Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Badger, Minnesota

Badger’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, improving, removing, converting, or demolishing a building or structure in Badger city.

  • A separate building or mechanical permit is required for each building, structure, or mechanical component.

  “It is unlawful for any person to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, or demolish any building or structure, or any part or portion thereof, without first obtaining a separate building or mechanical permit for each such building, structure or mechanical components from the City.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings and structures in Badger city.

  • The official copy is kept by the City Clerk-Treasurer and is open to public inspection.

  “Section 4.01. Building Code Adopted. The following are hereby adopted by reference as though set forth verbatim herein: (1) the Minnesota State Building Code (SBC); (2) the 1985 Uniform Building Code; and, (3) the Minnesota Plumbing Code.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the incorporated limits of Badger city, Roseau County, Minnesota.

  • The ordinance was adopted August 11, 2004.

  “AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ZONING OF THE INCORPORATED AREAS OF THE CITY OF BADGER, ROSEAU COUNTY, MINNESOTA”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  The incorporated area of Badger city.

  • The Official Zoning Map is part of the ordinance and copies are to be kept by the City Clerk/Administrator for public inspection.

  zoning districts: GR General Residential; RL Rural Landscape Residential; MR Multi Family Residential; CM Commercial; ID Industrial; LA Limited Agriculture; PR Parks and Recreation; WL Wildlife

  “GR General Residential RL Rural Landscape Residential MR Multi Family Residential CM Commercial ID Industrial LA Limited Agriculture PR Parks and Recreation WL Wildlife”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family and two-family dwellings in all Badger residential districts.

  • A 750-square-foot, 12-foot-wide dwelling may be approved with a conditional use permit.
  • The dwelling must be affixed to a permanent foundation as defined in the State Building Code.

  minimum gross floor area per dwelling unit: 950 square feet (single-family and two-family dwellings in all residential districts) · minimum width at narrowest point: 20 feet (single-family and two-family dwellings in all residential districts)

  “Single family and two family dwellings located in all Residential Districts shall provide 950 square feet of gross floor area per dwelling unit, shall be 20 feet wise at the narrowest point, and shall be affixed to a permanent foundation as defined in the State Building Code.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Grandfathered single-family dwelling lots in Badger residential districts.

  • The lot must have existed through a recorded plat or deed on the chapter's effective date.
  • The exception does not allow a lot below 5,000 square feet or 40 feet of width at the front building line.

  absolute minimum lot area: >= 5000 square feet (recorded existing lot exception) · absolute minimum lot width: >= 40 feet (measured at front building line; recorded existing lot exception)

  “A single family dwelling may be erected on a lot having less than the minimum required area and width provided the lot existed by virtue of a recorded plat or deed on the effective date of this Chapter. In no event shall a single family dwelling be erected on a lot less than 5,000 square feet in area or less than 40 feet in width measured at front building line.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Residential lots with differing adjacent front-yard setbacks in Badger.

  • The applicable minimum is the average described by the ordinance.
  • The front setback may not be below 15 feet or above 35 feet.

  front yard setback: >= 15 feet (where adjacent structures within the same block have differing setbacks) · front yard setback: <= 35 feet (where adjacent structures within the same block have differing setbacks)

  “Where adjacent structures within the same block have front yard setbacks different from those required, the front yard minimum setback shall be the average of the adjacent structures. [...] In no case shall the front yard setback be less than 15 feet or exceed 35 feet.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Residential lots in Badger.

  • Affordable-housing and multi-family developments are excepted.

  combined dwelling and accessory-building coverage: <= 70 percent of lot size (except in an affordable housing or multi-family development)

  “In no case shall the combined square feet of dwellings and accessory buildings exceed 70 per cent of the lot size except in an affordable housing or multi-family developments.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Structures in Badger residential districts.

  • A structure exceeding 30 feet requires a conditional use permit.
  • The Fire Chief and Building Inspector must approve, and the additional conditions in Article V, Section 4(A) apply.

  structure height: <= 30 feet (a conditional use permit is required above this height)

  “Structure shall be limited to 30 feet in height. Any structure exceeding 30 feet in height shall require a conditional use permit.”

• Camping on your landAllowed (with conditions)

  Primitive camping areas in Badger's Parks and Recreation District.

  • Outhouse facilities must meet Roseau County septic system regulations.

  “Primitive camping areas, including outhouse facilities provided such facilities meet Roseau County septic system regulations.”

• Tiny homesLimited

  Single-family dwellings in Badger residential districts, including a dwelling marketed as a tiny home.

  • A 750-square-foot, 12-foot-wide dwelling requires a conditional use permit.
  • The general residential minimum otherwise is 950 square feet, 20 feet wide, and permanently founded.

  conditional-use dwelling floor area: 750 square feet (conditional use permit required) · conditional-use dwelling minimum width: 12 feet (conditional use permit required)

  “Single family and two family dwellings may provide 750 square feet of gross floor area per dwelling unit and may be 12 feet wide per dwelling unit at the narrowest point with a Conditional Use Permit.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes moved into or out of Badger city, including homes placed in mobile-home parks.

  • A building permit application is mandatory.
  • A mobile-home-court owner or person moving a manufactured home into a mobile-home park must apply for City water/sewer service and pay the required deposit before service is provided.

  “ALL persons moving a manufactured home into or out of (including those manufactured homes that will be placed in mobile home parks) of the City of Badger MUST apply for building permit as per the Zoning Ordinance.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Facilities using and draining water inside Badger city.

  • Primitive camping areas are excepted from the City water-and-sewer connection rule.
  • Rural Landscape and Parks and Recreation Districts require an approved set of performance standards for the exception.

  “All residential, commercial, industrial, recreational, or agricultural facilities using and draining water must be connected to City water and sewer with the exception of primitive camping areas and Rural Landscape or Park and Recreation Districts with an approved set of performance standards.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Facilities inside Badger city that use and drain water.

  • Primitive camping areas are excepted.
  • Rural Landscape and Parks and Recreation Districts are excepted when they have an approved set of performance standards.

  “All residential, commercial, industrial, recreational, or agricultural facilities using and draining water must be connected to City water and sewer with the exception of primitive camping areas and Rural Landscape or Park and Recreation Districts with an approved set of performance standards.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  New subdivisions inside Badger city.

  • A developer agreement must be completed before recording with Roseau County or beginning construction.
  • Failure makes earlier City subdivision approvals null and void.

  “A Developers Agreement shall be completed prior to the recording of a new subdivision with Roseau County or the start of any construction.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Building-and-zoning permit applications involving applicable floodplain regulations inside Badger city.

  • The requirement applies when floodplain regulations are applicable.
  • The application also requires clearance of applicable shoreland, septic, wetland, and feedlot regulations.

  “Documentation that all applicable floodplain, shore land, septic system, wetland, and feedlot regulations have been cleared.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building and zoning permits in Badger city.

  • The application must be signed by the applicant or agent, filed with the City Administrator, and accompanied by a site plan.
  • The application must state the nature and estimated cost of construction and the present and proposed use.

  “Application for a building and zoning permit shall be signed by the applicant for his agent and filed with the City Administrator. The application shall be accompanied by a site plan.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Badger city limits.
• Inspections — Residential construction inside Badger city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of residential construction inside Badger city limits.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Badger city limits.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Badger 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.