Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Bigfork, Minnesota

Bigfork’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction and specified alterations inside Bigfork city.

  • Regular building maintenance and replacement of windows, doors, and shingles do not require a permit.
  • Alterations changing a structure's footprint or height require a permit.
  • Gopher State One Call must be made two days before digging begins.

  “No construction shall commence until a permit has been obtained from the City. Permits are required for the construction of buildings or accessory structures including, but not limited to, garages, decks, sheds, greenhouses, fences and signs. Permits are also required for alterations that change the footprint or height of a structure. Regular building maintenance or replacement of such items as windows, doors and shingles will not require a permit.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Building-sewer service repairs or replacements inside Bigfork city.

  • The permit must be approved and the work inspected by the city.
  • No part of the service may be backfilled before inspection is completed.

  “It is not necessary to use a licensed person for completion of the repair or replacement; however the permit must be approved and the work inspected by the City. The property owner shall notify the City when the repair or replacement is ready for inspection.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Buildings and premises created, erected, changed, converted, altered, enlarged, or used within Bigfork's regulated floodplain districts.

  • A Certificate of Zoning Compliance must be issued by the Zoning Administrator.
  • The certificate states that the building or land use conforms to the floodplain ordinance.

  “It shall be unlawful to use, occupy, or permit the use or occupancy of any building or premises or part thereof hereafter created, erected, changed, converted, altered, or enlarged in its use or structure until a Certificate of Zoning Compliance shall have been issued by the Zoning Administrator stating that the use of the building or land conforms to the requirements of this ordinance.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within the City of Bigfork, Minnesota.

  • The ordinance regulates uses and structures by zoning district.

  “No structure or land shall hereafter be used or occupied and no structure shall hereafter be erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved or structurally altered, except in conformity with the regulations specified in the Zoning Ordinance for the district in which it is located.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Bigfork city subject to the city's official zoning map and zoning ordinance.

  • Floodplain and shoreland are special overlay districts.

  published districts: R-1, R-2, GB, M, I, AG; Floodplain and Shoreland overlays

  “R-1 — Single Family Residential District R-2 — Multi-Family Residential District GB — General Business District M — Medical District I — Industrial District AG — Agricultural District Special Overlay Districts Floodplain – refer to section 150.70 of this ordinance Shoreland – refer to section 150.80 of this ordinance”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured-home parks in the R-2 Multiple Family Residential District inside Bigfork city.

  • The ordinance identifies manufactured-home parks as a conditional use in R-2; it does not establish unrestricted manufactured-home occupancy citywide.

  “(C) Conditional uses. 1. Any use permitted in Single-Family Residential District. 2. Manufactured home parks”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private wastewater disposal systems inside Bigfork city where the city sanitary sewer system is unavailable.

  • Private systems must comply with Minnesota Rules chapter 7080.
  • The city issues the written permit.

  “Prior to commencement of construction of a private wastewater disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the City.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation of a private wastewater disposal system inside Bigfork city.

  • A written city permit is required before construction.
  • The application must be on the city form and include plans, specifications, and other information the city deems necessary.
  • The permit is not effective until installation satisfies the city or its authorized representative.

  “Prior to commencement of construction of a private wastewater disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the City. The application for the permit shall be made on a form furnished by the City, which the applicant shall supplement by any plans, specifications and other information as are deemed necessary to the City.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private wastewater disposal systems installed inside Bigfork city.

  • The owner must arrange the inspection by a licensed inspector and bear its cost.
  • The inspection report must be submitted to the city after completion.

  “The owner shall be responsible to arrange for the inspection of the system by a licensed inspector and will bear the cost of such inspection. A copy of the inspection report must be submitted to the City as soon as possible after completion of the inspection.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private wastewater disposal inside Bigfork city where the municipal sanitary sewer system is unavailable.

  • The private system must comply with city code and Minnesota Rules chapter 7080.
  • No septic tank or cesspool may discharge to a natural outlet.
  • Where the sanitary sewer system is available, a private septic tank, cesspool, privy, privy vault, or similar wastewater facility is unlawful except as otherwise provided in the chapter.

  “Where the Sanitary Sewer System is not available under the provisions of § 51.23, the building sewer shall be connected to a private wastewater disposal system complying with the provisions of this subchapter and Minn. Rules Ch. 7080, Individual Sewage Treatment Systems Program, as they may be amended from time to time.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Property inside Bigfork city served by a private wastewater disposal system when the municipal sanitary sewer system becomes available as defined by city code § 51.23.

  • A direct public-sewer connection is required when the sanitary sewer becomes available.
  • The cited rule does not establish a parallel public-water connection requirement.

  “At the time as the Sanitary Sewer System becomes available, as described in § 51.23, to a property serviced by a private wastewater disposal system, a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer in accordance with § 51.23.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of shoreland of public waters inside Bigfork city.

  • The provision applies to shorelands of the public water bodies classified in the ordinance.
  • Subdivision must comply with the shoreland ordinance and other applicable regulations.

  “The use of any shoreland of public waters; the size and shape of lots; the use, size, type and location of structures on lots; the installation and maintenance of water supply and waste treatment systems, the grading and filling of any shoreland area; the cutting of shoreland vegetation; and the subdivision of land shall be in full compliance with the terms of this ordinance and other applicable regulations.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Erection, alteration, use changes, fill, excavation, or material storage within Bigfork's Floodway, Flood Fringe, or General Flood Plain Districts.

  • A Zoning Administrator permit is required before the listed activity.
  • The applicant must obtain necessary state and federal permits before the city permit is granted or an application for a conditional-use permit or variance is processed.

  “A Permit issued by the Zoning Administrator in conformity with the provisions of this ordinance shall be secured prior to the erection, addition, or alteration of any building, structure, or portion thereof; prior to the use or change of use of a building, structure, or land; prior to the change or extension of a nonconforming use; and prior to the placement of fill, excavation of materials, or the storage of materials or equipment within the flood plain.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning-permit applications inside Bigfork city.

  • Application must be written on the city form.
  • A site plan must show property lines and structure locations in relation to those lines and other structures.
  • Incomplete applications or applications without payment of applicable fees are not formally accepted.

  city action deadline: <= 60 days (A one-time extension up to an additional 60 days may be noticed before the initial period ends.)

  “The application for a zoning permit shall be submitted in writing on a form provided by the City and include a site plan showing all property lines and the location of the structure on the property in relation to those lines and to other structures. The application shall demonstrate that the structure will meet any setbacks and standards established by this ordinance.”

Rules another office applies inside Bigfork

Bigfork 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 Residential District inside Bigfork city.

  • The listed requirements are subject to additional requirements, exceptions, and modifications in the ordinance.

  minimum lot area: 10500 square feet · minimum lot width: 75 feet

  “(D) Lot requirements and setbacks. The following minimum requirements shall be observed in an R-1 District, subject to additional requirements, exceptions and modifications set forth in this ordinance: 1. Lot area. 10,500 square feet 2. Lot width. 75 feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • None — Land used for agricultural purposes in the AG Agricultural District inside Bigfork city.

    “There are no lot requirements, setbacks, or building requirements if it is used for agricultural purposes. If the land is used, or partially used, for residential purposes, such use must follow the same guidelines as the R-1 or R-2 District, whichever applies to the use.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 Single Family Residential District inside Bigfork city.

  • Requirements are subject to additional ordinance requirements, exceptions, and modifications.
  • For an existing structure, the front setback is determined in line with existing structures on the same street.

  front yard setback: >= 35 feet (existing structures use the in-line rule) · side yard setback principal structure: >= 10 feet · rear yard setback principal structure: >= 15 feet

  “i. Front yards. Not less than 35 feet; except in the case of existing structures, the front set-back will be determined to be in-line with those existing structures on that same street. ii. Side yards. Not less than 10 feet for a principal structure or 6 feet for an accessory structure iii. Rear yards. Not less than 15 feet for a principal structure or 10 feet for an accessory structure”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • None — Land used for agricultural purposes in the AG Agricultural District inside Bigfork city.

    “There are no lot requirements, setbacks, or building requirements if it is used for agricultural purposes. If the land is used, or partially used, for residential purposes, such use must follow the same guidelines as the R-1 or R-2 District, whichever applies to the use.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 Single Family Residential District inside Bigfork city.

  • The R-1 requirements are subject to additional ordinance requirements, exceptions, and modifications.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 30 percent

  “Lot requirements and setbacks. The following minimum requirements shall be observed in an R-1 District, subject to additional requirements, exceptions and modifications set forth in this ordinance: [...] 4. Maximum Lot Coverage. 30%”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 Single Family Residential District inside Bigfork city.

  • The R-1 requirements are subject to additional ordinance requirements, exceptions, and modifications.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet

  “Lot requirements and setbacks. The following minimum requirements shall be observed in an R-1 District, subject to additional requirements, exceptions and modifications set forth in this ordinance: [...] 5. Maximum Building Height. 35 feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • None — Land used for agricultural purposes in the AG Agricultural District inside Bigfork city.

    “There are no lot requirements, setbacks, or building requirements if it is used for agricultural purposes. If the land is used, or partially used, for residential purposes, such use must follow the same guidelines as the R-1 or R-2 District, whichever applies to the use.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural purposes in the AG Agricultural District inside Bigfork city.

  • The exemption from lot, setback, and building requirements applies only when the land is used for agricultural purposes.
  • Residential or partially residential use must follow R-1 or R-2 guidelines, whichever applies.

  “There are no lot requirements, setbacks, or building requirements if it is used for agricultural purposes. If the land is used, or partially used, for residential purposes, such use must follow the same guidelines as the R-1 or R-2 District, whichever applies to the use.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Bigfork city.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Bigfork city.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Bigfork city.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Bigfork city.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Bigfork 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.