Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Medford, Minnesota

Medford’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, removal, or moving of buildings and accessory structures inside Medford city.

  • The City contracts with Steele County for permitting for projects over 200 square feet.
  • Minor repairs, maintenance, and minor alterations made in accordance with the Land Use Ordinance are excepted by § 4.11.

  county-permit threshold: > 200 square feet (City states Steele County handles building permitting for projects over this threshold.)

  “The City of Medford contracts with Steele County for building inspections and permitting for projects over 200 square feet. Please contact Steele County with questions about inspections, building code requirements, or permit review.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction within Medford city incorporated limits.

  • The code designates a state-certified Building Official appointed by City Council.
  • Permits, inspections, and fees are provided under Chapter 3 of the Uniform Building Code.

  “Building Code. The Minnesota State Building Code, one copy of which is on file in the office of the City Clerk of Medford, is hereby adopted by reference as though set forth verbatim herein.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  A building or structure moved within or into Medford city.

  • No certificate may issue until the building is placed in safe and sound physical condition and meets then-current state building-code plumbing and electrical requirements.

  “The building moved shall not be occupied until the Building Inspector issues a certificate of occupancy. No certificate of occupancy shall be issued until the building or structure is placed in safe and sound physical condition and brought up to the then current plumbing and electrical codes as set forth in the state building code.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  All lands, structures, and waters inside Medford city limits.

  • The online code is hosted by the City; the City Code page says the printed code maintained by the City Clerk is the official edition.

  “SECTION 4.02. JURISDICTION. This Land Use Ordinance shall be applicable to all lands, structures and waters within the corporate limits of Medford, Minnesota.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Motorized vehicles and recreational vehicles inside Medford city.

  • Permanent living quarters means occupancy exceeding 14 days.

  maximum occupancy before permanent-living-quarters prohibition: > 14 days (Motorized vehicle or recreational vehicle.)

  “No permanent living quarters (occupancy exceeding 14 days) shall be maintained or business practiced in a motorized vehicle or recreational vehicle.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Existing lots of record inside Medford city where City sewage service is unavailable.

  • The private sewage disposal system must meet Steele County and Minnesota standards.

  “Each new occupied building shall be required to connect to the City sewage disposal system. For existing lots of record where City sewage service is not available the private sewage disposal system shall meet the standards as required by Steele County and the State of Minnesota.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Dwelling units in the R-1 Residential District inside Medford city.

  • This R-1 rule applies where City sewer and water are available.
  • For existing lots of record where City sewage service is unavailable, private sewage must meet Steele County and Minnesota standards.

  “The purpose of a Residential District (R-1) is to allow low-density single-family dwelling units in the developing portions of the City where City sewer and water is available. All dwelling units in an R-1 District shall be required to hook up to City sewer and water services.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Permits under Chapter 5 inside Medford city.

  • Fees may include a surcharge.
  • Fees are determined by City Council and fixed by the Master Fee Schedule in Chapter 2, § 2.65; a copy is held by the City Clerk.

  “Fees for permits under this Chapter, which may include a surcharge, shall be determined by the Council and fixed by the Master Fee Schedule set forth in Chapter 2, Section 2.65, a copy of which shall be in the office of the City Clerk and uniformly enforced.”

Rules another office applies inside Medford

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

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots in Medford's R-1 Residential District, for plats after the Land Use Ordinance date.

  • Existing recorded residential lots may be used for a single-family detached dwelling if area and width are within 60 percent of the minimum requirements and all other City rules are met.

  minimum lot area: 9000 square feet (All plats after the date of the Land Use Ordinance.)

  “Lot Area. The minimum lot area for all plats after the date of this Land Use Ordinance shall be 9,000 square feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Lots in Medford's R-1 Residential District containing a single-family detached dwelling or duplex.

  • For highway-safety or backslope easements, the Zoning Inspector determines the setback, but it cannot be below the stated 25-foot front-yard minimum.
  • Corner lots require a front setback on each road or highway side.

  front setback: >= 25 feet (Measured from all public-road rights-of-way.) · rear setback for principal dwelling: >= 25 feet (Includes all decks.) · rear setback for accessory building: >= 10 feet · side setback for buildings and decks: >= 10 feet

  “All dwellings and other buildings, and all accessory uses, shall have a minimum front yard setback of twenty-five (25) feet from all public road right-of-ways. Where highway safety and/or backslope easements are factors, the setback shall be determined by the Zoning Inspector, but in no event shall it be less than the above minimum.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New or replacement SSTS serving Medford city property where a private sewage disposal system is used.

  • Applicable local unit of government must review and approve or deny the application before issuing a construction permit.
  • Construction cannot begin until the permit is granted.

  “Construction must not be initiated until a construction permit is granted.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New or replacement SSTS serving Medford city property where a private sewage disposal system is used.

  • The local program must establish the inspection frequency, times, protocol, and procedure where inspection cannot be timely completed.

  “must adopt and implement a construction inspection program”

• Well permitLimited

  New water-supply wells inside Medford city.

  • Before drilling, the contractor or owner must submit a notification form and fee to the Minnesota Department of Health.
  • The source distinguishes this notification process from construction permits for some other well or boring types.

  “must submit a “notification” form, with the appropriate fee, to MDH.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built homes inside Medford city.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in Medford city residential districts.
• Lot coverage — Single-family residential lots inside Medford city.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Medford city.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Medford city.

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.