Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Albany, Minnesota

Albany’s own rules

• Building permitLimited

  Work inside Albany city limits that is subject to the Building Code and requires a permit under that code.

  • The scope is limited to work for which the Building Code requires a permit.
  • Fees established in Appendix A must be paid.

  “It is unlawful for a person to perform work subject to the Building Code for which a permit is required without having obtained a permit”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction inside Albany city limits.

  • Optional chapters are excepted unless specifically adopted in the ordinance.

  “The Minnesota State Building Code [...] is hereby adopted by reference with the exception of optional chapters, unless specifically adopted in this ordinance.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Building-code work inside Albany city limits.

  • Inspections are provided as specified by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 16B and Minnesota Rule 1300.0160.

  “Permits, inspections and collection of fees are as provided in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 16B, as amended, and Minnesota Rule 1300.0160.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Albany city limits.

  • Land use is governed by the City’s Ordinance 80 zoning districts and procedures.

  “Section 80.15 R-1 LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Albany city limits.

  • The City planning page publishes a 2023 Zoning Map.

  “How to request an Ordinance Amendment/Rezoning Albany Comprehensive Plan 2023 Zoning Map”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permit applications inside Albany city limits.

  • Fees for permit applications and plan checks are determined by the Council and established in Appendix A.

  “Fees for all permit applications [...] are determined by the Council and established in Appendix A.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building and zoning permit matters inside Albany city limits.

  • The City page publishes a description of building permits but not a complete building-permit application procedure in the opened text.

  “Please complete the correct permit pertaining to your project. Once completed or if you have questions regarding a permit, please email mhoppe@ci.albany.mn.us”

Rules another office applies inside Albany

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

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single- and two-family dwellings in Albany’s R-1 Low Density Residential District.

  • The listed standard also requires a 26-foot minimum width and 26-foot minimum length.

  minimum floor area: >= 676 square feet (Single- and two-family dwellings in R-1.)

  “All dwelling units shall have a minimum floor area of six hundred and seventy six (676’) square feet;”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwelling lots in Albany’s R-1 Low Density Residential District.

  • Cul-de-sac lots have a 50-foot minimum width measured at the front property pin.
  • The 75-foot dimension is measured at the front property pin and the 70-foot dimension at the front-yard setback.

  minimum lot width at front property pin: >= 75 feet (Single-family dwelling unit; 50 feet for a lot fronting on a cul de sac.) · minimum lot depth: >= 110 feet (Single-family dwelling unit.)

  “Each lot shall have a minimum width of seventy five feet (75’) measured at the front property pin [...] Lot depth shall be a minimum of one hundred and ten feet (110’);”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Principal dwelling lots in Albany’s R-1 Low Density Residential District.

  • Front-yard setback is 15 feet for lots in Blocks 1 and 2 of Halls Highview Addition and 25 feet for all other lots.
  • Rear-yard requirements vary for specified Blattners Golf View Estates lots.
  • Side-yard and street-side-yard requirements vary for Halls Highview Addition.

  front yard setback: 25 feet (All other lots; 15 feet for lots in Blocks 1 and 2 of Halls Highview Addition.) · rear yard setback: 20 feet (All other lots; specified Blattners Golf View Estates lots have different requirements.)

  “Twenty five feet (25’) for all other lots; [...] Twenty feet (20') for all other lots.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Lots in Albany’s R-1 Low Density Residential District.

  maximum building coverage: <= 30 percent

  “The maximum building coverage shall be thirty percent (30%).”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings in Albany’s R-1 Low Density Residential District.

  • A building may instead match the height of homes to either side and directly across from the front and rear.

  maximum building height: <= 24 feet (Or matching the same height as homes to either side and directly across from the front and rear.)

  “The maximum building height shall be twenty four feet (24’) or matching same height as homes to either side and direct across from the front and rear.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured-home parks in Albany’s R-1 Low Density Residential District.

  • A conditional-use permit from the City Council is required for a use listed as conditional.
  • The park must provide the site-plan requirements and design standards of Section 80.18.

  “Manufactured Home Parks providing the Site Plan Requirements and Design Standards of Section 80.18 of this Ordinance are complied with;”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Albany or Stearns County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Albany city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of structures inside Albany city limits.
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Albany city limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Albany city limits.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Albany 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.