Zoning, building permits and septic rules in St. Vincent, Minnesota

Rules another office applies inside St. Vincent

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

• Building permitRequired

  Code-regulated construction work inside St. Vincent city limits when a building official administers the State Building Code.

  • An owner or authorized agent must first apply to the building official and obtain the required permit.
  • Minnesota Rules 1300.0120 contains enumerated permit exemptions, including one-story detached accessory structures used as tool or storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses if floor area does not exceed 200 square feet.

  accessory-structure permit exemption floor area: <= 200 square feet (One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses.)

  “An owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any gas, mechanical, electrical, plumbing system, or other equipment, the installation of which is regulated by the code; or cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings and structures governed by the State Building Code inside St. Vincent city limits.

  • The rule applies to construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, and use of buildings and structures of the type governed by the code.
  • The State Building Code does not apply to agricultural buildings except as stated in Minn. Stat. § 326B.121, subdivision 1(c).

  “The State Building Code is the standard that applies statewide for the construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, and use of buildings and other structures of the type governed by the code.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted State Building Code work inside St. Vincent city limits when a building official administers the code.

  • The building official may accept reports of inspection by approved agencies or individuals.
  • Inspection results must be documented on the job-site inspection card and in official municipal records.

  “The building official shall make all of the required inspections or accept reports of inspection by approved agencies or individuals. Results of inspections shall be documented on the job site inspection card and in the official records of the municipality, including type of inspection, date of inspection, identification of the responsible individual making the inspection, and comments regarding approval or disapproval of the inspection.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings and structures governed by the State Building Code inside St. Vincent city limits when a building official administers the code.

  • A building or structure may not be used or occupied, and its occupancy classification may not be changed, until the building official issues a certificate of occupancy.
  • A municipality has the option of requiring certificates of occupancy for U occupancies constructed under the International Building Code, accessory structures constructed under the International Residential Code, or used manufactured homes moved into or within a jurisdiction.
  • Legal occupancy of a structure existing on the date of code adoption may continue without change.

  “No building or structure shall be used or occupied, and no change in the existing occupancy classification of a building, structure, or portion of a building or structure shall be made until the building official has issued a certificate of occupancy for the building or structure under this part.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Subsurface sewage treatment systems inside St. Vincent city limits.

  • County administration applies unless St. Vincent city administers an SSTS ordinance that complies with Minnesota Rules chapter 7082.
  • A city that has an SSTS ordinance must administer and enforce one that conforms to chapter 7082 and is at least as strict as the applicable county ordinance.

  “All counties must adopt and implement SSTS ordinances in compliance with chapters 7080 and 7081 that also comply with this chapter. Ordinances must apply to all land area within the county, except in towns and cities that have adopted ordinances that are in conformance with the county ordinance and this chapter. All counties with SSTS ordinances must permit and inspect SSTS within cities and townships that do not administer an SSTS ordinance that complies with these rules.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New construction or replacement of a subsurface sewage treatment system inside St. Vincent city limits.

  • The local unit of government must review and either approve or deny the permit application before issuing a construction permit.
  • Construction must not begin until a construction permit is granted.
  • The local unit may require permits for all or certain types of SSTS repairs.

  “Permits must be required for all new construction and replacement. A local unit of government is authorized to require permits for all or certain types of SSTS repairs.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New construction or replacement of a subsurface sewage treatment system inside St. Vincent city limits.

  • The inspection is to ensure compliance with applicable requirements.
  • The certificate of compliance or notice of noncompliance must be submitted to the local unit of government and owner or agent within 15 days after inspection.

  “A compliance inspection for all new construction or replacement must be conducted:”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside St. Vincent city limits.
• Local zoning — Land inside St. Vincent city limits.
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside St. Vincent city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings inside St. Vincent city limits.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside St. Vincent 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.