Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Franklin, Minnesota

Franklin’s own rules

• InspectionsLimited

  Buildings and land uses subject to Franklin's zoning ordinance.

  • The ordinance assigns the Zoning Administrator inspections to determine compliance; it does not establish a universal construction-inspection schedule in the located text.

  “Conduct inspections of buildings and the use of land to determine compliance with the terms of this Ordinance.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  All land within Franklin city corporate limits.

  • The ordinance is identified as revised January 2018; the official zoning map held by the City Clerk is the final authority on a parcel's current zoning status.

  “The jurisdiction of this Ordinance shall include all lands within the corporate limits of the City of Franklin, Minnesota.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Franklin city limits.

  • The Official Zoning Map held in the City Clerk's office is the final authority for current parcel zoning.

  zoning districts: AG, R-1, R-3, B-1, B-2, M-1

  “A. AG District - Agricultural District B. R-1 District - Low Density Residential District C. R-3 District - High Density Residential District D. B-1 District - Central Business District E. B-2 District - Highway Business District F. M-1 District - Manufacturing Industrial District”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Individual sewage disposal systems inside Franklin city limits where community sewer is not constructed or in operation.

  • Individual systems must be approved by the City Council and comply with applicable state-agency regulations.
  • Temporary construction sites and portable units used in farming operations are excepted from the sewer-and-water provision.

  “Where sewers are not constructed or in operation, all sewage facilities shall be connected to individual sewage disposal systems approved by the City Council and in accordance with any applicable regulations of state agencies.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Sewage disposal without operating community sewer inside Franklin city limits.

  • The individual sewage disposal system must be approved by the City Council and comply with applicable state-agency regulations.
  • The provision does not apply to temporary construction sites or portable units used in farming operations.

  “Where sewers are not constructed or in operation, all sewage facilities shall be connected to individual sewage disposal systems approved by the City Council and in accordance with any applicable regulations of state agencies. This provision shall not apply to temporary construction sites, or portable units used in farming operations.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Sewage facilities and water supply for development inside Franklin city limits.

  • Connection is required when community sewer or public water is available.
  • Where sewer is not constructed or operating, an individual system approved by the City Council and consistent with applicable state-agency regulations is required.
  • Where public water connection is not feasible or on-site supplementation is needed, a well may be drilled under the Minnesota Department of Health Water Well Construction Code.
  • The sewer provision does not apply to temporary construction sites or portable units used in farming operations.

  “All sewage facilities shall be connected to community sewer facilities when available. [...] All water shall be procured from the public water system when available.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Franklin zoning permits and conditional-use/variance applications.

  • The fee schedule was adopted September 19, 2024 and effective January 1, 2026.

  zoning permit fee: 25 USD · conditional use or variance fee: 200 USD (includes postage and publishing)

  “Zoning Permits Zoning $25.00 Conditional Use/Variance (includes postage and publishing) $200.00”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Franklin land-use permits.

  • Applications must use forms furnished by the Zoning Administrator and include the City Council-set fee.
  • The Zoning Administrator examines the application and necessary site plan and issues or denies the permit.
  • A permit is void if work has not begun within six months; it expires if not substantially completed within one year, and further work then requires a new permit.

  start-work deadline: <= 6 months (from permit issuance) · substantial-completion deadline: <= 1 year (from permit issuance)

  “A land use permit shall become void if the work described therein has not begun within six (6) months from the date of issuance. If the work described in any land use permit has not been substantially completed within one (1) year of the date of issuance, said permit shall expire and be canceled by the Zoning Administrator. Further work shall not proceed unless and until a new land use permit has been obtained.”

Rules another office applies inside Franklin

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

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in Franklin AG Agricultural District.

  • The 30,000-square-foot minimum applies when the dwelling is connected to city sewer and water.
  • For a lot not served by city sewer and water, lot size is determined by topography, ability to locate the dwelling and accessory buildings, and two individual sewage treatment systems meeting state guidelines and applicable setbacks.

  minimum lot area: >= 30000 sq ft (Single-family dwelling connected to city sewer and water) · minimum lot width: >= 150 ft (Single-family dwelling)

  “Single-Family Dwelling 30,000* 150' 25' 25' 25'”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwellings in Franklin R-1 Low Density Residential District.

    “Single-Family 8,000 45' 75' 25' 25' 6' 16'”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in Franklin R-1 Low Density Residential District.

  • Corner lots or lots fronting more than one street require a 25-foot setback from each property line abutting and paralleling a street.

  front yard: >= 25 ft (Single-family dwelling) · rear yard: >= 25 ft (Single-family dwelling) · least side-yard width: >= 6 ft (Single-family dwelling) · total side-yard width: >= 16 ft (Single-family dwelling)

  “Single-Family 8,000 45' 75' 25' 25' 6' 16'”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwellings in Franklin AG Agricultural District.

    “Single-Family Dwelling 30,000* 150' 25' 25' 25'”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Lots in Franklin R-1 Low Density Residential District.

  • Permitted projecting eaves are excluded from the calculation.

  maximum building or roofed-area coverage: <= 35 percent (excluding permitted projecting eaves)

  “The area of the lot covered by buildings or roofed areas, excluding permitted projecting eaves, shall not exceed thirty-five percent (35%).”

• Building heightSpecified

  Residential buildings in Franklin AG Agricultural District.

  • Public or semipublic buildings, churches, schools, and similar uses may be 60 feet high.
  • Agricultural uses and accessory buildings are exempt from height requirements.

  maximum residential height: <= 36 ft (or two and one-half stories)

  “No residential building hereafter erected or altered shall exceed thirty-six (36) feet or two and one-half (2½) stories in height.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Residential buildings in Franklin R-1 Low Density Residential District.

    “No residential building hereafter erected or altered shall exceed thirty-six (36) feet or two and one-half (2½) stories in height.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural uses and accessory buildings in Franklin AG Agricultural District.

  • The exemption applies to the ordinance's AG-district height requirements.

  “Agricultural uses and accessory buildings shall be exempted from height requirements.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Franklin city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Franklin city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of structures inside Franklin city limits.
• Living in an RV — Living in a recreational vehicle on private land inside Franklin city limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Franklin 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.