elbow Lake city limits from which wastewater is discharged.

  • Connection is required within 60 days after public sewer becomes operational when it is within 150 feet of the wastewater-generating structure and in an adjacent public right-of-way or sewer easement.
  • Future buildings on property adjacent to public sewer must connect immediately.
  • The owner bears the expense.

  public-sewer distance: <= 150 feet (Sewer must be in an adjacent public right-of-way or easement for sewer purposes.) · connection deadline: 60 days (After public sewer becomes operational.)

  “shall be required to connect to a public sewer, at his or her expense, within 60 days”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions or divisions of land into two or more lots, tracts, or other divisions for sale or building development within the jurisdiction of Chapter 153.

  • Plats must be prepared, presented for approval, and recorded.
  • The rule includes re-subdivision or platting.
  • Land held unsuitable by the City Council for stated health, safety, or welfare reasons may not be subdivided.

  “prepared, presented for approval and recorded”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Residential A (RA) lots within Elbow Lake city limits.

  • All lots must front on and have ingress and egress by public right-of-way.

  “All lots shall front on and have ingress and egress by means of a public right-of-way.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  City zoning permits within Elbow Lake city limits.

  • The City fee schedule lists zoning-permit fees; listed fee type controls.

  standard zoning permit: 50 USD · special use permit: 125 USD

  “$50 standard permit [...] $125 special use permit”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Elbow Lake or Grant County directly.

• Building permit — Residential building construction within Elbow Lake city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences within Elbow Lake city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building construction within Elbow Lake city limits.
• Inspections — Building construction within Elbow Lake city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — New buildings within Elbow Lake 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.