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

Viola Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction of a new house inside Viola Township, for which Olmsted County directs residents to TCPA for permits.

  • TCPA offers either a mailed/dropped-off application or an online application through the building inspector's portal.
  • For a paper application, the Building Permit Form and Zoning Certificate are listed; those forms are not required when applying through the online portal.
  • The new-house instructions require construction plans and related documents, a septic design submitted to GGG Engineering, and a well permit unless the home is on a shared well.
  • If the parcel is not in a platted subdivision, the instructions say the applicant will likely need an address and require a site plan plus a $112.00 check payable to Olmsted County.

  “HOUSE - Are you building a new house? You’ll need to download and complete the following forms: 001 – Building Permit Form (Not required when applying via online portal.)”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land in Viola Township, Olmsted County, Minnesota; the ordinance states that its jurisdiction applies to all of Viola Township.

  • The TCPA-hosted ordinance warns that townships may periodically amend individual sections and that amendments may not be included in the posted document.
  • The ordinance’s shoreland provisions apply to shorelands of the public water bodies classified in Section 9.10(B); a lake, pond, or flowage under 25 acres in unincorporated areas need not be regulated, and a privately created water body may be exempt at the governing body’s discretion.
  • The ordinance provides that all land and buildings in the unincorporated area of Viola Township must conform to the ordinance, subject to its nonconforming-use provisions.

  “Section 1.04 JURISDICTION: The jurisdiction of this zoning ordinance shall apply to all the area of Viola Township.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Septic permitting for TCPA-administered Viola Township.

  • Applications and septic designs must be submitted to GGG Engineering in Chatfield.
  • A new dwelling will likely require a septic permit.
  • A remodel adding bedroom(s), and the transfer or sale of a dwelling, require a septic compliance check.
  • Septic designs may be created by any licensed septic designer.

  “Septic permit applications along with the septic design should be submitted to GGG Engineering in Chatfield. GGG Engineering issues all septic permits for the TCPA administered Townships.”

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.