Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Echo, Minnesota

Echo’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Placement of a manufactured home in Echo city residential zones.

  • The manufactured house must comply with zoning regulations for its zone.
  • Any other required permit must also be obtained.

  “A building permit and any other required permit shall be obtained for such manufactured home.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Echo city limits, including residential zones.

  • The cited city ordinance authorizes manufactured houses in residential zones only if its listed conditions are met.

  “The City of Echo authorizes the placement of manufactured houses in residential zones within the City if the manufactured houses comply with the following conditions:”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Manufactured houses in residential zones inside Echo city limits.

  • This limit is stated for manufactured houses, which must also comply with the other conditions of § 9.108.

  minimum ground-floor space: >= 800 square feet (Manufactured house in a residential zone.)

  “No such house shall have ground floor space of less than 800 square feet.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Human habitation in a mobile home or recreational camping vehicle on public or private property inside Echo city limits.

  • The prohibition does not apply in a licensed mobile home park.

  “It is unlawful for any person to park a mobile home or recreational camping vehicle upon public or private property for human habitation except in a licensed mobile home park.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Manufactured houses in residential zones inside Echo city limits.

  • Must comply with all zoning regulations for the zone.
  • A building permit and any other required permit must be obtained.
  • Ground-floor area must be at least 800 square feet and width at the narrowest point at least 20 feet.
  • The house must be on a permanent solid foundation around its complete circumference.
  • It must meet the cited siding and roof requirements and Minnesota Statutes §327.31-327.35.
  • A variation may be permitted through a special-use permit if the Council makes the stated adjacent-property-value finding; the special-use permit states any conditions.
  • The ordinance does not apply to manufactured houses built in compliance with the Uniform Building Code as adopted by Minnesota or existing habitable structures in reasonable repair.

  minimum ground-floor space: >= 800 square feet (Manufactured house in a residential zone.) · minimum width at narrowest point: >= 20 feet (Manufactured house in a residential zone.)

  “The City of Echo authorizes the placement of manufactured houses in residential zones within the City if the manufactured houses comply with the following conditions:”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private wastewater disposal and sewer matters inside Echo city limits.

  • The code incorporates Ordinance Nos. 57 and 57.1 by reference.

  “Ordinance #57 and #57.1, dated December 10, 1991 and June 9, 1992, respectively establishing the rules and regulations relating to sewage usage and provisions regulating the use of public and private sewers and drains, private wastewater disposal, the installation and connection of building sewers, and the discharge of waters and waste into public sewer system, and providing penalties for violations thereof in the City of Echo shall remain in full force and effect.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater (with conditions)

  Each lot, piece, or parcel in Echo city with a residential dwelling or business.

  • Connection is required only if city water is available to the property.

  “For the protection of the public health, the owner of each lot, piece or parcel of land in the City, on which shall be situated any residential dwelling or business, is required to connect such resident or business to the water system of the City, if city water is available to the property.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Municipal-water connections inside Echo city limits.

  • The connection charge is set by City Council resolution and may change from time to time.

  “Any person, firm or corporation shall pay a connection charge in an amount as the City Council be resolution may from time to time determind to cover the cost of hook-up into the municipal water system.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Applicants seeking a municipal-water connection inside Echo city limits.

  • The City may require the application to be submitted in writing on a City-supplied form.
  • If requested, the written application must state the exact property description, estimated maximum monthly water use, and general and special uses.

  “Any person, firm or corporation desiring a connection with the municipal water system shall apply to the clerk for a permit to make such a connection.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Echo or Yellow Medicine County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Echo city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Echo city limits.
• Inspections — Building construction inside Echo city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Echo city limits.
• Minimum lot size — Lots inside Echo 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.