Zoning, building permits and septic rules in New Auburn, Minnesota

New Auburn’s own rules

• InspectionsLimited

  Sites proposed for a city land-use permit inside New Auburn city.

  • Inspection is discretionary and is for confirming conformity with applicable regulatory ordinances and submitted plans.

  “The Zoning Administrator may inspect the site of the proposed structure to confirm that the structure or use conforms with other applicable regulatory ordinances and is consistent with the plans submitted with the application for the land use permit.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts within New Auburn city.

  • District boundaries are adopted on the official zoning map on file in the City Clerk's office.
  • Annexed land is automatically classified into a proper zone by City Council approval.

  districts: A-1 Agricultural; R-1 Single and Two Family Residential; R-2 Mobile Home Residential and more than 8 Unit Apartments; C-1 Central Business; I-1 General Industrial; R-3 New Developments

  “The following district classifications are hereby established within the City of New Auburn: 1. "A-1" Agricultural District 2. "R-1" Single and Two Family Residential District 3. "R-2" Mobile Home Residential District & more than 8 Unit Apartments 4. "C-1" Central Business District 5. "I-1" General Industrial District 6. "R-3" New Developments”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Temporary lodging in a camper or structure in residential districts inside New Auburn city.

  • Only occasional short-term lodging is an acceptable accessory use.
  • The source prohibits rental or long-term use without permanent sewer or water.

  “For the purposes of this ordinance, temporary lodging is an acceptable accessory use in residential districts. However, the use of campers or structures without permanent sewer or water on a rental or long term basis is not allowed.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile-home development in the R-2 Mobile Home District inside New Auburn city.

  • The R-2 district permits a mobile-home subdivision.
  • All mobile homes moved into a mobile-home park must have a minimum appraised or assessed value of $10,000.
  • The provision does not establish unrestricted citywide manufactured-home occupancy.

  minimum appraised or assessed value for mobile homes moved into a mobile home park: >= 10000 USD

  “Mobile home subdivision. All mobile homes moved into a mobile home park must have a minimum appraised or assessed value of ten thousand dollars ($10,000).”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Temporary lodging in a camper or structure without permanent sewer or water hookup in residential districts inside New Auburn city.

  • It is limited to occasional short-term lodging as an accessory use in residential districts.
  • Rental or long-term use of campers or structures without permanent sewer or water is prohibited.

  “Temporary Lodging. Occasional short term lodging in a camper or structure without permanent sewer or water hook-up. For the purposes of this ordinance, temporary lodging is an acceptable accessory use in residential districts. However, the use of campers or structures without permanent sewer or water on a rental or long term basis is not allowed.”

Rules another office applies inside New Auburn

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

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single- and two-family dwellings in the R-1 Single and Two Family Residential District inside New Auburn city.

  • The dimensional requirements quoted apply to the living quarters of permitted R-1 single- and two-family dwellings.

  minimum dwelling width: >= 24 feet (over at least 100 percent of its length) · minimum dwelling length: >= 24 feet

  “a minimum width of twenty-four (24) feet over at least on hundred percent (100%) of its length, a minimum length of twenty-four (24) feet.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single- and two-family lots in the R-1 Single and Two Family Residential District inside New Auburn city.

  • Newly platted lots have a 100-foot width; existing lots show a 66-foot width.

  single-family minimum lot area: >= 8118 square feet · two-family minimum lot area: >= 10118 square feet

  “Single Family 8,118 66’ existing 10’ 20’ 25’ 100’ newly platted Two Family 10,118 66’existing 10’ 20’ 25’ 100’newly platted”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Lots in the A-1 Agricultural District inside New Auburn city.

  minimum side yard: >= 15 feet (each side) · minimum front yard: >= 30 feet · minimum rear yard: >= 50 feet

  “Sq. Feet Width Side-Yards Front Yard Rear Yard 20,000 100’ 15' each 30' 50' or greater”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single- and two-family lots in the R-1 Single and Two Family Residential District inside New Auburn city.

    “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. If there is only one (1) adjacent structure, the setback shall be the average of the required setback and the setback of the adjacent structure. In no case shall the front yard setback requirement exceed twenty-five (25) feet.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  New construction in the R-1 Single and Two Family Residential District inside New Auburn city.

  maximum new-construction coverage: <= 35 percent

  “Maximum Coverage. New Construction coverage shall not exceed thirty-five percent (35%).”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Mobile-home subdivisions in the R-2 Mobile Home District inside New Auburn city.

    “Maximum site coverage: Lot coverage shall not exceed fifty (50) percent.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Residential structures in the A-1 Agricultural District inside New Auburn city.

  • Agricultural buildings are exempt from this requirement.

  maximum residential height: <= 35 feet (also limited to two and one-half stories; agricultural buildings exempt)

  “Residential structures hereafter erected shall not exceed two and one-half (2 1/2) stories or thirty-five (35) feet in height. Agricultural buildings shall be exempt from these requirements.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Mobile-home subdivisions in the R-2 Mobile Home District inside New Auburn city.

    “The maximum building height shall not exceed twenty (20) feet.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask New Auburn or Sibley County directly.

• Building permit — Residential building construction inside New Auburn city.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside New Auburn city.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside New Auburn city.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside New Auburn city.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside New Auburn city.

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.