Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Welcome, Minnesota

Welcome’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New construction, additions, patios and decks, interior or exterior structural changes, fences, storage buildings, and building removal inside Welcome city limits.

  • Flat concrete such as driveways and patio slabs does not require a zoning permit, but should be reported to city hall before pouring.
  • The code states that the permit is from the council.

  “The following shall require a zoning permit: New construction, Additions, Patios and Decks, Change of interior structure, Change of exterior structure, Fences, Storage buildings, and removal of buildings.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Welcome city limits, Martin County, Minnesota.

  • Uses are permitted, conditional, or accessory only as indicated by the applicable zoning district; an unlisted use is not allowable in that district.

  “The following zoning districts are hereby established with the following purpose.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Welcome city limits.

  • The official zoning map is on file with the City Clerk and is incorporated into the ordinance by reference.
  • Future annexed land is initially placed in the Agricultural District until later action by the City Council after Planning and Zoning Commission recommendation.

  “The following zoning districts are hereby established with the following purpose.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Permanent use of a mobile home as a dwelling inside Welcome city limits.

  • A mobile home used as a permanent dwelling or place of abode for an indefinite period must be located in a licensed mobile-home park.

  “No owner or renter shall use a mobile home for a permanent dwelling or place of abode in the City for an indefinite period of time unless the mobile home is located within a licensed mobile home park.”

• Off-grid sanitationProhibited

  Privies, privy vaults, septic tanks, cesspools, and other sewage-disposal facilities inside Welcome city limits.

  • The prohibition is qualified by the code's phrase 'Except as hereinafter provided.'
  • Public-sewer connection is separately required for the described abutting properties after official notice.

  “Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful for any person to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool or other facilities intended or used for the disposal of sewage.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  A house, building, or property used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purposes inside Welcome city limits that abuts a street, alley, or right-of-way containing a public sewer.

  • Connection is required at the owner's expense within six months after official notice.
  • The source establishes a sewer-availability condition; it does not establish a general mandatory water connection rule.

  connection deadline after official notice: 6 months (Applies to covered property abutting a street, alley, or right-of-way where a public sewer is located or later located.)

  “The owner of any house, building or property used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purposes situated within the City and abutting any street, alley, or right-of-way in which there is now located or may in the future be located a public sewer is hereby required, at the expense of the owner, to install suitable toilet facilities therein, and to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer in accordance with the provisions of Subd.l to Subd. 8 within six months after date of official notice to do so.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Water-system hookup inside Welcome city limits.

  • The water-hookup fee is set annually by resolution and applies whenever an owner installs or replaces the water line from the main to the house or building.

  water-system hookup fee: set annually by resolution (Applies each time the owner installs or replaces the water line from the main to the house/building.)

  “The fee for hookup to the water system is set annually by resolution. The fee is applicable each and every time the home owner installs or replaces the water line from the main to the house/ building.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Applications to erect, enlarge, or alter a building or structure inside Welcome city limits.

  • The applicant must apply to the council before issuance and file plans and specifications for enough time for council examination.
  • Issuance depends on apparent compliance with city ordinances and state law and the council's listed health, safety, welfare, and growth findings.

  “Any person desiring to erect, enlarge or alter any building or structure within the City shall apply to the council for a permit for that purpose, stating on the application the location, dimensions and approximate cost of the building or structure, and such further information relating thereto or to the installation of any of the appurtenances connected therewith as the council shall require, before the permit shall be issued, and shall file with the council, plans and specifications of the work to be done.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Welcome city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Welcome city limits.
• Inspections — General building inspections for construction inside Welcome city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Welcome city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Welcome 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.