Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Floodwood, Minnesota

Floodwood’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Floodwood city limits.

  • The city zoning ordinance regulates use and development; land-use permits are required for work.

  “This ordinance shall be known and cited as the “Zoning Ordinance of the City of Floodwood.””

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Floodwood city limits.

  • The official zoning map is part of the ordinance and must be maintained by the city clerk.

  “The City is hereby divided into districts as shown on the Official Zoning Map”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single- and multi-family dwellings in the R-3 Medium Density Residential District inside Floodwood city limits.

  • The cited ordinance establishes minimum dwelling width and length in the R-3 district.

  minimum dwelling width: >= 24 feet · minimum dwelling length: >= 24 feet

  “The minimum size of all single and multi-family dwellings shall be twenty-four (24) feet in width and twenty-four (24) feet in length.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Development in the R-3 Medium Density Residential District inside Floodwood city limits.

  • Accessory buildings have a 10-foot rear-yard exception; corner lots have a 12-foot side-yard requirement.

  front yard: >= 25 feet · rear yard: >= 20 feet (Accessory buildings: 10 feet.) · side yard: >= 8 feet (Corner lot: 12 feet.)

  “1. Front yard – Twenty-five (25) feet. 2. Rear yard – Twenty (20) feet, except accessory buildings: ten (10) feet. 3. Side yard – Eight (8) feet. The side yard of a corner lot shall be twelve (12) feet.”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Development in the R-3 Medium Density Residential District inside Floodwood city limits.

  maximum building coverage: <= 50 percent

  “9.7 Maximum Building Coverage Fifty percent (50%).”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and planned-unit-development proposals inside Floodwood city limits.

  • A planned-unit development does not remove the requirement to file a plat under the city's subdivision regulations.

  “Nothing in this article or this Ordinance shall be interpreted as negating the necessity of filing a plat as required by the City’s Subdivision regulations.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Development in flood hazard areas inside Floodwood city limits.

  • The limitation applies in the city's flood hazard areas.

  “If you're planning construction or alterations within designated floodplains permits are required under Floodwood's Floodplain Managment Ordinance.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  City zoning and land-use permits inside Floodwood city limits.

  • Application must include building and plot plans and other information required to determine ordinance conformance.

  “An application for a zoning permit shall be filed with the Zoning Official.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Floodwood city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Floodwood city limits.
• Inspections — Building construction inside Floodwood city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of structures inside Floodwood city limits.
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Floodwood 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.