Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Chisholm, Minnesota

Chisholm’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction governed by the State Building Code inside Chisholm city limits.

  • Optional State Building Code chapters are excepted unless specifically adopted in the subchapter.

  “The State Building Code, pursuant to M.S. '' 326B.101 to 326B.194, as it may be amended from time to time, includes all of the referenced amendments, rules and regulations and is hereby adopted by reference with the exception of the optional chapters, unless specifically adopted in this subchapter.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Chisholm city limits.

  • The zoning chapter is administered and enforced by the Building Official, Zoning Official, and City Engineer.

  “This chapter shall be administered and enforced by the Building Official, Zoning Official and the City Engineer.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Chisholm city limits.

  • The properties in the districts are shown on a zoning map maintained in City offices.

  “R-1 Residence District. All lands now zoned as residential other than the lots as come under the R-2 Residence District. [...] The boundaries of the districts established by this chapter are delineated on the zoning map; and the map and all notations, references and data shown thereon are hereby adopted and made a part of this chapter and will be on permanent file, and for public inspection, in the City Hall.”

• Accessory dwellingsProhibited

  Use of an accessory building as a residence or dwelling inside Chisholm city limits.

  “No accessory buildings shall be used for residential or dwelling purposes;”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision plats inside Chisholm city limits.

  • The Council must act on a preliminary plan within 60 days after filing with the City Clerk.
  • Engineering proposals require subsequent approval.
  • A final plat must be submitted within six months of preliminary-plan approval or that approval is void.
  • An approved final plat must be recorded within 30 days or approval is void.

  Council action on preliminary plan: <= 60 days (from filing with the City Clerk) · final plat submission after preliminary approval: <= 6 months (otherwise preliminary approval is void) · recording after final plat approval: <= 30 days (otherwise approval is void)

  “The Council shall act on the preliminary plan within 60 days of the date on which it was filed with the City Clerk. [...] If the final plat is not submitted within six months, the approval of the preliminary plan shall be considered void; [...] If the final plat is approved by the Council, the subdivider shall record it with the County Register of Deeds within 30 days after the date of approval otherwise, the approval shall be considered void.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Work governed by Chisholm's adopted State Building Code.

  • Fees are assessed under the fee schedule.
  • A surcharge is collected on all permits for work governed by the code in accordance with Minnesota Statutes section 326B.148.

  “Permit fees shall be assessed for work governed by this code in accordance with the fee schedule. In addition, a surcharge fee shall be collected on all permits issued for work governed by this code in accordance with M.S. ' 326B.148, as it may be amended from time to time.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building-permit applications inside Chisholm city limits.

  • The City directs applicants to submit the permit application to City Hall.
  • For large projects, the City directs applicants to contact the Building Safety Office regarding code-compliance reviews, application completion, permits, and fees.

  “Bring or send in your Permit Application to: Chisholm City Hall, Attn: Building Safety Dept. Mandy Galli, 316 West Lake Street, Chisholm, MN 55719”

Rules another office applies inside Chisholm

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

• Building permitRequired

  Projects inside Chisholm city limits subject to the City's building-permit program.

  • The City states fees double when the permit application is made after the project has started.

  “*Remember: It is a State Law that permits are required before beginning your project. Fee's double when applying for a permit after your project has started.”

• Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Owners occupying a dwelling inside Chisholm city limits.

  • Owners building or remodeling solely for speculation or resale must be licensed.

  “Generally, owners occupying a dwelling may obtain permits and do construction work. Licenses are required for all residential building contractors and residential re-modelers who contract with a homeowner to construct or improve dwelling. Owners working on their own property must also be licensed if they build or remodel for the sole purpose of speculation or resale.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  One-family structures in Chisholm R-1 and R-2 Residence Districts.

  • The table also establishes different floor-area amounts for two-family and larger structures and dwelling-unit types.

  R-1 one-family minimum floor area: >= 750 square feet · R-2 one-family minimum floor area: >= 960 square feet

  “Floor Area Per Dwelling Unit (Square Feet) R-1 District R-2 District LB Districts 1-family structures 750 960 750”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  One-family structures in Chisholm R-1 and R-2 Residence Districts.

  • The table also establishes different lot-area amounts for two-family, three-family, apartment, and limited-business uses.

  R-1 one-family lot area: >= 6000 square feet · R-2 one-family lot area: >= 8200 square feet

  “Lot Area Per Dwelling Unit (Square Feet) R-1 District R-2 District LB Districts 1-family structures 6,000 8,200 6,000”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal dwellings in Chisholm R-1 and R-2 Residence Districts.

  • The schedule distinguishes front, side/corner, garage, and rear-yard rules; other districts and special exceptions have different requirements.

  R-1 front yard setback: >= 30 feet · R-2 front yard setback: >= 30 feet · R-1 dwelling rear yard setback: >= 30 feet · R-2 dwelling rear yard setback: >= 40 feet

  “Front Yard Setback (Feet) R-1 District R-2 District LB Districts 30 feet 30 feet 30 feet [...] Rear Yard Setback (Feet) R-1 District R-2 District LB Districts Dwelling 30 feet 40 feet 30 feet”

Still unanswered

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

• Inspections — Construction inside Chisholm city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Buildings inside Chisholm city limits.
• Lot coverage — Ordinary lots inside Chisholm city limits.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Chisholm city limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Chisholm 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.