Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Tower, Minnesota

Tower’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erection, reconstruction, movement, or structural alteration increasing a structure's exterior dimensions, height, or floor area inside Tower city limits.

  • A land-use permit is issued only in conformity with Ordinance 82 unless the applicant receives the stated written order through administrative review, variance, or conditional use.
  • No permit is required for maintenance, repair, or remodeling where structure-area coverage is not increased.
  • A permit is void if work has not started within six months; it expires if work is not completed within one year.

  work-start deadline: <= 6 months (After issuance; otherwise the land-use permit becomes void.) · completion deadline: <= 1 year (After issuance; otherwise further work requires a new permit.)

  “No building structure shall be erected, reconstructed, moved, or structurally altered to increase the exterior dimensions, height or floor area of a structure without a land use permit that is requested of and obtained from the Zoning Administrator or other authorized official.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the City of Tower, Minnesota.

  • Additional shoreland and municipal-airport regulations apply where applicable.

  “An ordinance establishing comprehensive zoning regulations fore the City of Tower”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Official zoning districts inside Tower city limits.

  • District boundaries are shown on the official zoning map incorporated by reference.
  • Annexed territory is initially O-1 unless otherwise classified through the stated process.

  “For the purposes of this ordinance the City of Tower is divided into zoning districts as shown on the official zoning map which is hereby incorporated by reference and declared a part of this ordinance.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Use of travel trailers or motor homes by transient or permanent guests for lodging or sleeping in any residential area inside Tower city limits.

  • Unoccupied recreational travel trailers and motor homes no longer than 24 feet may be stored in a building or open space in the owner's rear yard.

  stored unoccupied recreational trailer or motor-home maximum length: <= 24 feet (May be stored in a building or open space in the property owner's rear yard.)

  “No person shall maintain, install, erect, or permit, in any residential area, the parking of travel trailers or motor homes for the use of transient or permanent guests for lodging or sleeping.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private septic and well systems inside Tower city limits where municipal sanitary and water utilities are unavailable.

  • Private wells and septic systems must conform to St. Louis County code for septic and well construction.

  “If not available, the Zoning Administrator shall require that private wells and septic systems shall conform to the requirements of the St. Louis County code for septic and well construction.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Properties in a Tower zoning district where municipal sanitary and water utilities are available.

  • The municipal water and sanitary facilities must be used only where available.
  • The state plumbing rule separately requires buildings with plumbing fixtures or drainage piping to connect to a public or private sewer, subject to its stated exceptions.

  “In any district where sanitary and water utilities are available, these facilities shall be used.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision plats and land development inside Tower city limits.

  • Ordinance 83 states its purpose is orderly, economic, and safe development and equitable handling of subdivision plats.

  “The following regulations shall be known and may be cited and referred as the Subdivision regulations of the City of Tower.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Construction or removal of driveways inside Tower city limits.

  • The land-use permit requirement includes driveway construction or removal.
  • Driveways opening onto a State, St. Louis County, or U.S. trunk highway must obtain required permits from the appropriate highway departments.

  “Where the proposed driveway is to be constructed so that it opens onto any street designated as either a State of Minnesota, Saint Louis County or U.S. Trunk Highway, all additional specifications of the appropriate highway departments will apply, and the required permits shall be obtained from the appropriate departments.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Tower land-use permit applications.

  • Information is required where applicable.
  • The zoning administrator may require additional loading, unloading, and parking information.

  “Land use permits shall contain the following information where applicable:”

Rules another office applies inside Tower

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

• SetbacksSpecified

  One-family dwellings in Tower's R-1 Residential District.

  • The table's side-yard figures provide a 10-foot minimum side setback and 20-foot total side-yard requirement.

  front-yard setback: >= 30 feet (One-family use in R-1.) · rear-yard setback: >= 30 feet (One-family use in R-1.) · minimum side-yard setback: >= 10 feet (One-family use in R-1.) · total side-yard setback: >= 20 feet (One-family use in R-1.)

  “One Family 20,000 20,000 30’ 30’ 10’ 20’”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Lots in Tower's R-1 Residential District.

  • The coverage limit includes the main structure and auxiliary buildings.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 35 percent (Includes main structure and auxiliary buildings.)

  “Lot coverage shall not exceed thirty five (35) per cent. Such coverage includes the main structure and auxiliary buildings.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Residential buildings in Tower's R-1 Residential District.

  • Churches, schools, and PUDs may be erected up to 48 feet.

  maximum residential building height: <= 36 feet (Or 2.5 stories; churches, schools, and PUDs may be up to 48 feet.) · maximum height for stated exception: <= 48 feet (Churches, schools, or PUDs.)

  “No residential building erected or altered shall exceed thirty six (36) feet or two and one half (2 ½) stories excepting churches, schools, or PUDS which may be erected to a maximum height of forty eight (48) feet.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Tower city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Tower city limits.
• Inspections — Construction inspections inside Tower city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings inside Tower city limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Tower 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.