Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Willow River, Minnesota

Willow River’s own rules

• Building code adoptedNot adopted (with conditions)

  Municipal building-code adoption inside Willow River city limits.

  • This finding concerns the city ordinance's repeal of its former local building-code ordinance; it does not establish whether a separate state code requirement applies to a particular project.

  “This Ordinance does hereby repeal Ordinance No. 56 with all inclusions, including the Resolution dated May 6, 1991, adopting a new Building Ordinance and abandoning the Minnesota Uniform Building Code.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Willow River city limits.

  • The ordinance identifies permitted and conditional uses by district.

  “For the purpose of this Ordinance, the City of Willow River is hereby divided into zoning districts, as shown on the Official Zoning Map”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Willow River city limits.

  • The official zoning map is on file at City Hall; if the map conflicts with the ordinance, the ordinance governs.

  “A. R-1 - One and two Family Residence District B. R-2 - Multiple Family Residence District C. C - Downtown Commercial District, General Commercial District, General Industrial District D. PUD - Planned Unit Development E. PL - Public Land F. RCA - Recreational Camping Area G. O - Open Land (temporary only; refer to Section VI, No. 2)”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Tents in Recreational Camping Areas inside Willow River city limits.

  • Tents are limited to two per rental space.
  • Group-camping areas need adequate parking, water outlets, and proximity to water and toilet/shower facilities.

  tents per rental space: <= 2 tents (Group camping areas may be established subject to the listed provisions.)

  “Tents shall be permitted, and their number shall be limited to two (2) tents per rental space.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile or manufactured homes inside Willow River city limits.

  • R-1 and R-2 private-lot mobile-home placements are conditional uses.
  • A valid zoning-administrator permit is required to construct, alter, or place a mobile home.
  • Pre-ordinance mobile-home occupants have continuing nonconforming-use treatment until a physical change is planned.

  “It shall be unlawful for any person to construct, alter or place any mobile home within the city limits of Willow River unless he holds a valid permit issued by the Zoning Administrator”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private sewage treatment systems and sewage treatment for human occupancy regulated by the Willow River ordinance.

  • Publicly owned sewer must be used where available.
  • Private systems must meet MPCA Chapter 7080 standards adopted by reference.
  • The cited provisions occur in the city's Wild and Scenic River/Shoreland management ordinance.

  “All private sewage treatment systems must meet or exceed the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s standards for individual sewage treatment systems contained in the document titled, ‘Individual Sewage Treatment Systems Standards, Chapter 7080’, a copy of which is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this Ordinance.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Human-occupied premises governed by the city's Wild and Scenic River/Shoreland management ordinance.

  • Publicly owned sewer systems must be used where available.
  • A private system must meet the MPCA Chapter 7080 standards adopted by reference.
  • On-site systems must meet applicable ordinary-high-water-level setbacks.

  “Any premises used for human occupancy must be provided with an adequate method of sewage treatment, as follows: A. Publicly-owned sewer systems must be used where available. B. All private sewage treatment systems must meet or exceed the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s standards for individual sewage treatment systems”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New homes or buildings inside Willow River city limits where municipal water is available to the property.

  • Existing homes or buildings must directly connect when water becomes available within the period determined by the City Council.
  • Existing-building hookups must be completed within two years after the water system becomes operational.
  • Where water is unavailable, the city determines whether and under what conditions the system will be extended.

  existing-building hookup deadline after water system becomes operational: <= 2 years (Other hookups must occur within the period indicated by the City Council.)

  “All new homes or buildings shall connect to the municipal water system if water is available to the property.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Construction or placement of a structure in the floodplain area inside Willow River city limits.

  • The zoning administrator must make the stated inquiry before construction or placement to determine whether it would violate the August 2, 1999 Rural Development Letter of Conditions.

  “Prior to the construction or placement of any structure in the floor plain area in the City of Willow River, said structure as being defined in the City of Willow River’s Zoning Ordinance, the zoning administrator shall make such inquiry as reasonably necessary”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Mobile-home placement permits inside Willow River city limits.

  • The ordinance requires a permit fee but gives no dollar amount; it refers to established city land-use permit fees.

  “All applications for a permit shall be accompanied by a permit fee. Such fees shall be in accordance with established land use permit fees required by the City of Willow River.”

• Permit processPartial

  Mobile-home placement permits inside Willow River city limits.

  • Application must state the applicant name and address and the location and legal description of the intended site, and include non-returnable current photos of the intended mobile home.

  “All applications for permits shall contain the following: 1. Name and address of applicant. 2. Location and legal description of the land intended for placement of mobile home. 3. Non-returnable current photos of the mobile home intended for placement.”

Rules another office applies inside Willow River

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

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  R-1 One and Two Family Residence District inside Willow River city limits.

  • The stated sizes distinguish the first and second units.

  minimum floor area, first unit: >= 900 square feet · minimum floor area, second unit: >= 750 square feet

  “Minimum floor area – 900 square feet (1st unit); 750 square feet (2nd unit)”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-2 Multi-Family District inside Willow River city limits.

    “Minimum floor area – 900 square feet (1st unit); 750 square feet (2nd unit).”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 One and Two Family Residence District inside Willow River city limits.

  • The stated areas distinguish the first and second units.

  minimum lot area, first unit: >= 7500 square feet · minimum lot area, second unit: >= 4000 square feet

  “Minimum lot area – 7500 square feet (1st unit) 4000 square feet (2nd unit)”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-2 Multi-Family District inside Willow River city limits.

    “Minimum lot area – 7500 square feet (1st unit) 1500 square feet (2nd unit).”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 One and Two Family Residence District inside Willow River city limits.

  • Accessory buildings may be within four feet of side and rear lines only if no portion extends or overhangs within two feet of a lot line.

  front-yard setback: >= 35 feet · side-yard setback: >= 10 feet · corner-side setback: >= 20 feet · rear-yard setback: >= 35 feet

  “Front yard setback – 35 feet 2. Side yard setback – 10 feet 3. Corner side setback – 20 feet 4. Rear yard setback – 35 feet”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 One and Two Family Residence District inside Willow River city limits.

  • Includes accessory buildings.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 35 percent (including accessory building)

  “Maximum lot coverage including accessory building – 35%”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 One and Two Family Residence District inside Willow River city limits.

  • Whichever is less governs.

  maximum height: <= 35 feet (2 1/2 stories or 35 feet, whichever is less)

  “Maximum height – 2 1/2 stories or 35 feet in height, whichever is less.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Willow River or Pine County directly.

• Building permit — General residential building construction inside Willow River city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Willow River city limits.
• Inspections — General residential building inspections inside Willow River city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or changed residential occupancy inside Willow River city limits.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Willow River 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.