Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Fisher, Minnesota

Fisher’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New structures, alterations, additions, and moved structures inside Fisher city limits where building-permit fees apply.

  • The city identifies exemptions: fences not over 6 feet, retaining walls not over 4 feet, and one-story playhouses and storage sheds not exceeding 120 square feet.

  “According to the City's Zoning Ordinance, a Building Permit is required when you are constructing a new structure, altering an existing structure, adding an addition to an existing structure, or moving a structure where building permit fees apply. Some common work exempt from Permits are fences not over 6 feet tall, retaining walls not over 4 feet tall, one-story playhouses and storage sheds that do not exceed 120 square feet.”

• Building code adoptedPartial

  Buildings subject to the Minnesota Accessibility Code inside Fisher city limits.

  • The code adopts the accessibility code only; it does not establish, from this source, adoption of the full State Building Code.
  • Buildings subject to the accessibility code may not be constructed, reconstructed, substantially altered, or changed in use unless compliant.

  “The Minnesota Accessibility Code, established pursuant to M.S. '' 326B.01 - 326B.998, as they may be amended from time to time, and as provided for in Minn. Rules Ch. 1341, as it may be amended from time to time, is adopted as the building code for accessibility in this city.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Fisher city limits.

  • The code states that Chapter 151 is not effective until its zoning-map, notice, and hearing requirements are met; the City’s current forms page refers to the City’s Zoning Ordinance.

  “According to the City's Zoning Ordinance, a Building Permit is required when you are constructing a new structure, altering an existing structure, adding an addition to an existing structure, or moving a structure where building permit fees apply.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Fisher city zoning districts.

  • Actual district boundaries are shown on the official zoning map maintained by the city; the code says map requirements and adoption conditions apply.

  “(A) R-1 Single Family Residential District (B) R-2 Multi-Family Residential District (C) C-1 Central Business District (D) C-2 Central Business District (E) I Industrial (F) Rural Residential and Agricultural District”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Proposed lots in Fisher subdivisions where public services are not available.

  • The rule is stated for preliminary-plat approval, not as a general authorization for every existing parcel.
  • The lot must have sufficient area for an on-site individual sewage treatment system and comply with city-code rules and regulations.

  “No lot on the preliminary plat shall be recommended for approval if, in the opinion of the Planning Commission, a lot does not have dedicated road access, an adequate building site, or sufficient area for an on-site individual sewage treatment system in areas where public services are not available, meeting the requirements of all rules and regulations in this chapter and the code of the city.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  City building permits inside Fisher city limits.

  • Fees are based on completed project value including materials and labor.

  fee basis: completed value of project including materials and labor

  “Fees are based on the completed value of the project including materials and labor.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Land-use permits for structures and fences subject to § 151.46 inside Fisher city limits.

  • The application must provide location and structure plans demonstrating code compliance.
  • When a zoning amendment, conditional-use permit, or variance is required, the land-use permit cannot issue until the City Council has acted on that application.

  “No structure or fence subject to ' 151.46 shall be constructed until a land use permit has been obtained from the City Clerk or other person appointed by the City Council to administer this chapter.”

Rules another office applies inside Fisher

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

• SetbacksSpecified

  Principal structures in Fisher’s Rural Residential and Agriculture District.

  • The stated requirements are subject to additional requirements, exceptions, and modifications in the chapter.
  • Corner-side and corner-rear setbacks cannot be less than the corresponding adjacent-lot setback.

  front setback: >= 40 feet · side setback: >= 10 feet (interior side yard) · rear setback: >= 30 feet

  “(a) Front yard. A minimum of 40 feet. (b) Side yards. A minimum of 10 feet. (c) Side yards, corner lots. A minimum of 30 feet on side adjacent to street, but in no case less than the setback of an adjacent lot which has its front yard on the same street. (d) Rear yard. A minimum of 30 feet.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Lots in Fisher’s Industrial District.

  • Lot coverage includes building footprints, parking areas, driveways, loading, storage and trash areas, and other impervious surface.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 85 percent (calculated as specified in § 151.27(E)(4))

  “(4) Lot coverage. Maximum lot coverage shall be 85% and shall be calculated to include building footprints; parking areas; driveways; loading, storage and trash areas and other areas covered by any impervious surface;”

• Building heightSpecified

  Structures in Fisher’s R-1 Single-Family Residential District.

  • The height restriction does not apply to the listed water towers, chimneys, flag poles, antennae, wind energy conversion systems, nonhabitable church features, and § 150.04 support towers.

  maximum height: <= 35 feet (two stories or 35 feet, whichever is less)

  “(F) Building requirements; height. No structure shall exceed 2 stories or 35 feet, whichever is less.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Structures in Fisher’s Rural Residential and Agriculture District.

    “(F) Building requirements; height. No structure shall exceed two stories or 35 feet, whichever is less.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Manufactured homes in Fisher’s R-1 Single-Family Residential District.

  • The manufactured home must meet the standards in § 151.24.

  “(5) Manufactured homes which meet the standards set forth in ' 151.24.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New construction or replacement of a regulated individual subsurface sewage treatment system inside Fisher city limits.

  • The permit is administered through the applicable local-unit-of-government program.
  • The rule applies to new construction and replacement.

  “Permits must be required for all new construction and replacement. A local unit of government is authorized to require permits for all or certain types of SSTS repairs.”

• Well permitLimited

  Construction of wells inside Fisher city limits.

  • Most water-supply wells are addressed by contractor licensing and preconstruction notification rather than a construction permit.
  • Construction permits are required for some other well or boring types, including monitoring wells and bored geothermal heat exchangers.

  “Note: For some other types of wells or borings, such as envioronmental wells or bored geothermal heat exchangers, construction permits are required. Permit applications must be submitted to MDH for review and written approval prior to start of work.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Lots in Fisher’s R-1 Single-Family Residential District.

  • The requirement is for frontage and ingress/egress by public right-of-way; the opened material does not establish a separate driveway-permit process.

  “(5) Access. All lots shall front on and have ingress and egress by means of a public right-of-way.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Fisher city limits.
• Inspections — Building construction inside Fisher city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of structures inside Fisher city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings in Fisher’s R-1 Single-Family Residential District.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Fisher 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.