Zoning, building permits and septic rules in White Bear Lake, Minnesota

White Bear Lake’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside White Bear Lake city limits.

  • The City Planning Department administers development regulations, including zoning and subdivision regulations.

  “The Planning Department is responsible for administering the City's Development Regulations (Zoning, Subdivision, Sign, and Environmental Resource Protection).”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside White Bear Lake city limits.

  • The Zoning Map is entitled “Zoning Map of White Bear Lake,” is on file with the Zoning Administrator, and has the same force and effect as the Code text.

  “The following zoning classifications are hereby established within the City of White Bear Lake: [...] The location and boundaries of districts established by this text are hereby set forth on the Zoning Map, entitled "Zoning Map of White Bear Lake".”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Dwelling units in the B-5 Central Business District inside White Bear Lake city limits.

  • The schedule specifies a size by bedroom count.

  efficiency minimum dwelling unit size: 400 square feet · one-bedroom minimum dwelling unit size: 600 square feet · two-bedroom minimum dwelling unit size: 900 square feet · three-bedrooms-or-more minimum dwelling unit size: 1100 square feet

  “Minimum Dwelling Unit Size1 Efficiency 1 bedroom 2 bedroom 3 bedrooms or more | 400 Square Feet 600 Square Feet 900 Square Feet 1,100 Square Feet”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Development in the O Open Space Conservation District inside White Bear Lake city limits.

  • The requirements are subject to additional requirements, exceptions, and modifications elsewhere in the Code.

  minimum lot area: 5 acres (O Open Space Conservation District) · minimum lot width: 200 feet (O Open Space Conservation District)

  “Subd. 5. Lot Requirements and Setbacks. The following minimum requirements shall be observed in an "0" District, subject to additional requirements, exceptions and modifications as set forth in this Code: [...] Lot Area - 5 acres [...] Lot Width - 200 feet”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Development in the O Open Space Conservation District inside White Bear Lake city limits.

  • Requirements are subject to additional requirements, exceptions, and modifications elsewhere in the Code.
  • Front-yard measurement varies by district and is subject to the cited averaging provision.

  side yard: >= 35 feet (40 feet on the side yard abutting a public right-of-way) · rear yard: >= 50 feet

  “Side yards: Not less than thirty-five (35) feet from the adjacent lot, nor less than forty (40) feet on the side yard abutting a public right-of-way. [...] Rear yards: Not less than fifty (50) feet.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Structures in the O Open Space Conservation District inside White Bear Lake city limits.

  • The limit is subject to the exception in §1302.040, Subd. 3.

  maximum structure height: <= 35 feet (except as provided in Section 1302.040, Subd. 3)

  “Height. No structure shall exceed thirty-five (35) feet, except as provided in Section 1302.040, Subd. 3 of this Code.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational-vehicle occupancy in an R-MH Mobile Home Park District inside White Bear Lake city limits.

  • The prohibition is expressly limited to mobile home parks; it does not establish a citywide rule for every zoning district.

  “There shall not be outdoor camping or use of recreational vehicles as a dwelling unit anywhere in a mobile home park.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Outdoor camping in an R-MH Mobile Home Park District inside White Bear Lake city limits.

  • The prohibition is expressly limited to mobile home parks; tents may be used there for recreational purposes only.

  “No tents shall be used for other than recreational purposes in a mobile home park. There shall not be outdoor camping or use of recreational vehicles as a dwelling unit anywhere in a mobile home park.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed

  Manufactured homes as single-family detached dwellings in the R-1I Low Density Single Family Residential-Island District inside White Bear Lake city limits.

  • This claim is district-specific and does not establish permission in every City district.
  • Floodplain overlay requirements apply where applicable.

  “Subd. 2. Permitted Uses. The following are permitted uses in an "R-1I" District: [...] Single family detached dwellings, including manufactured homes.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Home accessory apartments for seniors/handicapped in the R-1I Low Density Single Family Residential-Island District inside White Bear Lake city limits.

  • The use is a conditional use.
  • It is subject to §1302.125 and the conditional-use-permit procedures and provisions in §1301.050.

  “Subd. 4. Conditional Uses. The following are conditional uses in an "R-1I" District, which require a conditional use permit based upon procedures and provisions set forth in and regulated by §1301.050 of this Code. [...] Home Accessory Apartments for Seniors/Handicapped. As specified in §1302.125.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision applications for land inside White Bear Lake city limits.

  • The City Planning Department administers the City Development Regulations.

  “The Planning Department is responsible for administering the City's Development Regulations (Zoning, Subdivision, Sign, and Environmental Resource Protection).”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Access to an R-MH Mobile Home Park District inside White Bear Lake city limits.

  • The requirement is district-specific.

  “Access to mobile home parks shall be as approved by the City.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask White Bear Lake or Ramsey County directly.

• Building code adopted — Building construction inside White Bear Lake city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered buildings inside White Bear Lake city limits.
• Lot coverage — Land inside White Bear Lake city limits.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside White Bear Lake city limits.
• Who permits septic — Subsurface sewage treatment systems inside White Bear Lake 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.