Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Hutchinson, Minnesota

Hutchinson’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, improving, removing, or converting a building or structure inside Hutchinson city limits.

  • A separate building or mechanical permit is required for each building, structure, or mechanical component.

  “without first obtaining a separate building or mechanical permit for each building, structure or mechanical components from the city.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction inside Hutchinson city limits.

  • The adoption excludes optional chapters unless specifically adopted in § 150.001.

  “The Minnesota State Building Code is hereby incorporated in this section as if fully set out herein.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Hutchinson city limits.

  • The city zoning chapter divides the city into districts shown on the official zoning map.

  “For the purposes of this chapter, the city is hereby divided into districts, as shown on the official zoning map”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Hutchinson city limits.

  • District boundaries are shown on the official zoning map adopted by reference.

  “For the purposes of this chapter, the city is hereby divided into districts, as shown on the official zoning map, which, together with all explanatory matter thereof, is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be part of this chapter.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Work governed by the building code inside Hutchinson city limits.

  • The fee schedule may be amended by the City Council from time to time.
  • A surcharge is collected on all permits issued for work governed by the code under Minnesota Statutes § 326B.148.

  “Permit fees shall be assessed for work governed by this code in accordance with the fee schedule”

Rules another office applies inside Hutchinson

Hutchinson 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

  Single-family residence connected to public sanitary sewer in the R-1 Single-Family Residential District inside Hutchinson city limits.

  • The R-1 table applies to a single-family residence connected to public sanitary sewer.

  minimum lot area: 10400 square feet · minimum lot width: 80 feet (110 feet at building line for a corner lot) · minimum lot depth: 130 feet

  “Single-family residence connected to public sanitary sewer Maximum lot coverage 50% (A survey will be required if calculations cannot be verified) | 10,400 square feet | 80 feet; for corner lot, 110 feet at building line | 130 feet”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Single-family residence connected to public sanitary sewer in the R-1 Single-Family Residential District inside Hutchinson city limits.

  • A survey is required if coverage calculations cannot be verified.

  maximum lot coverage: 50 percent (A survey will be required if calculations cannot be verified)

  “Single-family residence connected to public sanitary sewer Maximum lot coverage 50% (A survey will be required if calculations cannot be verified) | 10,400 square feet | 80 feet; for corner lot, 110 feet at building line | 130 feet”

• Building heightSpecified

  Single-family houses in the R-1 Single-Family Residential District inside Hutchinson city limits.

  maximum building height: 35 feet

  “Single-family house | 30 feet | 8 feet | 30 feet | 30 feet; 15 feet for corner lots | 35 feet”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  New or replacement manufactured homes and manufactured-home parks in city floodplain districts.

  • New manufactured home parks, expansions, and new or replacement manufactured-home units on lots of record are prohibited in the Floodway District.
  • If allowed in the Flood Fringe District, the uses are subject to § 154.090 and the standards in § 154.094.

  “New manufactured home parks, expansions to existing manufactured home parks, and new or replacement manufactured home units”

• Driveway accessLimited

  New and replacement driveways in residential districts inside Hutchinson city limits.

  • New residential driveways must be set back five feet from side and rear property lines.
  • A replacement, repaved, or reconstructed driveway located at least three feet but less than five feet from the property line may receive a driveway permit with a variance.
  • The apron and curb cut must be hard surfaced.

  new driveway side and rear property-line setback: 5 feet (Replacement, repaved, or reconstructed driveway at least three feet from property line may receive permit with variance)

  “All residential districts shall require new driveways to be set back five feet from the side and rear property lines. If the driveway is being replaced, repaved or reconstructed and the driveway is located less than five feet, but three feet or more, from the property line, the driveway permit may be issued with a variance. The apron and curb cut shall be hard surfaced.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Land, structures, utility and waste-treatment facilities, and subdivision activity within Hutchinson floodplain districts.

  • All uses not listed as permitted or conditional uses are prohibited.
  • New and replacement manufactured homes and certain recreational vehicles are subject to the floodplain subchapter.

  “Within the floodplain districts established in this subchapter, the use of any land [...] must comply with the terms of this subchapter”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Hutchinson city limits.
• Inspections — Building construction inside Hutchinson city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Hutchinson city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family homes in the R-1 Single-Family Residential District inside Hutchinson city limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Hutchinson 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.