Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Biwabik, Minnesota

Biwabik’s own rules

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy or use of vacant land or structures constructed, reconstructed, altered, moved, enlarged, or subject to a use change within Biwabik city limits.

  • A zoning certificate is required before the listed occupancy or use; it is not described as a state building-code certificate of occupancy.

  “Sec. 12.20 A zoning certificate shall be obtained before any person may occupy or use any vacant land, occupy or use any structure hereafter constructed, reconstructed, altered, moved or enlarged, changed any use to a different use or changed any non-conforming use.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within the corporate limits of Biwabik city.

  • The ordinance states that more restrictive federal, state, or county regulations or standards take precedence.

  “Jurisdiction: The geographic jurisdiction of these regulations includes the entire area within the corporate limits of the City of Biwabik.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts within Biwabik city limits.

  • A use that is neither specifically permitted nor denied in a zone district is considered prohibited.

  “The following districts are hereby established: R-1 Single Family Residential R-2 Single/Multiple Family Residential C-1 Commercial C-2 Highway Commercial M-1 Light Industrial M-2 Heavy Industrial P Public Use O Open Space Conservancy [...] Whenever a use in any zone district is neither specifically permitted nor denied the use shall be considered prohibited.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Lots in the C-2 Highway Commercial district within Biwabik city limits.

  • The cited requirement is specific to C-2; residential-district limits were not verified in this research pass.

  minimum lot area: 15000 square feet · minimum lot width: 100 feet

  “Sec. 8.40  C-2 Highway Commercial [...] 8.44 - Requirements [...] 1. Minimum lot area 15,000 s.f. 2. Minimum lot width 100 feet”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Structures in the C-2 Highway Commercial district within Biwabik city limits.

  • The cited limits are specific to C-2; residential-district limits were not verified in this research pass.

  minimum front yard setback: 30 feet · minimum side yard setback: 10 feet · minimum rear yard setback: 20 feet

  “3. Minimum front yard setback 30 feet 4. Minimum side yard setback 10 feet 5. Minimum rear yard setback 20 feet”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  All structures in the C-2 Highway Commercial district within Biwabik city limits.

  • The cited limit is specific to C-2; residential-district limits were not verified in this research pass.

  maximum lot coverage, all structures: <= 75 percent

  “7. Max. lot coverage, all structures 75 percent”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes in the R-2 Single/Multiple Family Residential district within Biwabik city limits.

  • A special use permit must be issued.

  “Sec. 8.20 R-2 Single/Multiple Family Residential [...] 8.23 - Uses Allowed by Special Use Permit The following are permitted only after the issuance of a special use permit: [...] - Manufactured home”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Biwabik or St. Louis County directly.

• Building permit — Residential building construction inside Biwabik city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Biwabik city limits.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Biwabik city limits.
• Inspections — Building work inside Biwabik city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Biwabik 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.