Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Motley, Minnesota

Motley’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New structures and structure assembly, installation, repair, remodeling, removal, or construction inside Motley city limits.

  • The cited rule is a City zoning-permit requirement.
  • A zoning permit expires if no action occurs within 12 months unless extended; exterior work must be complete within 18 months, subject to extension for good cause and a second extension by the Planning Commission.

  “No person shall assemble, install, repair, remodel, remove or construct any structure prior to applying for and receiving a Zoning Permit.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Motley city limits.

  • The ordinance divides the City into zones and regulates structures and land uses.

  “This Ordinance shall be referred to and cited as the Motley Land Use, Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance, except herein where it shall be cited as the "Ordinance".”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles inside Motley city limits.

  • Vehicles must be designed to operate on state roads without a special permit, currently licensed, and readily movable.
  • They must meet dwelling setbacks unless in storage.
  • Occupant must have owner permission, in writing if the owner is not available on site.
  • They may not be used as a year-round dwelling or living quarters in violation of the ordinance.
  • They must follow City noise standards.

  “No recreational vehicle shall be used as a year-round living dwelling or living quarters for a period of time in violation of this ordinance.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured-housing developments inside Motley city limits.

  • A manufactured-housing development is administered as a conditional use in a zoning district where the use is allowed.

  “Manufactured housing development shall be administered as a Conditional Use in the zoning district where said use is allowed.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Construction or repair of sewage systems inside Motley city limits.

  • The City zoning-permit rule applies to construction or repair of a sewage system.
  • Onsite and cluster onsite systems in a subdivision must conform to MPCA Chapter 7080 standards.

  “Zoning Permits shall be issued for all new structures and any change in structure exterior, plumbing or number of bedrooms, any construction or repair of a sewage system and any grading and filling in shoreland not exempted by this ordinance.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction or repair of a sewage system inside Motley city limits.

  • Requirement is for a City zoning permit.
  • The ordinance exempts grading and filling in shoreland where the ordinance provides an exemption; that exception does not alter the sewage-system clause.

  “Zoning Permits shall be issued for all new structures and any change in structure exterior, plumbing or number of bedrooms, any construction or repair of a sewage system and any grading and filling in shoreland not exempted by this ordinance.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Onsite or cluster onsite sewage systems proposed in subdivisions inside Motley city limits.

  • Systems must conform to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Individual Sewage Treatment Systems Standard, Chapter 7080.
  • Two treatment sites for drain fields are required.

  treatment sites for drain fields: 2 sites (Onsite systems or cluster onsite systems in subdivisions)

  “Onsite systems or cluster onsite systems shall conform to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Standards, Individual Sewage Treatment Systems Standard, Chapter 7080, and provide for two (2) treatment sites for drain fields.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision proposals inside Motley city limits.

  • A sketch plan must show the listed existing conditions and proposed design features, including proposed lots and setbacks, City water/sewer connections or sewage-treatment systems, and well locations.

  “SECTION VI - SUBDIVISION STANDARDS 6.1 Sketch Plan. A sketch plan shall contain the following data: 1. Existing Conditions”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Planning and zoning permits and land-use applications inside Motley city limits.

  • The fee schedule says the indicated marked fees include public and mailed notices, filing fee, and other preparation, but other costs are billed to the applicant and permit fees are excluded.
  • Escrow may be added for professional services; the applicant may be required to replenish it, and unused escrow is refunded after the process.

  recreational vehicle fee: 35 USD · variance fee: 300 USD · conditional use fee: 300 USD · interim use fee: 300 USD

  “Sign $45.00 Fence $45.00 Keeping of Hen Chickens $35.00 Recreational Vehicle $35.00 Variance* $300.00 Conditional Use* $300.00 Conditional Use Permit Escrow for Residential Projects $500.00”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  City zoning permits inside Motley city limits.

  • Required Board of Adjustment, Planning Commission, Council, or financial-security action must occur before a zoning permit is issued.
  • The City will not accept an application while the applicant has past-due City or County fees or charges.
  • The permit must contain the parcel number and owner or authorized-agent signature.

  permit inactivity period before void unless extended: 12 months (Extended by Zoning Administrator) · exterior-work completion period: 18 months (May be extended for good cause; second extension decided by Planning Commission)

  “Where a proposed use requires action of the Board of Adjustment, Planning Commission or Council or posting of financial security, said action shall occur and the Conditional Use Permit, Variance, Zoning District change, final plat plan approval, approval of metes and bound division shall be issued or security posted before the Zoning Permit is issued.”

Rules another office applies inside Motley

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

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development inside Motley’s Floodway, Flood Fringe, and General Floodplain Districts.

  • The ordinance applies only within the named floodplain districts.
  • The Floodway table allows certain development with a permit subject to the Section 5.2 standards.
  • A local permit is not required for a public waters work permit from DNR unless a significant area above the ordinary high-water level is also disturbed.

  “The following uses and activities may be allowed with a permit, subject to the standards in Section 5.2:”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Motley city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Motley city limits.
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Motley city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for structures inside Motley city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Motley 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.