Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Nashwauk, Minnesota

Nashwauk’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erection, movement, addition to, or structural alteration of a building or other structure inside Nashwauk city limits.

  • The requirement is for a valid city zoning permit; a permit is issued only in conformity with Chapter 152 unless there is a written Board of Appeals and Adjustments order for a City Council-approved conditional use permit.

  “No building or other structure shall be erected, moved, added to, or structurally altered without a valid zoning permit.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Nashwauk city limits.

  • The Nashwauk zoning chapter is administered and enforced by the Zoning Official and staff assistance provided by the City Council.

  “The Zoning Official and the other staff assistance as is provided by the City Council shall administer and enforce this chapter.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Nashwauk city limits.

  • The official code includes zoning-district provisions, including R-1 Low Density Residential, R-2 Low Density Residential, R-3 Medium Density Residential, commercial districts, industrial districts, and planned unit development provisions.

  “ZONING DISTRICTS § 152.35 R-1 LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  All mobile homes inside Nashwauk city limits, including those in a regulated mobile-home park.

  • This claim concerns mobile homes; the located provision does not establish a general new-home connection rule.

  “All mobile homes shall be serviced by the city water system. [...] All mobile homes shall be serviced by the city sanitary sewer system.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Planned unit developments and plats inside Nashwauk city limits.

  • The cited provision states that filing a plat remains necessary under city subdivision regulations; PUD development also requires required plans and approvals.

  “Nothing in this section or this chapter shall be interpreted as negating the necessity of filing a plat as required by the city's subdivision regulations.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Mobile-home lots in Nashwauk mobile-home parks.

  • The access must be vehicular access from abutting public streets or roads and may be provided by streets, driveways, or other means.

  “All mobile home parks shall be provided with safe and convenient vehicular access from abutting public streets or roads to each mobile home lot. [...] The access shall be provided by streets, driveways, or other means.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Nashwauk zoning permits, appeals, and other Chapter 152 matters.

  • The City Council may establish and amend the fee schedule; the schedule is posted in the Zoning Official's office; no permit, certificate, conditional use, or variance is issued until listed costs, charges, fees, or expenses are paid in full.

  “The schedule of fees shall be posted in the office of the Zoning Official and may be altered or amended only by the City Council.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Nashwauk zoning-permit applications.

  • Applications require duplicate scale building and plot plans and required information; the Zoning Official, with staff assistance, approves or disapproves applications; approved applications result in issuance and the permit must be displayed on the premises.

  plan copies: 2 copies

  “All applications for zoning permits shall be accompanied by building and plot plans in duplicate, drawn to scale, showing the actual dimensions and shape of the lot to be built upon; the exact sizes and locations on the lots of buildings already existing, if any; and the location and dimensions of the proposed building or alteration.”

Rules another office applies inside Nashwauk

Nashwauk does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single- and multi-family dwellings in Nashwauk's R-2 Low Density Residential District.

  • The cited provision applies to all single- and multi-family dwellings in R-2.

  minimum dwelling width: 24 feet · minimum dwelling length: 24 feet

  “The minimum size of all single- and multi-family dwellings shall be 24 feet in width and 24 feet in length.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots in Nashwauk's R-2 Low Density Residential District.

  minimum lot width: 100 feet · minimum lot depth: 150 feet

  “(D) Minimum lot dimensions. (1) Width - 100 feet; and (2) Depth - 150 feet.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Buildings in Nashwauk's R-2 Low Density Residential District.

  maximum building coverage: 30 percent

  “(G) Maximum building coverage. Thirty percent.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings in Nashwauk's R-2 Low Density Residential District.

  • Accessory buildings have a separate maximum height.

  maximum principal building height: 35 feet · maximum accessory building height: 15 feet

  “Maximum building height shall be not over 35 feet. [...] Maximum accessory building height shall be 15 feet.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Nashwauk city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Nashwauk city limits.
• Inspections — Building construction inside Nashwauk city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Nashwauk city limits.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Nashwauk 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.