Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Richfield, Minnesota

Richfield’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Richfield city limits

  • Zoning is codified in Appendix B, Richfield Zoning Code, with R and R-1 residential districts and a floodplain overlay.

  “The Floodplain District is an overlay district that is superimposed on all existing zoning districts.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Richfield city (R, R-1, floodplain overlay and others)

  • Only R, R-1 and the floodplain overlay were opened; other districts exist in the code but were not reviewed.

  “The uses listed in this subsection are permitted uses in the R-1 District.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family and two-family dwellings in R district inside Richfield city

  • Two-family dwellings need 800 sq ft per unit; dwellings must be at least 22 ft in length and width for at least 50 percent of each distance.

  minimum gross floor area, single-family: >= 960 sq ft · minimum floor area per unit, two-family: >= 800 sq ft

  “single-family and two-family dwellings shall be a minimum of 22 feet in length and width for at least 50 percent of each distance as measured from outside wall surfaces. single family dwellings shall contain a minimum of 960 square feet of gross floor area. two-family dwellings shall contain a minimum of 800 square feet of floor area per dwelling unit.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Dwellings in R-1 district inside Richfield city

    “Dwellings constructed after June 1, 1995, shall be a minimum of 24 feet in length and width for at least 50 percent of each distance as measured from outside wall surfaces, and shall contain a minimum of 1,100 square feet of gross floor area.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family and two-family lots in the R Low Density Residential District inside Richfield city

  • Each lot with one half of a two-unit townhouse needs half the minimum area and 25 ft width.
  • Lots of record on or before June 1, 1995 may be used for single-family development if at least 40 feet wide and 5,000 sq ft.

  minimum lot area: >= 6000 sq ft (5,000 sq ft grandfathered lots) · minimum lot width: >= 47 feet · minimum lot depth: >= 100 feet

  “Single-Family and Two-Family 1 6,000 47 100 35% 45%”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family lots in the R-1 Low-Density Single-Family Residential District inside Richfield city

    “Land use Lot area (sq. ft.) Lot width (feet) Lot depth (feet) Max. lot coverage Maximum impervious surface Single-Family 10,000 75 100 35% 45%”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Single-family buildings in R-1 district inside Richfield city

  • Reductions exist for corner lots, older homes, porches and accessory buildings (518.13 Subd. 3-4).
  • Additional setbacks apply where a vehicle access door faces a side or rear lot line (Subd. 6).

  front: >= 30 feet · rear: >= 25 feet · interior side: >= 10 feet · street/corner side: >= 15 feet

  “Use Front Rear Interior Side Street/Corner Side Maximum Height (as defined in 507.07 , Subd. 53) Single-family building (but see Subd. 3 and 5) 30 25 10 15 35”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single- or two-family buildings in R district inside Richfield city

    “Single- or two-family building (but see Subd. 3 and 5) 30 25 5 (but see Subd. 3 and 10) 12 28”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Single-family and two-family lots in R district inside Richfield city

  max lot coverage: <= 35 percent · max impervious surface: <= 45 percent

  “Single-Family and Two-Family 1 6,000 47 100 35% 45%”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family lots in R-1 district inside Richfield city

    “Land use Lot area (sq. ft.) Lot width (feet) Lot depth (feet) Max. lot coverage Maximum impervious surface Single-Family 10,000 75 100 35% 45%”

• Building heightSpecified

  Single- or two-family buildings in R district inside Richfield city

  • Accessory garages 14 ft; nongarage accessory structures 12 ft.

  maximum height: <= 28 feet

  “Single- or two-family building (but see Subd. 3 and 5) 30 25 5 (but see Subd. 3 and 10) 12 28”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family buildings in R-1 district inside Richfield city

    “Use Front Rear Interior Side Street/Corner Side Maximum Height (as defined in 507.07 , Subd. 53) Single-family building (but see Subd. 3 and 5) 30 25 10 15 35”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camping with house trailers on streets and rights-of-way inside Richfield city

  • Allowed only where signs designate a camp site; private-land camping not addressed in reviewed sections.

  “No person may for camping purposes leave or park a house trailer on or within the limits of any street or highway or on any street or highway right-of-way except where signs are erected designating the place as a camp site.”

• Manufactured homesProhibited

  Manufactured homes as dwellings in the R-1 district inside Richfield city

  • Other districts (including R) were not reviewed.

  “subd. 2. single-family (detached) dwellings, except manufactured homes.”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  Internal, attached and detached accessory dwelling units in R-1 district inside Richfield city

  • One ADU per lot; lot must meet minimum width and depth; no separate tax parcel.
  • Owner must occupy a unit as primary residence with proof of homesteading; no variance from this.
  • Rental license required for the non-owner-occupied unit.
  • ADU 300 sq ft minimum, maximum 800 sq ft or the principal dwelling's floor area, whichever is less.
  • Further design conditions continue beyond the text reviewed (518.05 Subd. 8 k onward).

  ADU minimum area: >= 300 sq ft · ADU maximum area: <= 800 sq ft (or principal dwelling gross floor area if smaller)

  “subd. 8. internal, attached, and detached accessory dwelling units shall be allowed, provided that: a) the principal residential structure is a permitted or conditional single-family dwelling; b) no more than one (1) accessory dwelling unit shall be allowed on a lot;”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Allowed (with conditions) — Internal, attached and detached accessory dwelling units in R district inside Richfield city

    “Internal, attached, and detached accessory dwelling units shall be allowed, provided that:”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Residential driveways in R-1 district inside Richfield city

  • Curb cut replacement also needs a city permit; one curb cut per lot; width limited to 35% of front yard up to 20 ft.
  • Director may vary some limits on written request with a finding of necessity and public convenience.

  max driveway width in front yard: <= 20 feet (or 35% of front yard area if less)

  “width shall not exceed 35% of the front yard area, up to 20 feet maximum, whichever is less (curb cut radii excluded);”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Lands inside Richfield city mapped in the Floodplain District overlay

  • Overlay standards are in addition to underlying district rules; the more restrictive applies.
  • In Minnehaha Creek Watershed District areas, the MCWD Floodplain Alteration Rule also applies, whichever is most restrictive.

  “the standards imposed in the overlay districts are in addition to any other requirements in this ordinance. in case of a conflict, the more restrictive standards will apply.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits inside Richfield city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Richfield city
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Richfield city
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Richfield city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Richfield city

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.