Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Austin Township, Minnesota

Austin Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, altering, or moving a building or part of a building on land inside Austin Township that is outside incorporated municipal limits; the required approval is a Mower County zoning permit.

  • A zoning permit is not required for minor repairs such as redecorating inside or outside, residing, or re-shingling.
  • Minor structures may be placed without a zoning permit but require zoning review; minor structures in Shoreland Overlay, Floodplain zones, and on nonconforming lots require zoning permits.
  • Applicants must submit the application and the fee established by County Board resolution to the Zoning Administrator; the affected Town Board receives a copy for notification.
  • If development conforms to the ordinance, the Zoning Administrator issues the permit; it is valid for two years from issuance.
  • If substantial work, defined as spending at least 30% of estimated value, is not completed, a new application and fee are required; the County Board may waive those requirements and extend for good cause shown, including natural disasters, acts of war, or temporary disability of a permit holder/laborer.

  permit validity: 2 years (from date of issuance) · substantial-work threshold: >= 30 percent of estimated value (If not completed, a new permit application and fee are required unless the County Board waives/extends for good cause.)

  “No person in the county shall erect, alter, or move any building or any part thereof without first securing a zoning permit therefore.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Austin Township, Mower County, Minnesota, that is outside incorporated municipal limits; zoning is administered under the Mower County Zoning Ordinance.

  • The ordinance applies outside incorporated municipal limits.
  • Land use and structures must conform to the ordinance; nonconforming properties and uses are subject to its special regulations.
  • This is county-administered zoning, not evidence of a separately adopted Austin Township zoning ordinance.

  “The jurisdiction of this Ordinance shall apply to all the area of Mower County outside the incorporated limits of municipalities.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Subsurface sewage treatment systems and septage disposal inside Austin Township, Mower County, Minnesota, unless the area administers an at-least-as-strict SSTS program approved by Mower County.

  • The county ordinance excludes incorporated or unincorporated areas that administer an SSTS program by ordinance at least as strict as the county ordinance and approved by Mower County.
  • Systems designed to treat an average flow greater than 10,000 gallons per day require a State Disposal System permit from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
  • All systems requiring state approval must also comply with local code; plans and specifications require appropriate state and local approval before construction begins.
  • It is unlawful to construct, install, modify, upgrade, replace, or operate an SSTS without the appropriate Department permit.

  state-disposal-system permit threshold: > 10000 gallons per day average design flow (Applies to an on-site SSTS or group of systems on adjacent properties under single ownership.)

  “The jurisdiction of this Ordinance shall include all lands of Mower County except for incorporated or unincorporated areas that administer a Subsurface Sewage Treatment System (SSTS) Program by Ordinance within their jurisdiction, which is at least as strict as this Ordinance and has been approved by Mower County.”

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.