Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Minnewaukan, North Dakota

Minnewaukan’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Buildings and structures inside Minnewaukan city

  • Permit is issued by the city council
  • Permit and certificate of occupancy issue only when chapter provisions are complied with
  • Fences and hedges also need a permit

  “no building or structure shall be erected, added to or structurally altered until a permit therefore has been issued by the city council.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Minnewaukan city limits (jurisdiction also declared to reach 1/2 mile beyond)

  • Council administers the chapter; a planning and zoning commission is optional
  • Version cited is the 2018 revision posted on the city site

  “this chapter is adopted under the authority granted by chapter 40-47 of the north dakota century code.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Use districts inside Minnewaukan city

  • Districts: R-1, R-2, R-3, C-1, C-2, industrial, mobile home park, special use, agricultural, REC-1
  • Map is on file with the city auditor

  “the boundaries of these districts are hereby established as shown on a map entitled "the zoning map of the city of minnewaukan" which is on file in the office of the city auditor.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  R-1 residential district (also R-2) inside Minnewaukan city

  • Modular homes need 1100 sq ft on main floor; stick built 900 sq ft
  • Definitions also set a 900 sq ft minimum per dwelling unit

  stick-built minimum dwelling: >= 900 sq ft (modular homes 1100 sq ft main floor)

  “stick built with a minimum 900' square foot dwelling.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 residential district inside Minnewaukan city (R-2 has same text)

  • Applies only to property annexed after 2010
  • Agricultural district (Article 13) lot size not read

  minimum lot width: >= 75 feet · minimum lot area: >= 9000 sq ft

  “the minimum lot size shall be 75 feet wide with a minimum area of 9,000 square feet. this applies only to property annexed after 2010.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 residential district inside Minnewaukan city

  maximum lot coverage: <= 35 percent

  “the principal building and all accessory buildings shall not cover more than 35 percent of the lot.”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 residential district inside Minnewaukan city

  maximum height: <= 35 feet (also 2 1/2 stories)

  “no building shall exceed 2 ½ stories, nor exceed 35 feet in height.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles on vacant lots in older residential districts (SU-1) inside Minnewaukan city

  • Lot must have sanitary sewer, water and electricity available
  • Only one RV or camping trailer per two lots
  • Front yard at least 10 feet; side yard at least 10 feet
  • Applies where lots are vacant due to removal or destruction of former buildings caused by flooding
  • REC-1 district permits RV parks and temporary parking of RVs and camping trailers

  “in older residential districts that have viable vacant lots, due to the removal or destruction of former buildings caused by flooding, may be utilized for recreational vehicles and camping trailers.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Modular/sectional homes in R-1 residential district inside Minnewaukan city

  • Minimum width 24 feet
  • Minimum 1100 sq ft main floor
  • Permanent foundation, gabled roof minimum 3 to 12 pitch
  • Park models not allowed in New Minnewaukan residential areas
  • Mobile home park district (Article 11) exists separately

  minimum main floor area: >= 1100 sq ft

  “modular sectional homes with a minimum width of 24 feet, a minimum floor space of 1100 square feet on the main floor, and must be on permanent foundation, with a gabled roof with a minimum pitch of 3 to 12.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit applications inside Minnewaukan city

  • City council receives applications, inspects premises and issues permits

  “the city council shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter, including the receiving of applications, the inspection of premises and the issuing of building permits.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Minnewaukan city
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Minnewaukan city
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Minnewaukan city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Minnewaukan city
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Minnewaukan 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.