Bolthole Index

Todd County, Minnesota

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Todd County, Minnesota

73Index Score / 100
#16 of 87 in Minnesota

Unincorporated Todd County, Minnesota requires a county Land Use Permit for construction and has county zoning, with additional township rules possible1,2. Todd County Planning & Zoning administers septic countywide and issues Type I and III SSTS permits1,3. Building-code enforcement depends on local adoption; Staples, which reaches into Todd County, issues its own building permits and administers its own zoning4,5,6.

Do you need a building permit in Todd County, Minnesota?

Unincorporated Todd County requires a county Land Use Permit for construction under its land-use ordinance.

Unincorporated Todd County requires a county Land Use Permit for construction under its land-use ordinance1. The published dwelling fee is $15 per 100 square feet, with a $50 minimum11. Minnesota’s State Building Code is the statewide minimum construction standard, but municipal enforcement requires local adoption4. Ask Todd County Planning & Zoning who issues any separate building-code permit for the parcel1. Where building-code permitting applies, obtain the building-code permit before regulated work, keep work exposed for inspections, and obtain the required certificate of occupancy before using the building12,13,14. Qualifying agricultural buildings are generally outside the State Building Code, but agricultural uses are not exempt from Todd County zoning and feedlot controls15,16.

Who issues building permits in Todd County, and how do you reach them?

Start with Todd County Planning & Zoning at 215 1st Avenue South, Suite 103, Long Prairie, Minnesota 56347; call 320-732-4420 or email toddplan.zone@co.todd.mn.us.

Start with Todd County Planning & Zoning at 215 1st Avenue South, Suite 103, Long Prairie, Minnesota 56347; call 320-732-4420 or email toddplan.zone@co.todd.mn.us1. The office handles county land-use ordinances for zoning, septic systems, subdivisions, shoreland and floodplain management1. Staples, mainly in Wadena County but extending into Todd County, issues building permits for most building projects inside city limits5. Todd County Planning & Zoning remains the septic authority countywide1. Elsewhere, ask the county office which city or township zoning or site approval applies alongside the county Land Use Permit1,2. County Planning & Zoning fees are nonrefundable, and after-the-fact charges may reach three times the ordinary fee11.

Does Todd County have zoning?

Todd County administers county zoning for unincorporated land, while local requirements vary by city or township.

Todd County administers county zoning for unincorporated land, while local requirements vary by city or township1,2,17. Staples, which reaches into Todd County, administers its own zoning; Todd County Planning & Zoning still handles septic countywide1,6. Todd County publishes zoning layers and district information through GIS, but warns that the maps are not recorded surveys and may not be current18.

Grey Eagle Township illustrates the local differences: A-1 requires a 5-acre minimum lot, one dwelling per 40 acres and 200 feet of public-road frontage2. Grey Eagle A-1 and R-1 dwellings require 840 square feet of livable space and a 20-foot width for two-thirds of the building, subject to ordinance exceptions2. A-1 setbacks are 68 feet from a local-road centerline or 50 feet from a state-highway right-of-way, 30 feet from the side lot line and 50 feet from the rear lot line2. R-1 uses the same front distances but 10-foot side and 20-foot rear setbacks2. Grey Eagle residential districts limit combined structures, parking and other coverage to 60%, leaving at least 40% landscaped2. These dimensions apply in Grey Eagle Township, not countywide2.

How do septic permits work in Todd County?

Todd County Planning & Zoning administers septic countywide, including where a city or township separately handles zoning or building-code permits.

Todd County Planning & Zoning administers septic countywide, including where a city or township separately handles zoning or building-code permits1,2. Todd County’s Type I and III SSTS permit costs $300 and includes site inspection and soil verification3. The fee schedule also lists Type II holding-tank, advanced-SSTS and cluster-system charges, but does not establish every permit trigger for those categories3. Advanced SSTS fees include inspection; the documented inspection categories do not establish identical requirements for every system3. Only about 7.1% of Todd County soils are rated “not limited” for conventional drain fields; that calls for a site evaluation and potentially an engineered system, rather than ruling out septic19. Ask Planning & Zoning which design, SSTS permit and compliance documents apply before choosing a house site1.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Todd County?

We could not confirm ordinary non-rental RV living or permanent tiny-home occupancy rules for Todd County; ask Planning & Zoning about the parcel’s county and township requirements.

We could not confirm ordinary non-rental RV living or permanent tiny-home occupancy rules for Todd County; ask Planning & Zoning about the parcel’s county and township requirements1,2. In a Todd County short-term rental, RVs, campers, tents, ice houses and accessory structures need separate licensing and permitting before occupancy or rental7. Rental applicants submit the application, fee and documentation to Todd County Health & Human Services at least two weeks before operation; licensing requires an on-site inspection, current private-septic compliance inspection and recent private-well testing where applicable7. Rental district restrictions apply, and site capacity above 15 guests or 5 bedrooms requires a conditional use permit7.

Campground approvals are parcel-specific: one camping-site approval limits RV presence, occupied or not, to 16 nights per calendar month, while a separate seasonal campground approval allows operation only from May 15 through September 30 and limits RVs or park models to 400 square feet8. Those conditions do not establish a countywide private-land camping allowance8.

Building a home in Todd County: the steps, in order

Ask Todd County Planning & Zoning to identify the parcel’s zoning authority, district, shoreland status and floodplain status; use county GIS as a starting point, not a recorded survey.

  1. Ask Todd County Planning & Zoning to identify the parcel’s zoning authority, district, shoreland status and floodplain status; use county GIS as a starting point, not a recorded survey1,2,18.
  1. Confirm who issues the separate building-code permit and performs inspections where the Minnesota State Building Code is locally enforced4,13.
  1. Arrange septic design and soil work with Todd County and obtain the applicable SSTS permit; Type I and III permits include site inspection and soil verification1,3.
  1. Obtain the county Land Use Permit and applicable township site approval before construction1,2.
  1. For access to a Minnesota trunk highway, obtain the MnDOT driveway permit before construction20.
  1. Keep building-code work exposed through required inspections and obtain the required certificate of occupancy before moving in13,14.

A qualifying owner-builder may avoid residential-contractor licensing, but not required land-use, building-code or septic permits9.

What should you check before buying land in Todd County?

Before buying a proposed land split, ask Todd County Planning & Zoning about subdivision review and any township or city requirements; the county regulates subdivisions, but the applicable procedures and exceptions still need confirmation.

Before buying a proposed land split, ask Todd County Planning & Zoning about subdivision review and any township or city requirements; the county regulates subdivisions, but the applicable procedures and exceptions still need confirmation1,21. Feedlot setbacks are reciprocal, so ask how nearby feedlots affect the proposed use before choosing a building site16. Septic feasibility deserves an early contingency: only about 7.1% of Todd County soils are rated “not limited” for conventional drain fields, and individual lots need evaluation19. Minnesota requires notification to the Department of Health and the applicable fee before drilling a water-supply well10. County Planning & Zoning handles floodplain ordinances, but we could not confirm the specific development requirements; ask the office before committing to a floodplain site1. For price context, the USDA farmland estimate is $3,654 per acre, typical home value is about $273,092 and the median annual property-tax bill is $1,87419.

Watch-outs

  • Todd County’s own building-code enforcement remains unconfirmed; ask Planning & Zoning who issues the building-code permit and performs inspections for the parcel1,4.
  • A Todd County short-term rental needs a valid license and a copy filed with Planning & Zoning before operation, and must have compliant septic; new operations above 15 guests or 5 bedrooms need a conditional use permit7.
  • Grey Eagle Township’s dwelling dimensions and setbacks are local district rules; do not use them as countywide standards2.
  • After-the-fact Planning & Zoning charges may reach three times the ordinary fee, so secure required approvals before work starts11.

Sources

21 official pages, each quoted and re-checked · written October 11, 2026

  1. Todd County MN - Planning & Zoning (2026 county census)
  2. Planning & Zoning
  3. Planning & Zoning
  4. Overview of the Minnesota State Building Code
  5. Staples: Building and Permit Information (Todd County)
  6. Staples: Staples Code of Ordinances, Sec. 109-72 - R-1 Residential (Todd County)
  7. Short-Term/Vacation Rentals; Sections 3.02, 6.04, and 9.23
  8. Todd County Board of Commissioners proceedings; camping-site conditional use permit
  9. Minnesota Statutes § 326B.805
  10. Constructing a New Water-Supply Well in Minnesota
  11. Todd County Planning & Zoning – 2026 Fee Schedule
  12. Overview of the Minnesota State Building Code
  13. Minnesota Rules, Chapter 1300
  14. Minnesota Rules, Chapter 1300
  15. 2025 Minnesota Statutes, Section 326B.121
  16. Current Todd County Planning and Zoning Ordinance
  17. Planning and Zoning in Todd County, MN
  18. Interactive GIS Mapping
  19. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  20. 8810.4400 DRIVEWAY PERMITS
  21. Planning and Zoning in Todd County, MN

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

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Compared with neighboring counties

Like all 6 of its neighbors, Todd County requires a building permit for a home.

RuleTodd CountyDouglas CountyStearns CountyMorrison CountyPope CountyWadena CountyBenton County
Building permitRequiredRequiredRequiredRequiredRequiredRequiredRequired
County zoningYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Septic permitsCounty Planning & ZoningCounty Land & Resource ManagementCounty Env. ServicesCounty Land ServicesCounty Land & Resource ManagementCounty Planning & Zoning Dept.County Dept. of Development

County locator

Todd County in Minnesota

73
County map
Todd County highlighted among the Minnesota counties · colored by Index score

How Todd County scores

73 / 100 · #16 of 87 in Minnesota · six factors, land price, tax, rain and climate

Seclusion65100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency60100% ev.
Admin Boringness45100% ev.
Durability66100% ev.
Property Autonomy65100% ev.
Carry Cost73100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$273kTypical home
1%Property tax
$3,654Land / acre
28.4"Annual rain
6.8% of yrsSevere drought
1.9 / yr (+1.8)Mid-century 100°F days
16.1 daysMid-century dry spell
1.67" (+9%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.82×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,706Home insurance / yr
3.8% / yrInsurance growth
0.32%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
14,939People within 30 min
1,192,948People within 2 hr
20,473Radius comparison (15 mi)
27.2People / sq mi
0.3%Federal land
94.6%Land at 15% slope or less
7.1%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
37,422 acWorkable land screen
26.3%Wooded land
44.6 tonsBiomass / forest ac
41.7°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Todd County

Inside a city, town or township here, that government usually sets zoning and may issue its own building permits; the county’s rules above cover land outside them.

Not yet covered: Bartlett Township · Bertha Township · Birchdale Township · Bruce Township · Burleene Township · Burnhamville Township · Eagle Valley Township · Fawn Lake Township · Germania Township · Gordon Township · Grey Eagle Township · Hartford Township · Iona Township · Kandota Township · Leslie Township · Little Elk Township · Little Sauk Township · Long Prairie Township · Moran Township · Reynolds Township · Round Prairie Township · Stowe Prairie Township · Turtle Creek Township · Villard Township · Ward Township · West Union Township · Wykeham Township

Answers from the rulebook for Todd County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Todd County rules

  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Todd County land-use regulation related to zoning, including county-administered zoning ordinances.

    • The county page also identifies septic systems, feedlots, subdivisions, shoreland, gravel pit/mining, and floodplain management as related county land-use ordinance subjects.
    “It is the responsibility of the Todd County Planning & Zoning Office to ensure the development and maintenance of the Todd County land use ordinances related to zoning, septic systems, feedlots, subdivisions, shoreland, gravel pit/mining and floodplain management.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Present (with conditions) — Todd County land-use ordinances related to zoning administered by the Todd County Planning & Zoning Office.
      “It is the responsibility of the Todd County Planning & Zoning Office to ensure the development and maintenance of the Todd County land use ordinances related to zoning, septic systems, feedlots, subdivisions, shoreland, gravel pit/mining and floodplain management.”
  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    Local zoning across Todd County, aggregated at the county level. Todd County administers county land-use ordinances, while incorporated cities and townships may administer their own zoning ordinances or apply additional restrictions.

    • The county-level conclusion aggregates county, municipal, and township zoning and does not mean Todd County administers every local ordinance.
    • Todd County identifies twelve cities and twenty-eight townships within the county; applicable local authority depends on the property's jurisdiction.
    • Grey Eagle Township has its own zoning ordinance, adopted by its Board of Supervisors, and adopts the Todd County Planning and Zoning Ordinance by reference only where not inconsistent; the more restrictive provision applies.
    • Grey Eagle Township's ordinance establishes a township Zoning Administrator who conducts compliance inspections and administers site permits.
    • Other incorporated-city and township requirements were not individually verified in this research.
    “The provisions of the Todd County Planning and Zoning Ordinance, as may be amended from time to time, are hereby adopted by reference and made a part of this ordinance to the extent that they are not inconsistent with provisions in the Grey Eagle Township Planning and Zoning Ordinance. The more restrictive shall apply.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Varies (with conditions) — Countywide aggregate of zoning controls administered by Todd County and incorporated or other local jurisdictions within Todd County.
      “The Long Prairie Planning and Zoning Commission is a 9 member board with the following responsibilities: [...] Enforcement and development of the zoning ordinances”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Todd County zoning district information and GIS zoning layers.

    • The county publishes zoning information through its Interactive GIS Mapping service and links a separate Zoning District Information story map.
    • The GIS page warns that the map is a public-service compilation, is not a legally recorded map or survey, and accuracy and currency are not guaranteed.
    “The GIS Viewer is the best way to keep up to date with the layers that are frequently being added or modified including Parcel Boundaries, Address Points, Plats, Zoning and Certified Corners.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in Grey Eagle Township agricultural and residential zoning districts.

    • The requirement is subject to exceptions provided elsewhere in the ordinance.
    • Carports, garages, overhangs, and similar structures do not count toward livable space.
    • The dwelling must be at least 20 feet wide for two-thirds of its length.
    • Other Todd County, state, or more restrictive requirements may also apply.

    minimum livable space: >= 840 square feet (principal structure only) · minimum dwelling width: >= 20 feet (for two-thirds of the structure length)

    “Each single-family dwelling shall have a minimum of 840 square feet of livable space in the principal structure; Carports, overhangs, garages and such structures shall not qualify in meeting these requirements. All dwellings shall be a minimum of twenty (20) feet in width for 2/3rds of the length of the structure.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Parcels developed in the Grey Eagle Township A-1 Agricultural District.

    • Maximum density is one dwelling per 40 acres.
    • Single-family dwelling lots must have at least 200 feet of frontage on an existing public road.
    • A dwelling lot must have at least two buildable acres, elevated at least two feet above mottled soil.
    • The lot must have soils sufficient for an on-site sewer system and future on-site sewer system.
    • Poorly drained or structurally inadequate soils are not allowed.

    minimum lot size: >= 5 acres · maximum dwelling density: 1 dwelling per 40 acres · minimum public-road frontage: >= 200 feet (for a lot containing a single-family dwelling)

    “Every parcel developed in the A-1 district shall have a maximum density of one dwelling per forty (40) acres with a minimum lot size of five (5) acres. [...] Each lot upon which such a dwelling is erected shall have a minimum buildable area of two (2) acres, all of which shall be of such an elevation as to be not less than two (2) feet above mottled soil. [...] Each lot shall have frontage of not less than two hundred (200) feet on an existing public road. [...] Each lot shall be of sufficient size and shall contain soils to support an on-site sewer system and a future on-site sewer system.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    New Todd County feedlots or manure-storage areas subject to Section 9.11 feedlot setbacks.

    • The standards apply within Todd County and do not cross county lines.
    • The standards of the county where the feedlot is located apply.
    • The setbacks do not apply if there is either a county-approved variance or written approval from representatives of each entity within the setback, recorded on the affected property parcel numbers.
    • The cited table identifies non-swine Tier I as 10-100 animal units with setbacks of one-half mile from municipal limits or growth boundaries, 300 feet from a public drainage ditch, and one-quarter mile from a school, church, park, or airport.
    • Non-swine Tier II is 101-300 animal units with setbacks of one mile, 300 feet, and one-half mile respectively; Tier III is over 300 animal units with the same distances.
    • All setbacks are reciprocal in nature.

    non-swine Tier I animal units: 10-100 animal units · non-swine Tier I municipal-limit or growth-boundary setback: 0.5 mile · non-swine Tier I public-drainage-ditch setback: 300 feet · non-swine Tier I school/church/park/airport setback: 0.25 mile · non-swine Tier II animal units: 101-300 animal units · non-swine Tier II municipal-limit or growth-boundary setback: 1 mile · non-swine Tier II public-drainage-ditch setback: 300 feet · non-swine Tier II school/church/park/airport setback: 0.5 mile · non-swine Tier III animal units: over 300 animal units · non-swine Tier III municipal-limit or growth-boundary setback: 1 mile · non-swine Tier III public-drainage-ditch setback: 300 feet · non-swine Tier III school/church/park/airport setback: 0.5 mile

    “Tier I 10-100 Half (1/2) mile 300 feet Quarter (1/4) mile Tier II 101-300 One (1) mile 300 feet Half (1/2) mile”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Residential districts in Grey Eagle Township.

    • The combined coverage includes off-street parking spaces, structures of any type, and other features.
    • At least 40 percent of the lot must remain landscaped.
    • The ordinance states exceptions to height limitations for specified farm, religious, utility, communications, and related structures.

    maximum combined lot coverage: <= 60 percent (off-street parking, structures, and other features combined) · minimum landscaped area: >= 40 percent

    “In no event shall the combination of off-street parking space, structures of any type, or other features cover more than sixty (60) percent of the lot areas, resulting in less than forty (40) percent landscaped area in Residential Districts.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Recreational vehicles and similar items at the four camping sites approved under a Todd County conditional use permit on parcel 12-0030200.

    • The limit applies whether the recreational vehicle is occupied or unoccupied.
    • A night means being on-site at any time between 11 PM and 5 AM.
    • Total campsites are limited to four; additional campsites require Planning Commission review.
    • Bathroom facilities, storm shelter, and garbage disposal must be provided on-site.
    • The applicant must obtain a SWPPP for one acre or more of disturbance.
    • Driveways require approval by the local township board.
    • The CUP is subject to all other applicable federal, state, and local standards and a review after two years of operation.

    maximum nights on site: <= 16 nights per calendar month (a night is defined as being on-site anytime between 11 PM and 5 AM) · total campsites: <= 4 sites (additional campsites require Planning Commission review)

    “more than 16 nights out of any calendar month.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Recreational vehicles, campers, tents, ice-houses, and accessory structures occupied or rented as part of a Todd County short-term or vacation rental.
      “Recreational Vehicles, Campers, Tents, Ice‐ Houses, and accessory structures shall not be allowed to be occupied or rented unless licensed and permitted separately.”
    • Limited — RV units and park models at the approved seasonal campground CUP site in Grey Eagle Township, Todd County, Minnesota.
      “No RV unit or Park Model shall exceed a total of 400 square feet measured at its largest horizontal projection.”
    • Limited — Recreational vehicles, campers, tents, ice-houses, and accessory structures used for occupancy or rental as part of a Todd County short-term or vacation-rental operation.
      “Recreational Vehicles, Campers, Tents, Ice- Houses, and accessory structures shall not be allowed to be occupied or rented unless licensed and permitted separately.”
  • Camping on your landAllowed (with conditions)

    Special-event camping in Todd County.

    • Todd County Health & Human Services licenses special camping events.
    • The source does not establish unrestricted camping on private land outside the special-event licensing context.
    “Todd County Health & Human Services provides licensing to food, pools and lodging establishments and licensing for special food and camping events.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Who permits septicCounty

    SSTS/septic-system administration in Todd County

    • Todd County Planning & Zoning staff are identified as responsible for septic matters.
    “It is the responsibility of the Todd County Planning & Zoning Office to ensure the development and maintenance of the Todd County land use ordinances related to zoning, septic systems, feedlots, subdivisions, shoreland, gravel pit/mining and floodplain management.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • County — Countywide administration and maintenance of Todd County land-use ordinances concerning septic systems and SSTS.
      “Todd County Planning & Zoning Office to ensure the development and maintenance of the Todd County land use ordinances related to zoning, septic systems”
  • Septic permitLimited

    SSTS systems in Todd County, including Type I/III systems, Type II holding tanks, advanced SSTS, and cluster systems

    • The 2026 fee schedule lists an SSTS permit for Type I and III systems.
    • The schedule separately lists a holding-tank fee for Type II systems.
    • The schedule separately lists advanced SSTS and cluster-system charges; the excerpt does not establish every underlying permit trigger or exception.
    • All fees are non-refundable.

    Type I and III SSTS permit fee: 300 USD (includes site inspection and soils verification) · Type II holding tank fee: 150 USD · soil verification/additional inspection fee: per 150 USD (visit for 3 or more visits to the site) · advanced SSTS fee: 1500 USD (fee increases or decreases per actual cost) · cluster system fee: $200 + $50 per tank installed USD (3+ homes)

    “1. SSTS Permit with site inspection and soils verification (Type I and III) $300.00 2. Holding tank fee (Type II) $150.00 3. Soil verification/additional inspection (per visit for 3 or more visits to the site) $150.00 4. Advanced SSTS with inspection (fee increases or decreases per actual cost) $1,500.00 5. Cluster system (3+ homes) $200 + $50 per tank installed”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Type I and Type III SSTS systems in Todd County
      “I. Sewage Treatment Systems 1. SSTS Permit with site inspection and soils verification (Type I and III) $300.00”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    County-listed SSTS inspection activities

    • Type I and III SSTS permits include site inspection and soils verification.
    • Advanced SSTS fees include inspection.
    • Additional soil verification/inspection is charged for each visit after three or more site visits.
    • The fee schedule does not establish all inspection triggers, including property-transfer or winter-agreement exceptions.

    additional inspection fee: per 150 USD (visit for 3 or more visits to the site) · advanced SSTS inspection fee: 1500 USD (fee increases or decreases per actual cost)

    “1. SSTS Permit with site inspection and soils verification (Type I and III) $300.00 2. Holding tank fee (Type II) $150.00 3. Soil verification/additional inspection (per visit for 3 or more visits to the site) $150.00 4. Advanced SSTS with inspection (fee increases or decreases per actual cost) $1,500.00”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — SSTS inspections documented in Todd County's fee schedule for Type I and III systems, advanced SSTS, and additional soil-verification visits.
      “Advanced SSTS with inspection (fee increases or decreases per actual cost) $1,500.00”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Feedlots and other agricultural uses in Todd County agricultural preservation districts.

    • The source states that agricultural uses may be permitted or permitted by conditional use; it does not establish a blanket exemption from Todd County zoning or other regulations.
    • All existing and future feedlots must comply with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Chapter 7020 rules and updates and the Todd County ordinance.
    • The county planning and zoning office administers county land-use ordinances related to zoning and feedlots.
    “Within the agricultural preservation districts, the construction, expansion and operation of feedlots and other agricultural uses are permitted or permitted by conditional uses.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and related land-use regulation administered by Todd County Planning and Zoning.

    • The page identifies subdivisions as one of the Todd County land use ordinances maintained by the Planning and Zoning Office.
    • Specific subdivision procedures, dimensional standards, exemptions, and approval requirements were not established from the opened page.
    “the development and maintenance of the Todd County land use ordinances related to zoning, septic systems, feedlots, subdivisions, shoreland, gravel pit/mining and floodplain management.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Subdivision and land-division activity subject to Todd County land-use ordinances.
      “It is the responsibility of the Todd County Planning & Zoning Office to ensure the development and maintenance of the Todd County land use ordinances related to zoning, septic systems, feedlots, subdivisions, shoreland, gravel pit/mining and floodplain management.”
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Subdivision and land-division activity administered through Todd County Planning & Zoning, subject to applicable township or municipal controls where those apply.
      “Todd County land use ordinances related to zoning, septic systems, feedlots, subdivisions”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term/vacation rentals in Todd County zoning districts and under county health licensing rules.

    • A valid license and a copy filed with Planning & Zoning are required before operation.
    • Licensing is required in AF-1, AF-2, R-10, R-2, UG, RT, and S districts; a Conditional Use Permit is required above 15 guests or 5 bedrooms.
    • In the C district, the use is allowed only if the structure was permitted before August 30, 2006; it is not permitted in the L-MI district.
    • Existing rentals predating adoption on March 1, 2022 must obtain a license when required; no Conditional Use Permit is required at current capacity, but capacity expansion must be reviewed, licensed, and permitted if necessary.
    • A compliant SSTS is required before licensing; parking must be on-site and not in road rights-of-way or block emergency access.

    maximum capacity without CUP: <= 15 guests (CUP required above 15 guests or 5 bedrooms) · maximum bedrooms without CUP: <= 5 bedrooms (CUP required above 5 bedrooms) · preexisting structure date for C-district exception: < 2006-08-30 (structure must have been permitted prior to this date) · adoption date for existing-rental transition: 2022-03-01 (existing rentals must obtain licenses when required)

    “No short‐term/vacation rental may operate without both a valid license issued pursuant to this Ordinance and a copy of said valid license on file with Planning & Zoning.”
  • Permit feesPublished

    Todd County Planning & Zoning permits, applications, inspections, and related fees.

    • The schedule is titled 2026 and is dated 8/11/2025; the source does not state that date as an effective date.
    • Residential dwelling fees are $15 per 100 square feet with a $50 minimum; non-residential accessory/agricultural structures are $10 per 100 square feet with a $50 minimum and a $500 cap per structure; commercial/industrial structures are $10 per 100 square feet with a $50 minimum and a $500 cap.
    • Conditional Use Permit and variance applications are $600, with after-the-fact amounts of $1,200; plat applications are $600 plus $200 per lot for 1–4 lots and $1,000 plus $200 per lot for 5 or more lots.
    • After-the-fact charges may be up to three times the fee; special hearing fees are actual cost plus application fee; permit renewal is $25; permits replacing structures destroyed by an act of God have no charge; all fees are non-refundable.

    dwelling structure fee: per 15 USD per 100 sq. ft. ($50.00 minimum) · conditional use permit application: 600 USD (after-the-fact amount $1,200) · variance application: 600 USD (after-the-fact amount $1,200) · permit renewal: 25 USD · all fees refundable: false

    “Todd County Planning & Zoning – 2026 Fee Schedule A. Residential Construction 1. Dwelling structure (includes all floors) ($50.00 minimum) $15.00 Per 100 sq. ft.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Short-term/vacation rental licensing administered by Todd County Health & Human Services, with documentation filed with Planning & Zoning.

    • An on-site inspection is required before license issuance.
    • Applicants must submit an aerial property image showing boundaries, parking, shore recreational facilities, garbage service, and private septic if applicable; a room finish schedule; and, for private septic systems, a current septic compliance inspection.
    • If the property has a private well, water-test results from within the past 12 months are required.
    • The completed application, required documentation, and license fee must be submitted at least two weeks before operating.
    • A valid license and a copy on file with Planning & Zoning are required before operation; each separate dwelling structure requires its own license; a Conditional Use Permit is required when total site capacity exceeds 15 guests or 5 bedrooms.

    advance submission time: >= 2 weeks (before operating) · conditional use permit threshold: > 15 guests (or more than 5 bedrooms) · conditional use permit bedroom threshold: > 5 bedrooms (or more than 15 guests)

    “Submit all required documentation listed above, along with your completed license application, and license fee to Todd County Health & Human Services, 212 2nd Ave S, Long Prairie, MN 56347 at least two weeks prior to operating for short-term/vacation rental.”

Minnesota rules that apply here

  • Building permitLimited

    Construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, or occupancy changes involving buildings or structures, and regulated gas, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, or other equipment, in Minnesota jurisdictions where the State Building Code is administered and enforced.

    • The State Building Code is the statewide construction standard for buildings and structures governed by the code.
    • The work must be preceded by an application to the building official and issuance of the required permit.
    • Municipalities that had adopted the State Building Code as of January 1, 2008 generally must continue administering and enforcing it; the statutory exception is for municipalities with a population under 2,500 located outside a metropolitan county.
    • A municipality not required to administer and enforce the code may choose to do so by adopting the code by ordinance.
    • Permits are not required for listed exempt work, including one-story detached accessory structures used as tool or storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses not exceeding 200 square feet; fences not over seven feet; and other exemptions in Minnesota Rules part 1300.0120, subpart 4.
    • Permit exemptions do not authorize work violating the State Building Code or other applicable laws or ordinances.
    • Ordinary repairs are exempt only when they do not include specified structural, egress, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, or public-health or general-safety work.

    detached accessory structure exemption floor area: <= 200 square feet (one-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses) · fence exemption height: <= 7 feet · emergency repair permit application deadline: next working business day (equipment replacements and repairs performed in an emergency situation)

    “An owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any gas, mechanical, electrical, plumbing system, or other equipment, the installation of which is regulated by the code; or cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, or occupancy changes for buildings or structures governed by the Minnesota State Building Code, including applicable work in Todd County.
      “An owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any gas, mechanical, electrical, plumbing system, or other equipment, the installation of which is regulated by the code; or cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Owner-builders performing residential construction or improvement in Todd County when the issue is Minnesota residential contractor licensure.

    • The owner must occupy or intend to occupy the residential real estate for residential purposes, or retain ownership for rental purposes after completion.
    • The exemption does not apply when the owner constructs or improves residential real estate for resale or speculation.
    • An owner is presumed to be building or improving for speculation if more than one property is constructed or improved within any 24-month period, unless the properties are retained for rental purposes.
    • This exemption concerns the state license requirement and does not eliminate applicable building, land-use, zoning, septic, inspection, or other permits.

    speculation presumption threshold: > 1 property within 24 months (Does not apply if the properties will be retained by the owner for rental purposes.)

    “(3) an owner of residential real estate who builds or improves residential real estate if the owner occupies or will occupy the residential real estate for residential purposes, or will retain ownership for rental purposes upon completion of the building or improvement. This exemption does not apply to an owner who constructs or improves residential real estate for purposes of resale or speculation.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Available (with conditions) — An owner of residential real estate who personally builds or improves residential real estate, as an exemption from the residential contractor licensing requirement.
      “The license requirement does not apply to: [...] an owner of residential real estate who builds or improves residential real estate”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, and use of buildings and other structures of the type governed by the Minnesota State Building Code throughout Minnesota.

    • The State Building Code supersedes the building code of any municipality.
    • The State Building Code does not apply to agricultural buildings except for the state inspections and rulemaking identified in Minnesota Statutes section 326B.121, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), clause (1), and the structural-support requirement for translucent panels or other skylights without raised curbs in clause (2).
    • The 2020 Minnesota State Building Code is effective March 31, 2020, except the Minnesota Mechanical Fuel Gas Code, which is effective April 6, 2020.
    • Municipal enforcement generally requires adoption by local ordinance, subject to statutory requirements for certain municipalities and statutory enforcement responsibilities where no adoption ordinance is in effect.
    • The 2024 Minnesota Commercial Energy Code is effective January 5, 2024.
    • Requirements for adult changing stations are effective August 15, 2025, and requirements for window-cleaning safety features are effective November 7, 2025, according to the Department of Labor and Industry update page.

    2020 Minnesota State Building Code effective date: 2020-03-31 (Minnesota Mechanical Fuel Gas Code effective 2020-04-06) · 2024 Minnesota Commercial Energy Code effective date: 2024-01-05 · Adult changing station supplement effective date: 2025-08-15 · Window-cleaning safety feature supplement effective date: 2025-11-07

    “(a) The State Building Code is the standard that applies statewide for the construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, and use of buildings and other structures of the type governed by the code.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Minnesota State Building Code as the statewide minimum construction standard, including buildings in Todd County.
      “The Minnesota State Building Code is the minimum construction standard throughout all of Minnesota including all cities, townships and counties. Although it isn't enforceable by municipalities unless it is adopted by local ordinance, the State Building Code creates a level playing field for the construction industry by establishing the construction standard for all buildings in the state.”
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, and use of buildings and other structures governed by the Minnesota State Building Code statewide, including applicable work in Todd County.
      “The Minnesota State Building Code is the minimum construction standard throughout all of Minnesota including all cities, townships and counties. Although it isn't enforceable by municipalities unless it is adopted by local ordinance, the State Building Code creates a level playing field for the construction industry by establishing the construction standard for all buildings in the state.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Construction or work for which a Minnesota State Building Code permit is required, including applicable permitted work in Todd County.

    • The work must remain accessible and exposed for inspection until approved.
    • The permit applicant must arrange access and notify the building official when work is ready.
    • Work may not proceed beyond successive inspection points without approval.
    • A final inspection is required for all work for which a permit is issued.
    • The rule includes specified footing, foundation, slab, rough-in, framing, energy-efficiency, lath/gypsum, manufactured-home, and final inspections, as applicable.
    “Construction or work for which a permit is required is subject to inspection by the building official and the construction or work shall remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Construction or work for which a permit is required under the Minnesota State Building Code.
      “Construction or work for which a permit is required is subject to inspection by the building official and the construction or work shall remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved.”
    • Required — Construction or work for which a Minnesota State Building Code permit is required.
      “Construction or work for which a permit is required is subject to inspection by the building official”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Use or occupancy of buildings and structures, and changes in existing occupancy classification, in Minnesota jurisdictions administering and enforcing the State Building Code.

    • A building or structure may not be used or occupied, and an existing occupancy classification may not be changed, until the building official issues a certificate of occupancy under Minnesota Rules part 1300.0220.
    • The rule applies through the building official and therefore depends on the relevant jurisdiction administering and enforcing the State Building Code.
    • Issuance of a certificate of occupancy is not approval of a violation of the code or other municipal ordinances; a certificate purporting to authorize violation or cancellation of those requirements is invalid.
    • A municipality has the option of requiring certificates of occupancy for U occupancies constructed under the International Building Code, accessory structures constructed under the International Residential Code, and used manufactured homes moved into or within a jurisdiction.
    • Legal occupancy of a structure existing on the date of code adoption may continue without change.
    • A temporary certificate may be issued before all permitted work is complete if the occupied portion can be occupied safely; the building official sets its validity period.

    optional certificate category: U occupancies constructed under the International Building Code (municipality has the option of requiring a certificate) · optional certificate category: accessory structures constructed under the International Residential Code (municipality has the option of requiring a certificate) · optional certificate category: used manufactured homes moved into or within a jurisdiction (municipality has the option of requiring a certificate)

    “No building or structure shall be used or occupied, and no change in the existing occupancy classification of a building, structure, or portion of a building or structure shall be made until the building official has issued a certificate of occupancy for the building or structure under this part.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Buildings and structures subject to the Minnesota State Building Code, including changes in occupancy classification.
      “No building or structure shall be used or occupied, and no change in the existing occupancy classification of a building, structure, or portion of a building or structure shall be made until the building official has issued a certificate of occupancy for the building or structure under this part.”
  • Tiny homesLimited

    Construction and residential use of tiny houses statewide, subject to the Minnesota State Building Code and applicable municipal zoning ordinances.

    • The Minnesota State Building Code applies statewide to construction of buildings, including tiny houses.
    • Municipal zoning ordinances vary by municipality and regulate land use, location, height, width, foundation type, number of stories, and building size.
    • The jurisdiction must be consulted for local zoning specifics.
    • Tiny houses used as dwelling units must comply with the Minnesota Residential Code unless otherwise stated in Appendix Q.
    • A tiny house is a dwelling of 400 square feet or less in floor area, excluding lofts.
    • Applicable requirements include light, ventilation, heating, minimum room sizes, ceiling heights, sanitation, toilet, bath and shower spaces, emergency escape and rescue openings, means of egress, smoke alarms, and carbon monoxide alarms.

    maximum tiny-house floor area: <= 400 square feet (lofts excluded) · minimum habitable-space and hallway ceiling height: >= 6.67 feet (6 feet 8 inches) · minimum bathroom, toilet-room, and kitchen ceiling height: >= 6.33 feet (6 feet 4 inches)

    “The Minnesota State Building Code is the standard of construction that applies statewide for the construction of buildings (MS 326B.121) including tiny houses.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    New manufactured homes installed for occupancy statewide in Minnesota

    • Inspection is required under Federal Installation Standards Programs, CFR 3285 and 3286.
    • Manufactured-home alterations require documentation submitted for review to the Department of Labor and Industry or the local authority having jurisdiction before work begins.
    • Local building officials and local code enforcement may apply depending on the municipality.
    “All new manufactured homes installed in Minnesota for occupancy are required to be inspected according to the Federal Installation Standards Programs, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 3285 and 3286.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Temporary family health care dwellings used as a narrow accessory residential dwelling category statewide, where the municipality has not opted out of Minnesota Statutes § 462.3593.

    • The dwelling must be primarily assembled away from its installation site, be no more than 300 gross square feet, lack a permanent foundation, meet state-recognized accessibility standards, provide water and electric utilities, use compatible exterior materials, have at least R-15 insulation, be transportable by the specified truck types, comply with Minnesota Rules chapter 1360 or 1361 with the required seal and data plate or ANSI Code 119.2, and have a backflow check valve.
    • A caregiver or relative must apply for a municipal temporary dwelling permit with the required signatures and documentation, including provider-network proof, medical certification, septic-service documentation, adjacent-owner notice affidavit, and a site map.
    • The dwelling must be on property where the caregiver or relative resides, comply with setbacks and applicable floor-area-ratio limits, and permit safe and timely access for septic services and emergency vehicles.
    • Occupancy is limited to one identified mentally or physically impaired person, and only one temporary family health care dwelling is allowed per lot.
    • The dwelling must comply with applicable state law, local ordinances, and charter provisions unless otherwise provided.
    • The initial permit lasts six months and may be renewed once for an additional six months.
    • The municipality may inspect, revoke the permit for violations, and require removal within 60 days after revocation.
    • Unless otherwise provided by ordinance, the municipality may charge up to $100 for the initial permit and up to $50 for renewal.
    • The municipality may opt out of the statutory requirements by ordinance.

    maximum dwelling area: <= 300 gross square feet · initial permit term: 6 months (renewable once for an additional six months) · maximum initial permit fee: <= 100 USD (unless otherwise provided by ordinance) · maximum renewal permit fee: <= 50 USD (unless otherwise provided by ordinance) · maximum occupants: 1 person (occupant must be a mentally or physically impaired person) · maximum dwellings per lot: 1 dwelling

    “A temporary family health care dwelling that meets the requirements of this section cannot be prohibited by a local ordinance that regulates accessory uses or recreational vehicle parking or storage.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Accessory dwelling units statewide, including conversion of a structure into an ADU, subject to local zoning and Minnesota residential building-code requirements.
      “Local zoning ordinances dictate if a tiny home or accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is allowed on the property.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Primitive dwellings using toilet-waste treatment devices in low dwelling-density areas, and privies governed by Minnesota SSTS rules.

    • Septage disposal by the owner must follow local ordinances.
    • If no local ordinance exists, septage must not be discharged to surface waters, drainageways, steeply sloping areas, or wet areas in a manner or volume harmful to the environment or public health or that creates a nuisance.
    • Material must be buried or covered with soil.
    • If site conditions do not meet the rule, solids disposal must be performed under the applicable rule by a licensed maintenance business.
    • Privy solids must be removed when the privy is filled to one-half capacity.
    • Abandoned pits must have sewage solids and contaminated soil removed and be filled with clean earth and slightly mounded.

    privy solids removal threshold: 50 percent capacity

    “For primitive dwellings using toilet waste treatment devices in low dwelling density areas, septage disposal from these devices by the owner must be in accordance with local ordinances. If no ordinance exists, the septage must not be discharged to surface waters, drainageways, steeply sloping areas, or wet areas in a manner or volume that is harmful to the environment or public health or that creates a nuisance. The material must be buried or covered with soil.”
  • Well permitLimited

    Construction of water-supply, dewatering, and environmental wells in Minnesota.

    • A well notification and applicable filing fee are generally required before construction; the statute describes notification rather than a general construction-permit requirement for these wells.
    • A drive-point water-supply well personally constructed by an individual on owned or leased property for farming, agricultural purposes, or the individual's place of abode must be reported within ten days after completion, and no notification fee may be charged.
    • The notification requirement preempts local permits and notifications unless the commissioner has delegated permitting or notification authority under section 103I.111.
    • If operation of the well requires a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources appropriation permit, specified information must be submitted to the commissioner of natural resources and construction may begin after preliminary approval.
    • A well that is not in use must be sealed or have a maintenance permit, subject to the statutory environmental/dewatering-well exception.

    drive-point well notification deadline: 10 days after completion (personally constructed by an individual on owned or leased property for farming, agricultural purposes, or the individual's place of abode) · unused well status: sealed or maintenance permit (environmental or dewatering wells not sealed by 14 months after completion require an annually renewed maintenance permit)

    “Except as provided in paragraph (d), a person may not construct a water-supply, dewatering, or environmental well until a notification of the proposed well on a form prescribed by the commissioner is filed with the commissioner with the filing fee in section 103I.208, and, when applicable, the person has met the requirements of paragraph (e).”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Water-supply well construction and other well or boring construction in Todd County under Minnesota requirements.
      “Prior to the start of drilling a water-supply well [...] must submit a “notification” form, with the appropriate fee, to MDH.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    New plumbing installations anywhere in Minnesota, including additions, extensions, alterations, and replacements, where a public sewer is available and connection is feasible and/or a public water supply is accessible.

    • Liquid waste from a building plumbing system must be discharged to a public sewer only when the public sewer is available in a street or alley and connection is feasible.
    • The sewer-discharge requirement does not apply where otherwise prohibited by the plumbing code or a local ordinance.
    • A water distribution system must connect to an accessible public water supply unless the Authority Having Jurisdiction permits otherwise.
    • A private water well taken out of service because of public-water connection must be maintained under Minnesota Rules, chapter 4725.
    • Each building must have its own independent water and sewer connection, except that a group of buildings may connect to one or more on-premises sewer manholes built to standards set by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
    “311.1 General. If a public sewer is available in a street or alley to a building or premises and the connection is feasible, liquid waste from any plumbing system in that building shall be discharged into the public sewer unless otherwise prohibited by this code or a local ordinance. If a public water supply is accessible, the water distribution system shall be connected to it unless otherwise permitted by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Constructing or altering a driveway connecting to a Minnesota trunk highway, including trunk highways located in Todd County.

    • The permit must be signed by the MnDOT district engineer responsible for maintenance and construction of the trunk highway.
    • No driveway may be constructed from or to a trunk highway until the permit is obtained.
    • Permits required by local governing authorities may also be required.
    • The commissioner of transportation may require a cashier's check, certified check, or surety bond for state repair, engineering supervision, or inspection expenses caused by permitted work.
    • If a deposit is required, its amount is specified in the permit's special provisions; excess funds are returned to the applicant.
    • If there is a change in land use or a major change in the traffic pattern, existing driveways are not automatically perpetuated and new driveway access applications must be submitted.
    • The commissioner may revoke access if permit terms are violated or the access is determined to be particularly hazardous.
    • A variance may be allowed when it facilitates safe, efficient lawful property use and does not interfere with construction, maintenance, or safe and efficient highway use.
    “Authorization to construct or alter a driveway shall consist of a permit duly signed by the district engineer of the Minnesota Department of Transportation having responsibility for the maintenance and construction of the trunk highway in question. No driveway shall be constructed from or to a trunk highway until such permit has been obtained and supplemented by those permits that may be required by local governing authorities.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Additional ingress to or egress from a public highway for property with a right of direct private access.
      “The owner or occupant of property abutting upon a public highway, having a right of direct private access thereto, may provide such other or additional means of ingress from and egress to the highway as will facilitate the efficient use of the property for a particular lawful purpose, subject to reasonable regulation by and permit from the road authority as is necessary to prevent interference with the construction, maintenance and safe use of the highway and its appurtenances and the public use thereof.”
    • Required — Changes in access to or from a MnDOT right-of-way, including driveway or other access points to a trunk highway, and changes in property use affecting such access.
      “An Access / Driveway Permit is required whenever there is a request for change in access to or from a Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) right-of-way or a change in use of the property.”
    • Required — Direct driveway connections to or from Minnesota state highways and work within MnDOT right-of-way.
      “A MnDOT Access Driveway Permit is required before a direct driveway connection to or from a state highway is constructed or modified.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Construction and fill in regulated Minnesota floodplain areas, including houses, fill, culverts, and bridges.

    • Projects must comply with the community floodplain management ordinance.
    • For unincorporated areas, the county zoning authority generally administers the rule; cities generally administer within city boundaries; some townships administer floodplain permits and zoning.
    • In flood-fringe areas, residential buildings must place the lowest floor, including the basement, above the flood protection elevation.
    • The flood protection elevation is one foot above the 100-year flood plus any stage increase from flood-fringe designation; local communities may require a higher elevation.
    • If maps do not delineate floodway and flood fringe, the applicant may need engineering information verifying the flood protection elevation and that the site is outside the floodway.

    minimum lowest-floor elevation above 100-year flood: >= 1 foot (plus any stage increase due to designation of flood fringe areas)

    “Such projects as building a house, placement of fill, or installing a culvert or bridge would all require a floodplain permit.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Building a house, placing fill, or installing a culvert or bridge in portions of a Minnesota floodplain.
      “Construction and fill is generally permitted in portions of the floodplain, provided they adhere to their community’s floodplain management ordinance. Such projects as building a house, placement of fill, or installing a culvert or bridge would all require a floodplain permit.”
    • Limited — Dwellings, enclosed structures, fill, or obstruction of flood flows within a mapped Minnesota floodway.
      “If the property a person owns or is interested in buying lies within this mapped floodway, they will not be permitted to construct a dwelling or other enclosed structure, place fill material, or obstruct flood flows in any other way.”
  • county zoning authorityLimited

    County planning and zoning authority over unincorporated areas of Minnesota.

    • The authority applies to a county having less than 300,000 population according to the 1950 federal census.
    • The statute authorizes county planning and zoning activities generally within the qualifying counties; it does not identify a separate unincorporated-area limitation in this section.
    • Except as otherwise provided, a county regardless of population must not enact, amend, or enforce an ordinance eliminating or terminating a lawful use by amortization.
    • The amortization prohibition does not apply to adults-only bookstores, adults-only theaters, or similar adults-only businesses as defined by ordinance.
    • The amortization subdivision does not prohibit nuisance-prevention or nuisance-abatement enforcement or elimination of a use determined to be a public nuisance without payment of compensation.

    population threshold: < 300000 persons (According to the 1950 federal census)

    “having less than 300,000 population according to the 1950 federal census is authorized to carry on county planning and zoning activities.”
  • county building authorityGeneral

    Minnesota counties may administer and enforce the State Building Code within their jurisdiction by ordinance; this includes a county's authority over residential construction in unincorporated county territory, subject to the statutory limits on code application and local provisions.

    • The statutory authorization is to administer and enforce the State Building Code, rather than a county-specific building code.
    • A county that is not already required by Minnesota Statutes § 326B.121, subdivision 2(a), to administer and enforce the code may elect to do so by ordinance.
    • The State Building Code applies statewide to construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, and use of buildings and structures governed by the code.
    • The State Building Code does not apply to agricultural buildings except for state inspections or rulemaking authorized by Minnesota Statutes §§ 103F.141, 216C.19, subdivision 9, and 326B.36, and except that translucent panels or other skylights without raised curbs must have equivalent load-bearing capacity as the surrounding roof.
    • A municipality may not require building-code provisions regulating structural components or systems that differ from the State Building Code; with state building official approval, it may adopt a more restrictive ordinance where geological conditions warrant it.
    • A municipality may enforce the State Building Code through lawful means, including contracts with other municipalities or qualified individuals; building-permit fees may be retained or remitted to reimburse them.
    “If a municipality is not required by paragraph (a) to administer and enforce the State Building Code, the municipality may choose to administer and enforce the State Building Code within its jurisdiction by adopting the code by ordinance.”

Inside cities and towns in Todd County

Municipal rules found while researching the county. They apply inside that city or town, not to unincorporated land.

  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in the Grey Eagle Township A-1 Agricultural District.

    • The ordinance also requires compliance with A-1 lot, soil, septic, frontage, density, and permanent-foundation requirements.
    • Carports, overhangs, garages, and similar structures do not count toward livable space.
    • The ordinance states that dwellings must be at least twenty feet in width for two-thirds of the structure's length.

    minimum livable space in principal structure: >= 840 square feet (Carports, overhangs, garages and such structures shall not qualify.) · minimum dwelling width: >= 20 feet (Applies to 2/3rds of the length of the structure.)

    “Each single-family dwelling shall have a minimum of 840 square feet of livable space in the principal structure; Carports, overhangs, garages and such structures shall not qualify in meeting these requirements. All dwellings shall be a minimum of twenty (20) feet in width for 2/3rds of the length of the structure.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family dwellings in the Grey Eagle Township R-1 Residential District.
      “Each single family dwelling shall have a minimum of 840 square feet of livable space in the principal structure; Carports, overhangs, garages, and such structures shall not qualify in meeting these requirements. All dwellings shall be a minimum of twenty (20) in width for 2/3rds of the length of the structure.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Structures in the Grey Eagle Township A-1 Agricultural District.

    • The front-yard measurement is from the centerline of a local road, street, or highway, or from the right-of-way of a State highway as specified.
    • The ordinance is district-specific and does not establish countywide setbacks.

    front yard from centerline of local road, street, or highway: >= 68 feet · front yard from right-of-way of State highway: >= 50 feet · side yard from side lot line: >= 30 feet · rear yard from rear lot line: >= 50 feet

    “1. Front Yard. Not less than sixty-eight (68) feet from the centerline of any local road, street, or highway or fifty (50) feet from the right-of-way of any State highway. 2. Side Yard. Not less than thirty (30) feet from a side lot line. 3. Rear Yard. Not less than fifty (50) feet from the rear lot line.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Specified — Structures in the Grey Eagle Township R-1 Residential District.
      “1. Front Yard. Not less than fifty (50) feet from the right-of-way of a state highway; not less than sixty-eight (68) feet from the centerline of any town or county road, however established. 2. Side Yard. Not less than ten (10) feet from the lot line. 3. Rear Yard. Not less than twenty (20) feet from the rear lot line.”
    • Specified — Structures in the Grey Eagle Township Commercial C District.
      “1. Front Yard. Not less than one hundred (100) feet from the right-of-way of a state highway; not less than one hundred (100) feet from the right-of-way of any town or county road, however established. 2. Side Yard. Not less than fifty (50) feet from the lot line. 3. Rear Yard. Not less than fifty (50) feet from the rear lot line. 4. Single-family dwellings in the Commercial District. Single-family dwellings in the commercial district will be subject to R-1 regulations for setbacks and lot requirements.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Structures in residential districts within Grey Eagle Township's shoreland controls.

    • Churches and nonresidential agricultural structures are excepted from this height limit.
    • Other district-specific height provisions may apply.

    maximum structure height: <= 35 feet (churches and nonresidential agricultural structures)

    “All structures in residential districts, except churches and nonresidential agricultural structures, must not exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height.”

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.

Water rights & wells in Todd County

Whether a new home can legally get its own water here — the sub-state groundwater regime, from Minnesota’s water agency.

Actively managed

This basin is under active state management — new water use is scrutinized, though a domestic well is usually still allowed.

Household wellExempt up to a limit

Regulated-riparian: appropriation permits apply above 10,000 gpd / 1 million gal/yr. Domestic use under those thresholds is exempt; a well-construction notification to the MN Dept. of Health is still required. Household use is far below the cap.

Limit: <=10,000 gpd and <=1,000,000 gal/yr serving <=25 persons

Minnesota DNR — Do I need a water permit? ↗
  • Bonanza Valley Groundwater Management Arealocalized of county

    DNR-designated GWMA (2016) where irrigation-driven groundwater use may be unsustainable; new/expanded appropriation permits get heightened review. Domestic wells exempt.

    Minnesota DNR — Bonanza Valley GWMA ↗

Regulated-riparian state (large uses permitted). Groundwater rules change and basin boundaries follow the aquifer, not the county line — confirm current well and appropriation rules with the Minnesota state water agency before you buy or drill.Groundwater governance as of Jul 2026, cited to each administering agency.

Living off-grid in Todd County, Minnesota

Is Todd County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Todd County scores 73/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and mixed durability signals.

How much does land cost in Todd County, Minnesota?

Land in Todd County runs about $3,654 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Todd County?

Todd County gets about 28.4" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 6.8% of years. On water rights, Todd County lies in the Bonanza Valley Groundwater Management Area — DNR-designated GWMA (2016) where irrigation-driven groundwater use may be unsustainable; new/expanded appropriation permits get heightened review. Domestic wells exempt..

How remote is Todd County?

A representative private-land location has about 14,939 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,192,948 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

How Todd compares in Minnesota

Compare side-by-side →See all 87 Minnesota counties ranked →