Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Cotton Township, Minnesota

Rules another office applies inside Cotton Township

Cotton Township 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

  Building, moving or adding to structures inside Cotton township (county-administered zoning area)

  • County does not administer the Minnesota State Building Code; the permit is a county land use permit.
  • Cotton township's inclusion in county-administered area is inferred from the four-township exception list.

  “st. louis county does not administer the minnesota state building code, but does require land use permits for a wide range of activities.”

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside Cotton township, MN: the township does not administer its own zoning; St. Louis County administers zoning there.

  • Only four townships (Duluth, Gnesen, Midway, Lakewood) administer their own zoning; Cotton is not among them, so county zoning (Ordinance 62) applies.
  • Inference from the county's four-township list; Cotton township was not named explicitly.

  “the county has land use authority outside of all municipal boundaries, except in four townships that have their own land use authority.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Septic systems inside Cotton township; St. Louis County Onsite Wastewater Division administers SSTS Ordinance 61 throughout the county

  • Ordinance 61 incorporates MPCA minimum standards by reference.

  “the onsite wastewater division is responsible for the administration and coordination of onsite wastewater treatment systems throughout st. louis county.”

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.