Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Clarissa, Minnesota

Clarissa’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, constructing, altering, rebuilding, or moving a building, dwelling, or structure in or into Clarissa city.

  • A permit must be received from the City Council before the work.
  • Construction must commence within 60 days and be completed within one year under § 150.01(C); the City Council may grant up to six additional months upon written request where circumstances beyond the permittee's control prevented completion.

  “It shall be unlawful for any person, group of persons or corporation to erect, construct, alter, rebuild or move any building, dwelling or structure in or into the city without first having received a permit therefore from the City Council.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Clarissa city limits.

  “City of Clarissa Zoning Ordinance Click this link to download a file of the current City of Clarissa Zoning Ordinance.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning information published by Clarissa city for land inside city limits.

  • The opened city page publishes a downloadable current zoning ordinance; detailed district text could not be extracted from that PDF through the available webpage opening.
  • The separately published code identifies the Flood Plain District as an overlay zoning district.

  “The Flood Plain Zoning District shall be considered an overlay zoning district to all existing land use regulations of the community.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles, tent trailers, manufactured homes, or other mobile homes parked in a Clarissa city park.

  • Camping or parking longer than 14 days per year requires City Council permission.
  • Additional flood-plain restrictions apply within the Flood Plain District.

  maximum park duration without City Council permission: <= 14 days per year (Permission from the City Council is required for a longer period.)

  “No person shall camp in the park or park any recreational vehicle, tent trailer, manufactured home or other mobile home for longer than 14 days per year without permission of the City Council.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camping in a Clarissa city park.

  • Camping longer than 14 days per year requires City Council permission.

  maximum park camping duration without City Council permission: <= 14 days per year (Permission from the City Council is required for a longer period.)

  “No person shall camp in the park or park any recreational vehicle, tent trailer, manufactured home or other mobile home for longer than 14 days per year without permission of the City Council.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  New or replacement manufactured homes inside Clarissa's Flood Plain District.

  • New and replacement manufactured homes are subject to Chapter 152 general provisions and §§ 152.25 through 152.27.
  • Flood-plain restrictions apply only to land designated flood plain within city jurisdiction.

  “New manufactured homes, replacement manufactured homes and certain travel trailers and travel vehicles are subject to the general provisions of this chapter and specifically §§ 152.25 through 152.27 and 152.30.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private wastewater disposal systems inside Clarissa city where a public sewer is not available under § 51.018.

  • The written permit is signed by the city.
  • The ordinance does not interfere with additional requirements imposed by the MPCA or Minnesota Department of Health.

  “Prior to commence of construction of a private wastewater disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the city.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction of a private wastewater disposal system inside Clarissa city where a public sewer is not available under § 51.018.

  • The application is made on a city-furnished form and must include plans, specifications, and other information the city considers necessary.
  • The system must comply with Minnesota Rules Chapter 7080.

  “Prior to commence of construction of a private wastewater disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the city.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Permitted private wastewater disposal systems inside Clarissa city.

  • The permit does not become effective until installation is completed to the satisfaction of the city or authorized representative.
  • The applicant must notify the city when ready for final inspection and before underground portions are covered.
  • The inspection must be made within 24 hours of notice.

  inspection response time: <= 24 hours (After receipt of the applicant's notice that work is ready for final inspection.)

  “The city or its representative shall be allowed to inspect the work at any stage of construction, and in any event, the applicant for the permit shall notify the city when work is ready for final inspection, and before any underground portions are covered. The inspection shall be made within 24 hours of the receipt of notice.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private wastewater disposal inside Clarissa city when public sewer is not available under § 51.018.

  • A building sewer must be connected to a private wastewater disposal system complying with the subchapter.
  • Construction requires a written city permit and required inspection.
  • Privies, privy vaults, septic tanks, cesspools, and other wastewater-disposal facilities are otherwise unlawful except as provided in the chapter.

  “Where a public sewer is not available under the provisions of § 51.018, the building sewer shall be connected to a private wastewater disposal system complying with the provisions of this subchapter.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Properties inside Clarissa city that discharge wastewater and are adjacent to a street, alley, or right-of-way containing a public city sanitary sewer.

  • The public sewer must be within 200 feet of the wastewater-generating structure.
  • Existing qualifying properties must install a connection within 365 days after the sewer is operational.
  • Future buildings on property adjacent to the public sewer must connect immediately.
  • A ten-day official notice is served if connections are not made under § 51.018.

  public-sewer distance: <= 200 feet (Measured from the structure generating wastewater.) · connection deadline after sewer operation: <= 365 days (For qualifying existing properties.)

  “service connection to the public sewer in accordance with provisions of this code within 365 days of the date the public sewer is operational; provided, the public sewer is within 200 feet of the structure generating the wastewater.”

• Subdividing landLimited

  Subdivision and manufactured-home-park development in Clarissa's Flood Plain District.

  • No land may be subdivided where the City Council determines the site unsuitable because of flooding, inadequate drainage, water supply, or sewage-treatment facilities.
  • The City Council reviews proposals to ensure sufficient area outside the floodway for fill, sewage systems, and related activities.
  • Applicants in the Flood Plain District must provide information required by § 152.27(A).

  “No land shall be subdivided and no manufactured home park shall be developed or expanded where the site is determined to be unsuitable by the City Council for reason of flooding, inadequate drainage, water supply or sewage treatment facilities.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Construction, additions, alterations, use changes, excavation, or obstruction placement within Clarissa's Flood Plain District.

  • A City Administrator permit is required before the listed development activities.
  • Before granting a permit or processing a variance, the City Administrator must determine the applicant has necessary state and federal permits.
  • The chapter applies to all lands designated flood plain within city jurisdiction.

  “A permit issued by the City Administrator shall be secured prior to the construction, addition or alteration of any building or structure; prior to the use or change of use of a building, structure or land; prior to the change or extension of a nonconforming use; and prior to excavation or the placement of an obstruction within the flood plain.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Land-use permits issued by Clarissa City Council under § 150.01.

  • The fee is established from time to time by City Council resolution.

  “The fee shall be as established from time to time by resolution of the City Council.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Land-use permits for erection, construction, alteration, rebuilding, or moving structures inside Clarissa city.

  • The permit is obtained from the City Council before work.
  • Work must commence within 60 days and ordinarily be completed within one year; a written-request extension up to six months is available for circumstances beyond the permittee's control.

  “The City Council may extend the time for completion for up to an additional six months upon written request of the permittee establishing that circumstances beyond the permittee’s control prevented completion of the work for which the permit was or should have been issued.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Clarissa city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Clarissa city limits.
• Inspections — General building inspections for construction inside Clarissa city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for land and buildings inside Clarissa city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Clarissa 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.