Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Nerstrand, Minnesota

Nerstrand’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction or alteration of a structure or building inside Nerstrand city limits.

  • A demolition or moving permit is also required before wrecking or moving any structure.
  • The planning commission may waive listed application exhibits.

  “It is unlawful to construct, or alter a structure or building or part thereof without first securing a building permit.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New buildings erected, altered, or moved, and use of vacant land, inside Nerstrand city limits.

  • The certificate must show conformity with the zoning code and may issue only after the building or premises and its use conform to all code requirements.

  “Vacant land may not be occupied or used and new buildings hereafter erected, altered or moved may not occupied until a ce11ificate of occupancy has been issued by the building official.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within Nerstrand city corporate limits.

  • The code applies within the corporate limits of the city.

  “The geographic jurisdiction of this code is the entire area within the corporate limits of the city.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Nerstrand city limits.

  • The zoning-use district map is incorporated into the code.
  • Annexed land is placed in A1 until the city council assigns another zoning district.

  “The location and boundaries of the zoning districts are set forth on the zoning use district map which is incorporated as a part of this code. [...] Land that is annexed to the city is to be placed in the Al - Agriculture District until the city council assigns such land to another zoning district.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Accessory buildings and structures on residential lots inside Nerstrand city limits.

  • The limitation applies to the total ground coverage of all accessory buildings or structures on a lot.

  total accessory-building ground coverage: <= ground coverage of the principal building

  “The total ground coverage of all accessory buildings or strnctures on a lot may not exceed the ground coverage of the principal building.”

• Living in an RVAllowed

  Recreational-vehicle or trailer-coach camps and campgrounds in the R2 Residential District inside Nerstrand city limits.

  • This claim addresses RV camps and campgrounds, not residence in an RV on an ordinary private residential lot.

  “d) Recreational vehicle or trailer-coach camps and campgrounds.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private sewage disposal for new construction in a subdivision inside Nerstrand city limits where public sewer is unavailable.

  • Private sewage disposal is an alternative only if public sewer facilities are unavailable.
  • The system must meet state standards.

  “If public sewer facilities are not available, the subdivider must make provisions for adequate private sewage disposal systems meeting state standards.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land within Nerstrand city corporate limits.

  • Subdivisions submitted for approval must comply with the subdivision regulations.
  • A final plat must be recorded with the Rice County recorder within 60 days of approval or approval is void.

  final plat recording deadline: <= 60 days (after final plat approval)

  “The subdivider must record the final plat with the Rice County recorder within 60 days of final plat approval; otherwise, the approval of the final plat is void.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveways installed in subdivisions inside Nerstrand city limits.

  • The cited requirement applies where curbing and sidewalk are in place.

  “Driveways must be constructed from the curb and gutter to the property line or property side of sidewalk.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Applications under Nerstrand's zoning code.

  • The city council establishes the applicable application fee.
  • An administrative fee deposit may be required and increased if projected processing costs exceed the standard deposit.
  • No permit or permission is granted until all city costs are paid in full.

  “Any person submitting an application under this code shall pay the applicable application fee as established by the city council.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications inside Nerstrand city limits.

  • The application must include listed information unless the planning commission waives exhibits.
  • Where a proposal includes a zoning amendment, variance, or conditional-use permit, that application must be submitted together with the building permit.
  • For conforming proposals, issuance follows planning commission review within 60 days.

  issuance period: <= 60 days (proposal conforms in all respects to the code, after planning commission review)

  “Completed building permit forms and fees must be submitted to the planning commission. If the proposal conforms in all respects to the this code, a building permit will be issued, after review by the planning commission, within a period of 60 days.”

Rules another office applies inside Nerstrand

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

• InspectionsRequired

  Projects under building permits inside Nerstrand city limits.

  • Goodhue County provides State Building Code administration within city boundaries.
  • Job-site inspections are required by the State Building Code, and special inspections may be deemed necessary for compliance.

  “They are responsible for permitting all construction and conducting inspections of all construction-related permits as well as issuance of Certificates of Occupancy, Fire Prevention, and Special Events.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  One-family dwellings in the R1 Urban Residential District inside Nerstrand city limits.

  • Two-family dwelling units and townhome units have different minimum areas.

  minimum lot area: >= 13000 square feet (one-family dwellings)

  “5) Minimum lot area: 13,000 square feet for one family dwellings.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Lots in the A1 Agricultural District inside Nerstrand city limits.

    “Minimum lot area: 2.5 acres. Subd. 6. General requirements. Additional requirements for parking, signs, individual sewage treatment systems, and other regulations as set forth in this code.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  One-family dwellings in the R1 Urban Residential District inside Nerstrand city limits.

  • Lots at intersections require a front-yard setback from each roadway.
  • Detached garages require a 10-foot side setback; storage sheds and other accessory uses require a five-foot side setback.
  • For lots on an alley, rear setback is 10 feet from the outer edge of the alley.

  front yard setback: >= 25 feet · side yard setback: >= 10 feet (principal dwelling) · rear yard setback: >= 15 feet

  “2) Minimum side yard setback: 10 feet. i) Detached garages must have a minimum setback of 10 feet. ii) Storage sheds and other accessory uses must have a minimum setback of five feet. 3) Minimum rear yard setback: 15 feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Buildings in the A1 Agricultural District inside Nerstrand city limits.

    “1) Minimum front yard setback: 30 feet. [...] 2) Minimum side yard setback: 30 feet. 3) Minimum rear yard setback: 50 feet.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Buildings in the A1 Agricultural District inside Nerstrand city limits.

  maximum building height: <= 30 feet

  “l) The maximum height of all buildings is 30 feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Buildings in the R1 Urban Residential District inside Nerstrand city limits.

    “I) The maximum height of all buildings is 30 feet.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Nerstrand city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in the A1 Agricultural District inside Nerstrand city limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Nerstrand city limits.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Nerstrand city limits.
• Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy inside Nerstrand 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.