Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Morristown, Minnesota

Morristown’s own rules

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  New, altered, or nonconforming building or premises use in Morristown city floodplain jurisdiction.

  • The certificate must be issued by the Zoning Administrator and state conformity with Chapter 153.

  “It shall be unlawful to use, occupy, or permit the use or occupancy of any building or premises or part thereof hereafter created, erected, changed, converted, altered, or enlarged in its use or structure until a certificate of zoning compliance shall have been issued by the Zoning Administrator stating that the use of the building or land conforms to the requirements of this chapter.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Morristown city limits.

  “§ 152.001 TITLE The Morristown Zoning Ordinance. (Ord. 170, § 1.01, passed 5-6-2002)”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Morristown city limits.

  • The City zoning administrator administers and enforces Chapter 152.

  “The intent of this chapter is to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare of the community and its people through the establishment of minimum regulations governing development and use of land and structures. This chapter shall divide the city into use districts and establish regulations governing the uses of land and structures, including the location, construction, and alteration of structures.”

• Camping on your landProhibited

  Manufactured-home parks inside Morristown city limits.

  “All manufactured homes within a manufactured home park shall be owner-occupied only except the owner may lease his or her manufactured home to a lessee for not exceeding 5 months per calendar year. This division (C) may be subject to Council review. (D) No tents shall be erected in a manufactured home park. (E) There shall be no outdoor camping anywhere in a manufactured home park.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision preliminary plats inside Morristown city limits.

  • The City Council must take final action within 120 days of official submission.
  • The applicant and city may mutually agree to an extension.
  • Preliminary plat approval requires proof that the subdivision will be connected to and served by public utilities for water supply and sewage collection and treatment facilities.

  City Council final-action period: <= 120 days (from official submission date)

  “The City Council shall take final action within 120 days of the application’s official submission date. The subdivision application shall be preliminarily approved or denied by the City Council. If the City Council fails to approve or disapprove the preliminary plat in this review period, the application shall be deemed preliminarily approved.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in Morristown city floodplain jurisdiction.

  • Applications are made in duplicate to the Zoning Administrator on supplied forms.
  • A certificate of zoning compliance is required before occupancy or use of a new, changed, converted, altered, or enlarged building or premises use under Chapter 153.

  “prior to the placement of fill, excavation of materials, or the storage of materials or equipment within the flood plain. (B) Application for permit. Application for a permit shall be made in duplicate to the Zoning Administrator on forms furnished by the Zoning Administrator and shall include the following where applicable: plans in duplicate drawn to scale, showing the nature, location,”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  City zoning permits, appeals, amendments, conditional uses, and variances inside Morristown city limits.

  • The fee schedule is posted in the City Clerk/Treasurer's office.
  • No action is taken on an application or appeal until applicable fees, charges, and expenses are paid in full.
  • The City Council may alter or amend the schedule.

  “The City Council shall establish a schedule of fees, charges, and expenses and a collection procedure for zoning permits, appeals, amendments, conditional uses, variances, and other matters pertaining to this chapter. The schedule of fees shall be posted in the office of the City Clerk/Treasurer and may be altered or amended only by the City Council.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  City planning and zoning permit applications inside Morristown city limits.

  • Applicants may email the completed application to the City or drop it off at City Hall.
  • Applicants are directed to contact City Hall after fulfilling permit obligations; the page asks applicants to allow one week for zoning-administrator closeout.

  “Please use the 'Permit Applications' link above to find the applicable application. You may email the completed form to admin@ci.morristown.mn.us or drop it off at City Hall. Please contact City Hall when you have fullfilled the obligations of your permit.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder treatment for residential work inside Morristown city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Morristown city limits.
• Inspections — General building inspections for construction inside Morristown city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Morristown city limits.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Morristown 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.