Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Becker, Minnesota

Becker’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, improving, removing, converting, or demolishing a building, structure, or covered mechanical component inside Becker city limits.

  • Work exempt under the State Building Code, including Minn. Rules 1300.0120 as amended, does not require a building permit.
  • The application requires city forms, drawings/specifications, and other reasonably necessary information.
  • A permit may be denied because of lot drainage or sewer-availability limitations.

  “without first obtaining a separate building permit from the city”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  New, altered, or nonconforming uses in Becker's regulated floodplain.

  • This is a certificate of zoning compliance, not a general citywide building certificate of occupancy.
  • The certificate must be issued by the Zoning Administrator before use or occupancy.

  “until a certificate of zoning compliance shall have been issued by the Zoning Administrator”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  A recreational vehicle on private property containing a permanent dwelling in SFD, SFV, AGO, MXD, or MXC single-family-residential-zoned property.

  • Occupancy is limited to a guest or visitor for no more than 30 days per calendar year.
  • The RV must have self-contained sanitary facilities and may not tie into an existing structure or city sewer/water.

  guest-or-visitor-occupancy: <= 30 days per calendar year (RV on private property containing a permanent dwelling)

  “may be occupied by a guest or visitor for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days, per calendar year.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes inside Becker city limits.

  • Manufactured homes are permitted only in manufactured-home-park districts.
  • Parks built before January 1, 1995 are exempt from density, lot-size, and setback requirements if compliant when built, but structures remain subject to approved CUP requirements.

  “manufactured homes are permitted only in manufactured home park districts”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-site septic-system construction within Becker's regulated floodplain.

  • This finding concerns the city's floodplain zoning permit; it does not establish who administers all septic permits elsewhere in the city.

  “The Zoning Administrator or other official designated by the Governing Body shall administer and enforce this Ordinance.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction of an on-site septic system within Becker's regulated floodplain.

  • The required permit is issued by the Zoning Administrator under the floodplain ordinance.
  • The finding is limited to floodplain locations.

  “prior to the construction of a dam, fence, or on-site septic system;”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Principal buildings in the SFD Single-Family Detached District within 100 feet of a sanitary-sewer/water main.

  • The UDO's alternate standards apply to properties not within 100 feet of a sanitary-sewer/water main.

  connection-distance: <= 100 feet (Distance to sanitary sewer / water main)

  “Properties within 100 feet of sanitary sewer / water main must connect”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions and preliminary plats within Becker city limits.

  • The city must decide a complete preliminary-plat application within 120 days unless a permitted extension applies.
  • A plat must be approved by the Planning Commission and City Council and recorded with the Sherburne County Recorder before it has validity.

  preliminary-plat decision deadline: <= 120 days (Absent a decision or filed extension, request is approved)

  “Before any plat shall have validity, it shall have been approved by the Planning Commission and City Council”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development, fill, excavation, structures, land-use changes, and other listed activity within Becker's floodplain.

  • The permit must be secured before the listed work or activity.
  • Waterwork permits can substitute only as specified in the ordinance.
  • Necessary state and federal permits must be obtained before the city grants a permit or processes CUP/variance applications.

  “prior to the placement of fill, excavation of materials, or the storage of materials or equipment within the floodplain;”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  City miscellaneous, license, land-use, and zoning fees.

  • Miscellaneous and license fees are updated annually by City Council resolution.
  • Land-use and zoning fees require a City Council ordinance.

  “Land use and zoning fees are included in this schedule”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building and administrative permits inside Becker city limits.

  • Applications, payment, and inspection scheduling are online.
  • The building-permit application must use city forms and include required drawings, specifications, and requested information.

  “Building and administrative permits are now online!”

Rules another office applies inside Becker

Becker 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

  Principal buildings in Becker's SFD Single-Family Detached District.

  • With public sewer and water, the stated range applies; properties not within 100 feet of a sanitary-sewer/water main have a 2.5-acre minimum.

  minimum lot area with public sewer and water: >= 10890 square feet (Maximum is 43,560 square feet (1 acre)) · minimum lot area without public sewer and water: >= 2.5 acres (Properties not within 100 feet of sanitary sewer / water main)

  “A Lot Area (minimum/maximum) 10,890 – 43,560 sq. ft. (1 acre)”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Principal buildings in Becker's SFD Single-Family Detached District with public sewer and water.

  • Corner lots have two front yards.
  • The no-public-sewer/water SFD standards increase side setback to 20 feet and retain a 40-foot rear setback.

  front-yard setback: >= 30 feet (Corner lots have two front yards) · side-yard setback: >= 10 feet (Street-side corner setback is 30 feet) · rear-yard setback: >= 40 feet

  “Front Yard Setback (minimum) 30 ft (corner lots have 2 front yards)”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveways and parking pads in SFD, SFV, and residential MXD/MXC districts.

  • Residential aprons and primary driveway approaches must meet City Engineer standards.
  • The stated setback applies from side and rear property lines.

  driveway setback: >= 4 feet (Side and rear property lines)

  “must be setback a minimum of four (4) feet from side and rear property lines.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Becker city limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Becker city limits.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Becker city limits.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Becker city limits.
• Septic inspection — On-site septic systems inside Becker 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.