Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Farwell, Minnesota

Rules another office applies inside Farwell

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

• Building permitRequired

  Code-regulated construction and systems work inside Farwell city.

  • Permit exemptions listed in Minnesota Rules 1300.0120, subpart 4 apply; ordinary repairs under subpart 6 are also excepted.
  • The owner or authorized agent must first apply to the building official and obtain the required permit.

  “An owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any gas, mechanical, electrical, plumbing system, or other equipment, the installation of which is regulated by the code; or cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings and building service equipment inside Farwell city, a Minnesota municipality.

  • The rule excepts work located primarily in a public way, public utility towers and poles, mechanical equipment not specifically regulated in the code, and hydraulic flood-control structures.
  • Optional appendix chapters do not apply unless specifically adopted by a municipality.

  “The code applies to the design, construction, addition, alteration, moving, replacement, demolition, repair, equipment, installation, use and occupancy, location, maintenance, and inspection of any building, structure, or building service equipment in a municipality, except work located primarily in a public way, public utility towers and poles, mechanical equipment not specifically regulated in the code, and hydraulic flood control structures.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction or work inside Farwell city for which a Minnesota State Building Code permit is required.

  • The work must remain accessible and exposed for inspection until approved.
  • Specific inspections depend on the work and applicable code chapters.

  “Construction or work for which a permit is required is subject to inspection by the building official and the construction or work shall remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  A building or structure inside Farwell city that is used or occupied under the Minnesota State Building Code.

  • A municipality may elect to require certificates for U occupancies, residential-code accessory structures, or used manufactured homes moved into or within the jurisdiction.
  • Existing legal occupancy may continue without change under Minnesota Rules 1300.0220, subpart 2.

  “No building or structure shall be used or occupied, and no change in the existing occupancy classification of a building, structure, or portion of a building or structure shall be made until the building official has issued a certificate of occupancy for the building or structure under this part.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational-vehicle use or occupancy inside Farwell city under the county permit program.

  • An RV must be permitted through a land-use permit or interim-use permit.
  • The county page says permits within Farwell city limits may be obtained from the corresponding city clerk.

  “Recreational Vehicles (RVs) must be permitted via: Land Use Permit; or Interim Use Permit.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Subsurface sewage treatment systems inside Farwell city, where the county's official permit page directs city-limit permits to the Farwell city clerk.

  • The city-limits direction is for permits that may be obtained from the corresponding city clerk.
  • This claim concerns SSTS; Farwell is also within the Farwell-Kensington Sanitary District.

  “Pope County Land & Resource Management administers the Subsurface Sewage Treatment System (SSTS) Ordinance which was adopted to protect Pope County’s water resources and environment, as well as to promote public health, safety, welfare, socioeconomic growth and development.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Vacation-home rental use inside Farwell city under the county permit program.

  • A vacation home rental must have either a land-use permit or interim-use permit.
  • The county page says permits within Farwell city limits may be obtained from the corresponding city clerk.

  “Vacation Home Rentals must be permitted via: Land Use Permit; or Interim Use Permit.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  County land-use and development permits for which the county directs Farwell city-limit applicants to the city clerk.

  • The county identifies a 2026 fee schedule.
  • Permit fees must be paid with the application.

  “Please Note: Permit Fees must be paid with the application. See the Fee Schedule above. Permit processing times vary, please contact the office for further information, 320-634-7791.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Farwell city.
• Local zoning — Land inside Farwell city limits.
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Farwell city.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Farwell city.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Farwell city.

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.