Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Lakeland Shores, Minnesota

Lakeland Shores’s own rules

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  A changed land use or a new or structurally altered building used for a non-agricultural use inside Lakeland Shores city.

  • Agricultural purposes and construction of essential services and transmission lines are excepted.
  • parameters are limited to uses after the effective date of the chapter.

  “No person may change the use of any land (except for agricultural purposes or for construction of essential services and transmission lines), or occupy a new or structurally altered building used for non-agricultural use, after the effective date of this Chapter, unless he has first obtained a certificate of occupancy.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Lakeland Shores city limits.

  • The code establishes Zones A, B, C, and D, and permits future overlay zoning districts.

  “Lakeland Shores shall be divided into zones lettered and described as follows:”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Lakeland Shores city.

  • The official zoning map is maintained by the City Zoning Administrator.

  “The boundaries of the districts as established by this chapter are as shown on the map published herewith and made part of this Chapter, said map is designated as the Official Zoning Map of the City and shall be maintained as provided herein by the City Zoning Administrator.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Use of a recreational vehicle or trailer as a dwelling unit inside Lakeland Shores city.

  “No cellar, garage, recreational vehicle or trailer, basement with unfinished exterior structure above or accessory building shall be used at anytime as a dwelling unit.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Subsurface sewage treatment systems inside Lakeland Shores city.

  • Washington County implements Development Code Chapter 4 SSTS Ordinance No. 206 within the city.

  “Washington County is responsible for implementing their Development Code Chapter 4 SSTS Ordinance No. 206 within the City of Lakeland Shores. As a result, the County does all inspections and issues a permit for septic systems.”

• Septic permitRequired

  On-site sewage treatment systems inside Lakeland Shores city.

  • The county implements Development Code Chapter 4 SSTS Ordinance No. 206 within the city.

  “Washington County is responsible for implementing their Development Code Chapter 4 SSTS Ordinance No. 206 within the City of Lakeland Shores. As a result, the County does all inspections and issues a permit for septic systems.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Septic systems inside Lakeland Shores city.

  • Washington County is responsible for implementing its SSTS ordinance inside the city.

  “ordinances call for adherence to Washington County Code and inspection.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Lots or parcels inside Lakeland Shores city subdivided after the chapter's effective date for erection of a structure.

  • The subdivision must be approved under the Community Subdivision Chapter.

  “Any lot or parcel of land subdivided by any means after the effective date of this Chapter for purposes of erecting a structure, must be approved as required by the Community Subdivision Chapter.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications inside Lakeland Shores city.

  • A site plan and drawings must accompany the application; the building official or zoning administrator may require other information necessary to check compliance with the zoning and building codes.

  “Application for a building permit shall be accompanied by a site plan drawn to scale showing the dimensions of the lot to be built upon, the size and location of the building, utilities including on-site septic systems and accessory buildings to be erected, the vegetation and major topographic changes and drawings of the improvement in sufficient detail to permit checking against the Building Code, and such other information as the Zoning Administrator or Building Official may reasonably require to determine compliance with this Zoning Code and the Building Code.”

Rules another office applies inside Lakeland Shores

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

• Building permitRequired

  Code-regulated construction, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, occupancy changes, and regulated systems inside Lakeland Shores city.

  • Applies to work regulated by the State Building Code; the owner or authorized agent must apply to the building official first.

  “shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings governed by the State Building Code, including those inside Lakeland Shores city.

  • The code does not apply to agricultural buildings except for the listed state inspections or rulemaking and translucent-panel/skylight exception.

  “The State Building Code is the standard that applies statewide”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  New or replacement manufactured homes on individual lots of record in Lakeland Shores floodplain districts.

  • The home must be elevated in compliance with § 154.008 and meet Washington County Zoning Ordinance and other codes related to single-family dwellings.

  “The placement of new or replacement of manufactured homes on individual lots of record that are located in floodplain districts will be treated as a new structure and may be placed only if elevated in compliance with Section 154.008 of this Chapter. Manufactured homes must meet all requirements of the Washington County Zoning Ordinance and other codes related to single family dwellings.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural buildings inside Lakeland Shores city with respect to the State Building Code.

  • The exemption does not cover the stated state inspections or rulemaking, or translucent panels/skylights without raised curbs.

  “The State Building Code does not apply to agricultural buildings”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Erection, addition, alteration, use or change of use, nonconforming-use changes, fill, or excavation in Lakeland Shores floodplain districts.

  • A conforming use permit must be secured before the listed activity.

  “A use permit issued by the Zoning Administrator in conformity with the provisions of this Chapter shall be secured prior to the erection, addition or alteration of any building, structure or portion thereof; prior to the use or change of use of a building, structure or land; prior to the change or extension of a non-conforming use; and prior to the placement of fill or excavation of materials within the floodplain.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Lakeland Shores or Washington County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Lakeland Shores city.
• Inspections — Building construction inside Lakeland Shores city.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Lakeland Shores city.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Lakeland Shores city.
• Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation arrangements inside Lakeland Shores 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.