Bolthole Index

Hennepin County, Minnesota

Building permits, zoning and land rules in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota

St. Bonifacius, Minnesota requires building permits for new residential construction; applications go through the city office, with plan review and inspections contracted to Metro West Inspections.1 St. Bonifacius administers city zoning, and buildings intended for human habitation must use city sewer rather than septic systems.23 For existing septic-system questions in St. Bonifacius, Hennepin County Environmental Health is the county contact.4

At a glance

Building permits
City applications; Metro West plan review and inspections1
Zoning
City zoning applies inside St. Bonifacius2
Septic and sewer
Human-habitation buildings must use city sewer; septic tanks are prohibited35
RV living
Trailers cannot be occupied dwelling units in R-1 and R-26
Tiny homes
State residential code applies; ask the city about the proposed lot and dwelling7
R-1 lot size
Minimum 15,000 square feet; minimum width 80 feet8
Domestic wells
Domestic potable wells prohibited; agricultural and horticultural wells conditionally allowed9

Who to call

Building permits

St. Bonifacius Building Permits / Metro West Inspections

City building permit applications; contracted building plan review and building, mechanical and plumbing inspections.

(763) 479-1720

Planning & zoning

St. Bonifacius City Hall / Planning

City Hall contact for zoning, lot requirements and utility-connection questions.

(952) 446-1061

[email protected]

8535 Kennedy Memorial Drive, St. Bonifacius, MN 55375

Septic permits

Hennepin County Environmental Health

Existing septic-system questions and county septic enforcement; city sewer requirements still apply in St. Bonifacius.

612-543-5200

[email protected]

479 Prairie Center Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in St. Bonifacius means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in St. Bonifacius, MN?

St. Bonifacius requires building permits for new residential and commercial construction, additions, garages, decks or porches, demolition and fences, according to the city building-permit page.1 The city also lists mechanical work, plumbing, re-roofing, re-siding and windows as maintenance work requiring permits.1 Minnesota building-permit exemptions do not authorize work that violates zoning or other applicable ordinances, so ask the city office which approvals apply to the specific project before starting.10

Who handles St. Bonifacius building permits and inspections?

Obtain the St. Bonifacius building permit form from the city website or city office; the city contracts with Metro West Inspections for building plan review and building, mechanical and plumbing inspections.1 Call Metro West Inspections at (763) 479-1720 for the contracted inspection service.1 For work beyond maintenance, the city requests 2 sets of plans and asks applicants to allow 7 to 10 days for processing.1 City staff call when the building permit is ready; payment is due at pickup, and the permit is good for 6 months.1

Does St. Bonifacius have zoning, lot sizes and setbacks?

St. Bonifacius has city zoning with district-specific land-use and dimensional requirements.211 In the R-1 Single-Family Low Density Residential District, minimum lot area is 15,000 square feet and minimum lot width is 80 feet.8 R-1 principal structures require front and side-right-of-way setbacks of 25 feet, an interior-side setback of 15 feet and a rear setback of 20 feet, measured from property lines; attached garages count as part of the principal structure.12 R-1 maximum impervious coverage is 35%.13 Ask City Hall to confirm the parcel district before using these R-1 dimensions for a purchase or site plan.11

How do septic systems and wells work in St. Bonifacius?

St. Bonifacius requires existing and future buildings intended for human habitation or use to use city sewer, and prohibits septic tanks, privies, cesspools and other sewage-disposal facilities.35 A county septic approval therefore does not replace the city sewer requirement for a home in St. Bonifacius.3 Hennepin County Environmental Health is the contact for septic-system questions from St. Bonifacius residents, including questions about an existing system.4 Domestic potable wells are prohibited; agricultural and horticultural wells may be drilled without cross-connections to city water.9 New residential buildings must receive municipal water.3

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in St. Bonifacius?

In St. Bonifacius R-1 and R-2 districts, trailers, tents and accessory buildings cannot be used as occupied dwelling units.6 Do not plan an RV dwelling or a shed conversion in those districts without resolving that restriction with city planning.6 Minnesota requires tiny houses used as dwellings to meet the residential code, subject to Appendix Q, and municipal zoning controls their location and size.7 We could not confirm a St. Bonifacius rule specifically allowing tiny-home occupancy or a minimum dwelling size; ask City Hall about the proposed design, district and use. A small home would still need city water and sewer.3

What are the steps to build a home in St. Bonifacius?

  1. Ask city planning to identify the parcel zoning district and check the proposed use, setbacks and lot coverage.111213
  2. Confirm city water and sewer connections rather than budgeting for a domestic well or septic tank.39
  3. Resolve road access: applicable state or county access permits must be obtained before the city authorizes construction along those roads.14
  4. Submit the city building permit application and plans, then arrange the required inspection stages with Metro West Inspections.1
  5. Ask the building official about the certificate of occupancy before moving in; Minnesota requires that certificate in jurisdictions administering and enforcing the State Building Code.15

For land outside St. Bonifacius, use the Hennepin County guide to orient your questions, then identify the applicable municipal building department.16

Watch-outs

  • St. Bonifacius city sewer requirements take precedence over the general availability of county septic permitting.3
  • Existing farms may continue only subject to the city farming conditions; that provision is not a blanket exemption for starting a new farm.17
  • Construction or fill in a regulated Minnesota floodplain requires floodplain approval; ask city planning whether the proposed St. Bonifacius site is affected.18

Sources

  1. St. Bonifacius Building Permits / Metro West Inspections (cityofstboni.gov)
  2. Chapter 157: Zoning (St. Bonifacius), quoted and re-checked
  3. § 157.110 Private Utility Systems (St. Bonifacius), quoted and re-checked
  4. Hennepin County Environmental Health (hennepincounty.gov)
  5. § 157.110 Private Utility Systems (St. Bonifacius), quoted and re-checked
  6. § 157.102 Accessory and Utility Buildings (St. Bonifacius), quoted and re-checked
  7. Tiny Houses and the 2020 Minnesota Residential Code (Minnesota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. codelibrary.amlegal.com (St. Bonifacius), quoted and re-checked
  9. § 157.110 Private Utility Systems (St. Bonifacius), quoted and re-checked
  10. Minnesota Administrative Rules, Part 1300.0120 — Permits (Minnesota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Chapter 157: Zoning (St. Bonifacius), quoted and re-checked
  12. codelibrary.amlegal.com (St. Bonifacius), quoted and re-checked
  13. codelibrary.amlegal.com (St. Bonifacius), quoted and re-checked
  14. § 157.071 Traffic Access Regulations (St. Bonifacius), quoted and re-checked
  15. Minnesota Administrative Rules, Part 1300.0220 — Certificate of Occupancy (Minnesota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. City of Minneapolis - Construction Permits (2026 county census)
  17. § 157.114 Farming (St. Bonifacius), quoted and re-checked
  18. Floodplain Regulations (Minnesota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 12, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for St. Bonifacius

St. Bonifacius’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside St. Bonifacius city limits; the city publishes and administers Chapter 157, Zoning.

    “CHAPTER 157: ZONING [...] Zoning Districts [...] R-1 Single-Family (Low Density) Residential District”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside St. Bonifacius city limits.

    • Published districts include R-1, R-2, R-6, B-2, MU-BR, MU-BI, I, and PUD.
    • District-specific requirements and land-use tables apply.
    “Zoning Districts [...] R-1 Single-Family (Low Density) Residential District”
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    Use of trailers as occupied dwelling units in the zoning regulations' covered districts inside St. Bonifacius city limits.

    • § 157.102(A) states that, unless specifically stated, the restrictions apply only to R-1 and R-2 zoning districts.
    “Except where specifically stated, the following restrictions apply only to structures in R-1 and R-2 Zoning Districts. [...] Cellars, basements, tents, trailers and accessory buildings shall not, at any time, be used as an occupied dwelling unit.”
  • Off-grid sanitationProhibited

    Off-grid sewage disposal for buildings intended for human habitation or use inside St. Bonifacius city limits.

    • The prohibition includes privies, privy vaults, septic tanks, cesspools, and other sewage or waste treatment/disposal facilities.
    “It shall be unlawful for any person to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool or other facility intended for the treatment or disposal of sewage or wastes.”
  • Well permitLimited

    Wells inside St. Bonifacius city limits.

    • Domestic potable wells are prohibited.
    • New wells may be drilled for agricultural and horticultural use.
    • Agricultural and horticultural wells may not cross-connect with the city water system.
    “No wells for the purpose of providing domestic water for human household use shall be drilled, installed or constructed, and no existing well shall be further developed to provide potable water. New wells may be drilled for agricultural and horticultural use, but there shall be no cross-connections between these wells and the city water system.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    Existing and new human-occupancy buildings inside St. Bonifacius city limits.

    • Domestic water must come from the municipal water system.
    • Agricultural or horticultural wells may be drilled, but may not cross-connect with the city water system.
    • Existing private wells must be disconnected when a service connection to the city system is installed.
    • Human-habitation buildings may use no sewage-disposal method other than city sewer.
    “All new residential, commercial, industrial and institutional buildings shall have their water supply provided by the municipal water supply system. [...] Existing and future buildings intended for human habitation or use shall not be allowed to use any method of sewage disposal other than the city sewer system.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Existing farms inside St. Bonifacius city limits.

    • A farm is defined as land used primarily for commercial, soil-dependent crop cultivation or livestock raising.
    • Existing farms may continue subject to conditions.
    • Roadside stands are limited to 12 feet in height and 500 square feet and must be at least 45 feet from a curb line or roadway edge.
    • New animal buildings or stables must be at least 100 feet from another lot in another residential district.
    • Commercial animal farms, fur farms, kennels, and poultry farms are excepted from the listed permitted agricultural uses.

    roadside stand maximum height: 12 ft · roadside stand maximum floor area: 500 sq ft · animal building or stable separation: >= 100 ft (From any other lot in any other residential district)

    “All farms currently in existence, from the effective date of this chapter, shall be permitted to continue operation subject to the following conditions.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Land subdivision inside St. Bonifacius city limits.

    • A tract divided into three or more parcels requires a record plat.
    • A tract used for purposes other than single-family dwellings must be platted before issuance of a building permit, even if it is not divided into three or more parcels.
    “Any tract of land to be divided into three or more parcels shall be subdivided by means of a record plat.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveway and curb-cut access inside St. Bonifacius city limits.

    • A state or county access permit must be obtained when applicable for buildable lots along state or county roads before the city authorizes construction.
    • Single-family uses are limited to one curb cut.
    • All properties are entitled to at least one curb cut.
    • Single-family and townhouse driveways must generally be 12 to 24 feet wide.

    minimum distance from driveway to intersection: >= 25 ft (City may require greater distances subject to City Council approval) · minimum curb-cut distance from side-yard property line: >= 5 ft · single-family driveway width: 12-24 ft (Unless otherwise recommended by the City Engineer)

    “In applicable situations, state and/or county access permits must be obtained prior to the city authorizing construction for buildable lots along state or county roads.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Municipal building and subdivision permitting inside St. Bonifacius city limits.

    • Permit fees are assessed under the annual municipal fee schedule.
    • Subdivision applications are subject to the procedures in Chapter 156.
    • Some land uses require a conditional-use permit or site-plan review.
    “Administration and Enforcement [...] Conditional use permits [...] Site plan review procedure”

Rules another office applies inside St. Bonifacius

St. Bonifacius 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 Single-Family Low Density Residential District inside St. Bonifacius city limits.

    • The table identifies R-1 as the first district column.
    • Minimum lot width in R-1 is 80 feet.
    • R-1 principal-structure and accessory-structure setbacks also apply.

    minimum lot area: 15000 sq ft

    “Minimums | Lot area (sq. ft.) | 15,000 | 19,500 | 30,000 | 10,000 | NA | 30,000 | 30,000 | ****”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-1 Single-Family Low Density Residential District inside St. Bonifacius city limits; principal structures.

    • All setbacks are measured from the property line, not the street, curb, or sidewalk.
    • Attached garages are part of the principal structure.
    • The table contains separate front/ROW, side/ROW, side/interior, rear, and pavement setbacks.

    front/ROW setback: 25 ft · side/ROW setback: 25 ft · side/interior setback: 15 ft · rear setback: 20 ft

    “Principal structure setbacks | Front/ROW | 25’ | 25’ | *35’/50’ | 35’ | 0’ | 40’ | 40’ | ****”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-1 Single-Family Low Density Residential District inside St. Bonifacius city limits.

    • The table labels the measure as maximum impervious coverage.

    maximum impervious coverage: 35 percent

    “Maximums | Impervious (%) | 35 | 50 | 65 | 75 | 100 | 75 | 75 | ****”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders performing construction inside St. Bonifacius city limits.
  • Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside St. Bonifacius city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings inside St. Bonifacius city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside St. Bonifacius city limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside St. Bonifacius city limits.
7 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that St. Bonifacius publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Hennepin County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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