Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Bertha, Minnesota

Bertha’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, enlargement, alteration, movement, use, or occupancy of a building or structure in Bertha city.

  • Work must comply with the code and ordinance chapter.
  • A permit is not issued unless applicant, property, and structure comply with applicable zoning requirements; a necessary zoning permit is effective 180 days.
  • Work authorized by a Chapter 14 permit must be completed within one year of issuance.

  completion period: 1 year from permit issuance · zoning permit period: 180 days from issuance (If a zoning permit is necessary.)

  “No person shall construct, enlarge, alter, move, use or occupy any building or structure in the City or cause the same to be done without a building permit, contrary to or in violation of any provisions of this Code or of any provision of this Ordinance Chapter.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Newly manufactured homes inside Bertha city limits.

  • The home must meet any state building code for manufactured homes.

  “All newly manufactured homes shall be inspected by a building inspector and must meet any state building code for manufactured homes.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Buildings and structures for which a permit is requested inside Bertha city limits.

  • No permit issues unless the building or structure meets these setback requirements.
  • If there is no pavement, front distance is measured from the edge of roadway as determined by the city.

  rear setback: >= 10 feet · side setback: >= 10 feet · front setback: >= 25 feet from edge of pavement (If no pavement, measured from roadway edge as the city determines.)

  “No permit shall issue unless the building or structure, in its present form or as proposed for construction, meets the following setback requirements: (A) Ten feet from the rear property line; (B) Ten feet from any side property line; and (C) Twenty-five feet from the edge of the pavement on the front of the property. In the event there is no pavement, the distance shall be measured from the edge of the roadway as the City determines it to be.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation of an individual treatment system inside Bertha city limits.

  • The applicant must give the Administrator a correct legal description, plans for the proposed system or connection, and the name of the person or firm doing the work.
  • Where public sanitary sewer is unavailable, the private system must comply with Minnesota rules or other government-agency rules.

  “No person shall install an individual treatment system, connect to the public sewer system, or make a repair or alteration to the public sewer system without obtaining a permit from the City. The applicant shall provide the Administrator with a correct legal description of the property, the plans for the proposed system or connection, and the name of the person or firm doing the work.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private wastewater disposal for buildings inside Bertha city limits.

  • Private sewage-disposal facilities are unlawful except as provided.
  • Where public sanitary sewer is unavailable, a private wastewater disposal system must comply with Minnesota rules or rules of another government agency.
  • Installation of an individual treatment system requires a city permit.

  “Except as provided, it shall be unlawful to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage. The owner of any building or improved property which is located within the City shall be required to connect to a public sewer at the property owner’s expense within 90 days of the date the public sewer is operational, provided the property abuts any street, alley or utility easement along which sewer mains have been constructed.”

• Well permitLimited

  New private domestic wells on property inside Bertha city limits where city water utility service is available.

  • The limitation applies only where city water utility service is available.

  “The installation of new private wells for domestic use on any property to which City water utility service is available is prohibited.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Improved property and new buildings inside Bertha city limits.

  • An improved property not connected to city water must connect before sale or transfer, unless weather or soil conditions prevent it; then connection is due within 180 days after sale or transfer.
  • All new structures must connect to city water at construction.
  • A building/improved property must connect to public sewer within 90 days after the sewer is operational if it abuts a street, alley, or utility easement along which mains were constructed.
  • Future buildings on property adjacent to public sewer must connect immediately.

  water connection deadline after sale or transfer: 180 days (When weather or soil conditions do not permit connection before sale or transfer.) · sewer connection deadline: 90 days after public sewer is operational (Property must abut a street, alley, or utility easement along which sewer mains were constructed.)

  “Any improved property shall have a separate service connection to the mains of the water system. Any improved property not presently connected to the water system must be connected upon sale or transfer of any legal interest in the property. The connection must be made prior to the sale or transfer, unless weather or soil conditions do not permit, and in such case must be made within 180 days of the date of sale or transfer. All new structures must be connected to the water system at the time of construction.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of real property inside Bertha city limits.

  • The Council must approve the plat, and it must be filed with the County Recorder.
  • The applicant must submit four copies of a preliminary plat prepared by a registered land surveyor.
  • The Council reviews the plat and holds a public hearing.
  • Necessary general easements must be at least 10 feet wide; water or sewer easements must be at least 20 feet wide.

  general utility easement width: >= 10 feet (Where necessary, centered on rear, front, or side lot lines.) · water or sewer easement width: >= 20 feet

  “No real property within the City shall be subdivided until a plat has been approved by the Council and filed with the office of the County Recorder. The person proposing to subdivide the property shall submit to the Administrator four copies of a preliminary plat prepared by a registered land surveyor. The Council shall review the plat and hold a public hearing. Upon approval of the plat, the final plat shall be duly executed and a copy provided to the Administrator and shall be filed in the office of the County Recorder.”

• Permit processPartial

  Individual treatment-system and public-sewer permits inside Bertha city limits.

  • Applicant provides a correct legal description, proposed-system or connection plans, and the worker's name.
  • The code excerpt does not supply a complete process for all construction permit types.

  “No person shall install an individual treatment system, connect to the public sewer system, or make a repair or alteration to the public sewer system without obtaining a permit from the City. The applicant shall provide the Administrator with a correct legal description of the property, the plans for the proposed system or connection, and the name of the person or firm doing the work.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Bertha city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Bertha city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Bertha city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — General dwelling construction inside Bertha city limits.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Bertha 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.