Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Waverly, Minnesota

Waverly’s own rules

• InspectionsRequired

  Building projects on city-limit parcels identified by PID numbers starting with 116.

  • The city page says these rules apply only to properties with PID's starting with 116, which it identifies as city-limit properties.

  “In the case of building projects, our building inspector will approve the project, assign the fees and then inspect the project after it is completed.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings and structures erected inside Waverly city limits.

  • The certificate is issued after a final inspection finds the building or structure satisfactory.

  “No building or structure hereafter erected shall be occupied or used in whole or in part until a certificate of occupancy is issued”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Waverly city limits.

  • Chapter 153 is administered and enforced by the City Council or its authorized representative.

  “These new ordinances are in effect as of 10/14/2025.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Waverly city limits.

  • District boundaries are shown on the official zoning map on file with the City Clerk/Treasurer and dated October 2025, as amended.

  “The following district classifications are hereby established within the jurisdiction of this chapter:”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes inside Waverly city limits.

  • The land-use table permits manufactured homes in R-A, R-1, R-2, and R-3; the table states blank entries are not allowed.
  • Manufactured-home parks are conditional uses in R-2 and R-3.

  “Use Type Manufactured Homes | P | P | P | P | | | | |”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural fences in Waverly's Agricultural and Rural Residential Districts.

  • The exemption is limited to agricultural fences in the named districts.

  “except agricultural fences in the Agricultural and Rural Residential Districts shall not require a building permit.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Plats and subdivisions inside Waverly city limits.

  • The Planning and Zoning Commission makes recommendations to the City Council on plat approvals.

  “P and Z is responsible for making recommendations to the City Council involving plat approvals”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building-permit applicants inside Waverly city limits.

  • Fees are established by City Council resolution at application time.
  • Fees submitted with complete applications are non-refundable.

  “Each applicant shall pay the required fees as established by the City Council's resolution at the time of application.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building and site-permit applications inside Waverly city limits.

  • Building-permit applications go to the Building Official on forms furnished by the Zoning Administrator's office.
  • Site-permit applications go to the Zoning Administrator on forms furnished by that office.

  “Building Permit Applications must be made to the Building Official on forms furnished by the Zoning Administrator's office.”

Rules another office applies inside Waverly

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

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family homes in the R-1 Legacy Residential District inside Waverly city limits.

  • Property within 1,000 feet of a designated public lake or waterway is subject to additional Section 17 requirements that may supersede these lot requirements.
  • Property in a designated floodplain or fringe area is subject to additional Section 18 requirements that may supersede these lot requirements.

  minimum lot area: 10000 square feet (single-family homes) · minimum lot width: 50 feet (at the public right-of-way line) · minimum lot depth: 150 feet

  “153.5.3 LOT REQUIREMENTS. Minimum Area | 10,000 square feet for single family homes 5,000 square feet for two-family homes”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Single-family homes in the R-1 Legacy Residential District inside Waverly city limits.

  • Front-yard/road setback follows road classification in § 153.13.6.
  • Property within 1,000 feet of a designated public lake or waterway or in a designated floodplain or fringe area is subject to additional requirements that may supersede the district requirements.

  side yard setback: 10 feet · rear yard setback: 30 feet

  “153.5.3 LOT REQUIREMENTS. Side Yard Setback | 10 feet 153.5.3 LOT REQUIREMENTS. Rear Yard Setback | 30 feet”

• Building heightSpecified

  Residential buildings in the R-1 Legacy Residential District inside Waverly city limits.

  • Property within 1,000 feet of a designated public lake or waterway or in a designated floodplain or fringe area is subject to additional requirements that may supersede district requirements.

  maximum height: 35 feet (residential buildings)

  “153.5.3 LOT REQUIREMENTS. Maximum Height: | 35 feet for residential buildings”

• Living in an RVLimited

  New recreational-vehicle parks or campgrounds in any Waverly floodplain district.

  • This claim concerns new RV parks or campgrounds and their expansions in floodplain districts, not all private-lot RV occupancy.

  “New recreational vehicle parks or campgrounds and expansions to existing recreational vehicle parks or campgrounds are prohibited in any floodplain district.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in Waverly floodplain districts.

  • Applications must include applicable site-plan, grading/fill, required local/state/federal permits, and other information requested by the Zoning Administrator.
  • A certificate of zoning compliance is required before occupancy or use of a building, land, or structure subject to the floodplain ordinance.

  “Permit Required. A permit must be obtained from the Zoning Administrator to verify compliance with all applicable standards outlined in this ordinance”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Waverly city limits.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Waverly city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Waverly city limits.
• Lot coverage — Residential lots inside Waverly city limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Waverly 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.