Bolthole Index

Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota

51Index Score / 100
#66 of 87 in Minnesota

Unincorporated Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota requires a county land-use permit for new buildings, additions, accessory structures and structures moved onto land1. The Land and Resource Management Office handles land-use applications and county zoning outside city limits23. County septic permits remain with that office in unsewered incorporated and unincorporated areas45.

At a glance

Building permit
A county land-use permit is required for new buildings, structures, additions and moved-on structures1
Zoning
The county regulates land use and development in unincorporated areas3
Septic permit
A county sewer permit is required; the fee is $200, or $175 for only a holding tank4
RV living
A countywide private-lot occupancy rule could not be confirmed; ask Land and Resource Management before moving in6
Tiny home
Code-compliant dwellings are allowed in Urban Expansion; Rural Preservation non-farm dwelling rules depend on the mapped area789
Owner-builder
Qualifying Minnesota owners have a contractor-licensing exemption, but county permits are not waived1011
Minimum home size
A general countywide minimum dwelling size could not be confirmed; ask about the parcel's zoning district6
Private well
Minnesota generally requires notification and a filing fee before water-supply well construction; confirm any delegated local authority12

Who to call

Planning & zoning

Yellow Medicine County Land and Resource Management Office

Planning and zoning, land-use permits, floodplain questions and parcel-specific development guidance

320-669-7524

1000 10th Ave. Suite #2, P.O. Box 675, Clarkfield MN 56223

Septic permits

Yellow Medicine County Land and Resource Management Office — SSTS

Subsurface sewage treatment system permits and septic-system questions

320-669-7524

1000 10th Ave. Suite #2, P.O. Box 675, Clarkfield MN 56223

Roads & driveways

Yellow Medicine County Highway Department

Entrance driveway and other county-highway permit forms

dan.moravetz@co.ym.mn.gov

1320 13th Street, Granite Falls, MN 56241

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

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Do you need a building permit in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota?

In unincorporated Yellow Medicine County, a county land-use permit is required in unincorporated areas for a new building, structure or accessory structure, an addition, or a structure moved onto a property1. Replacing windows, siding or shingles and doing interior remodeling do not require that county land-use permit1. The Minnesota State Building Code is the construction standard throughout the county, although local adoption and enforcement can vary13. Ask the Land and Resource Management Office whether separate building-code permits, inspections or occupancy approval apply to the project6.

Who handles Yellow Medicine County building permits, and how do you reach them?

The Yellow Medicine County Land and Resource Management Office handles planning and zoning; county land-use applications are available by calling 320-669-7524 or applying in person in Clarkfield62. County land-use fees range from $25 to $500 by construction cost: a $150,001–$250,000 project costs $150, and a $250,001–$400,000 project costs $20014. Conditional-use applications cost $450 plus a $46 recording fee14. Ask the office which plans and supporting materials the project requires6. Qualifying Minnesota owners building for personal occupancy or rental retention have a contractor-licensing exemption, but construction for resale or speculation does not qualify10. Owner-builders still need the county land-use permit for covered work in unincorporated Yellow Medicine County11.

Does Yellow Medicine County have zoning?

Yellow Medicine County regulates land use and development outside incorporated municipal limits15. Granite Falls and Clarkfield have their own city zoning1617. County SSTS regulation still applies in unsewered city areas through Land and Resource Management54. The county ordinance includes Urban Expansion, Rural Preservation, General Business and Industry districts, plus floodplain and other resource-management controls18. In the Urban Expansion district, the usual setbacks are 50 feet from the road right-of-way, 15 feet from a side lot line and 30 feet from a rear lot line19. Its minimum lot is one-third acre with central sewer and water or one acre with on-site utilities20. In the Rural Preservation district, the usual setbacks are 100 feet from a public-road right-of-way, 30 feet at the side and rear, and 100 feet from a drainage ditch; limited waiver procedures apply21. A dwelling there generally needs at least three acres, with additional dwelling-density rules22.

How do septic permits work in Yellow Medicine County?

Yellow Medicine County requires a sewer permit before installing, constructing, replacing, modifying, altering, repairing or expanding the capacity of a sewage treatment system4. The Land and Resource Management Office administers SSTS rules in unsewered incorporated and unincorporated areas523. The sewer-permit fee is $200, or $175 when the project only installs a holding tank4. Only 3.1% of Yellow Medicine County soils are rated “not limited” for a conventional septic drain field; a site evaluation may identify a need for an engineered system, rather than ruling out septic24. Privy vaults, non-water-carried sewage systems and holding tanks are possible only under county siting, design, installation, operation, maintenance, monitoring, management, permitting and inspection rules25. Take any off-grid sanitation plan to the SSTS office before choosing equipment23. Minnesota requires inspection of new or replacement septic systems; ask the county SSTS office about inspection timing2623.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Yellow Medicine County?

We could not confirm a countywide rule allowing full-time RV occupancy on private Yellow Medicine County land; ask Land and Resource Management about the parcel, sanitation plan and proposed duration before moving in6. In unincorporated Yellow Medicine County’s Urban Expansion district, a tiny house may be a single-family dwelling if it meets the Minnesota Residential Code, Appendix Q, district site standards and county land-use permit requirements7. In Rural Preservation, a tiny home treated as a non-farm dwelling is a conditional use in Areas 1–4, except replacement of an existing dwelling is permitted; non-farm dwellings are permitted in Areas 5–889. Rural Preservation dwellings need at least 3 acres and must meet density and setback rules as well as obtain a land-use permit89.

Building a home in Yellow Medicine County: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the Land and Resource Management Office to identify the parcel's mapped district, allowed residential use, setbacks and floodplain status186.
  1. Confirm the lot standard: Urban Expansion lots differ by utility service, while Rural Preservation dwellings generally need at least three acres2022.
  1. Test septic feasibility early because only 3.1% of county soils are rated “not limited” for a conventional drain field, then obtain the county sewer permit before covered SSTS work244.
  1. Call Land and Resource Management for the land-use application or apply in person before starting a new building or moving a structure onto the property21.
  1. Ask Land and Resource Management who handles building-code review, inspections and occupancy approval; the state code supplies the construction standard, but local enforcement can vary136.
  1. Ask the Highway Department about its entrance-driveway form for county-road access; MnDOT requires an access permit for a change in access to its right-of-way2728.

What should you check before buying land in Yellow Medicine County?

Have Land and Resource Management identify the parcel's mapped district, allowed use and site standards in writing296. If a purchase or project will divide land into two or more parcels, obtain county subdivision approval before recording a plat or deed unless a stated exception applies30. Check septic feasibility before treating vacant land as buildable because only 3.1% of county soils are rated “not limited” for a conventional drain field24. Check the proposed building pad against floodplain controls31. Verify legal road access and ask the relevant road authority about a driveway permit; the county publishes an entrance-driveway form for county highways27. Minnesota generally requires notification and a filing fee before constructing a water-supply well; ask Land and Resource Management whether delegated local authority applies to the parcel126.

Watch-outs

  • Yellow Medicine County explicitly includes barns and grain bins in its land-use permit requirement; do not assume agricultural construction is exempt from county land-use review1.
  • Only 3.1% of Yellow Medicine County soils are rated “not limited” for conventional septic drain fields; site evaluation or an engineered system may be needed, but the rating does not mean septic is impossible24.
  • County building-code administration, inspections, occupancy approval, RV living and a general minimum dwelling size could not be confirmed; take the parcel and project details to Land and Resource Management136.

Sources

  1. Planning and Zoning - Land and Resource Management Office, quoted and re-checked
  2. Planning and Zoning - Land and Resource Management Office, quoted and re-checked
  3. Planning and Zoning - Land and Resource Management Office, quoted and re-checked
  4. Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems (SSTS), quoted and re-checked
  5. Section XIV - Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  6. Yellow Medicine County Land and Resource Management Office (co.ym.mn.gov)
  7. co.ym.mn.gov, quoted and re-checked
  8. Section VI - Rural Preservation Management District (AG), quoted and re-checked
  9. Section VI - Rural Preservation Management District (AG), quoted and re-checked
  10. Minnesota Statutes § 326B.805 — Licensing Requirements, quoted and re-checked
  11. Planning and Zoning — Land and Resource Management Office — Yellow Medicine County, quoted and re-checked
  12. 2025 Minnesota Statutes, section 103I.205: Well Construction (Minnesota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Overview of the Minnesota State Building Code, quoted and re-checked
  14. Planning and Zoning - Land and Resource Management Office, quoted and re-checked
  15. Planning and Zoning - Land and Resource Management Office, quoted and re-checked
  16. Granite Falls: official source (Yellow Medicine County), quoted and re-checked
  17. Clarkfield: § 151.20 Classification of zoning districts (Yellow Medicine County), quoted and re-checked
  18. YMC Land & Related Resource Management Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  19. Section V - Urban Expansion Management District, quoted and re-checked
  20. Section V - Urban Expansion Management District, quoted and re-checked
  21. Section VI - Rural Preservation Management District, quoted and re-checked
  22. Section VI - Rural Preservation Management District, quoted and re-checked
  23. Yellow Medicine County Land and Resource Management Office — SSTS (co.ym.mn.gov)
  24. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Section XIV - Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  26. 2025 Minnesota Statutes, section 115.55: Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems (Minnesota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Yellow Medicine County Highway Department (co.ym.mn.gov)
  28. Access / Driveway Permit (Minnesota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  29. Section I - General Provisions, quoted and re-checked
  30. Section XVIII - Subdivision Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  31. co.ym.mn.gov, quoted and re-checked

Written October 12, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

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Compared with neighboring counties

Unlike 4 of its 6 neighbors, Yellow Medicine County requires a building permit for a home.

RuleYellow Medicine CountyLincoln CountyLac qui Parle CountyChippewa CountyLyon CountySwift CountyRedwood County
Building permitRequiredLimitedLimitedLimitedLimitedRequiredRequired
County zoningYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Septic permitsCounty Land & Resource Management OfficeCounty Env. OfficeCounty Env. Dept.County Land & Resource ManagementCounty Planning & ZoningCounty Env. ServicesCounty Env. Office

County locator

Yellow Medicine County in Minnesota

51
County map
Yellow Medicine County highlighted among the Minnesota counties · colored by Index score

How Yellow Medicine County scores

Seclusion71100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency24100% ev.
Admin Boringness43100% ev.
Durability49100% ev.
Property Autonomy65100% ev.
Carry Cost66100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$181kTypical home
1%Property tax
$7,062Land / acre
27.8"Annual rain
10.1% of yrsSevere drought
4.9 / yr (+4.4)Mid-century 100°F days
18 daysMid-century dry spell
1.53" (+8.9%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.66×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,888Home insurance / yr
5.4% / yrInsurance growth
0.73%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
10,304People within 30 min
620,945People within 2 hr
9,623Radius comparison (15 mi)
12.5People / sq mi
1.2%Federal land
98.5%Land at 15% slope or less
3.1%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
14,550 acWorkable land screen
4.3%Wooded land
21.6 tonsBiomass / forest ac
44.8°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Yellow Medicine County

Inside a city, town or township here, that government usually sets zoning and may issue its own building permits; the county’s rules above cover land outside them.

Not yet researched: Burton Township · Canby · Echo · Echo Township · Florida Township · Fortier Township · Friendship Township · Hammer Township · Hanley Falls · Hazel Run · Hazel Run Township · Lisbon Township · Minnesota Falls Township · Norman Township · Normania Township · Omro Township · Oshkosh Township · Porter · Posen Township · Sandnes Township · Sioux Agency Township · St. Leo · Stony Run Township · Swede Prairie Township · Tyro Township · Wergeland Township · Wood Lake · Wood Lake Township

Answers from the rulebook for Yellow Medicine County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Yellow Medicine County rules

  • Building permitRequired

    New construction, additions, and structures moved onto property in unincorporated Yellow Medicine County.

    • A land-use permit is required for new buildings, structures, accessory structures, additions, and structures moved onto property.
    • A land-use permit is not required for replacement of windows, siding, shingles, or interior remodeling.
    “A land use permit is required for any new construction”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — New construction, additions, accessory structures, and moved structures in unincorporated Yellow Medicine County.
      “A land use permit is required for any new construction of a building, structure or accessory structure; or the addition to any building or structure, including but not limited to: house, garage, storage sheds, decks, porches, signs, grain bins, and barns. A land use permit is also required for any structure moved on to a property.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    Owner-builders undertaking new construction or additions in Yellow Medicine County's unincorporated areas.

    • The county ordinance regulates land uses and development in the unincorporated areas of the County.
    • A county land use permit is required for any new construction of a building, structure, or accessory structure, or any addition to a building or structure, including houses, garages, storage sheds, decks, porches, signs, grain bins, and barns.
    • A land use permit is also required for any structure moved onto a property.
    • A land use permit is not required for replacement of windows, siding, shingles, or interior remodeling.
    “The Ordinance regulates the uses and development of land in the unincorporated areas of the County. A land use permit is required for any new construction of a building, structure or accessory structure; or the addition to any building or structure, including but not limited to: house, garage, storage sheds, decks, porches, signs, grain bins, and barns. A land use permit is also required for any structure moved on to a property. A land use permit is NOT required for the replacement of windows, siding, shingles or any interior remodeling.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    County zoning and land-use regulation in the unincorporated areas of Yellow Medicine County.

    • The county ordinance regulates unincorporated areas; incorporated municipalities may have separate controls.
    • The ordinance was first adopted in 1979 and last updated and amended in 2010.
    “The Yellow Medicine County Land Use and Related Resource Management Ordinance was first adopted in 1979 and was last updated and amended in 2010. The Ordinance regulates the uses and development of land in the unincorporated areas of the County.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Present (with conditions) — Land use and development in Yellow Medicine County outside incorporated municipal limits.
      “The Yellow Medicine County Land Use and Related Resource Management Ordinance was first adopted in 1979 and was last updated and amended in 2010. The Ordinance regulates the uses and development of land in the unincorporated areas of the County.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    County management/zoning districts and referenced official ordinance maps for unincorporated areas within the jurisdiction of the Yellow Medicine County Land and Related Resource Management Ordinance.

    • The ordinance identifies seven Management Districts: Floodplain Management, Shoreland Management, Minnesota River Management, Urban Expansion Management, Rural Preservation Management, General Business, and Industry.
    • The Rural Preservation Management District is divided into Rural Preservation Areas 1 through 8 on Official Ordinance Maps #5.
    • Official Ordinance Maps #1 through #5 and referenced management-plan materials are maintained in the County Auditor's and County Planning and Zoning Administrator's offices.
    • The cited district publication applies to unincorporated areas within the ordinance's jurisdiction; it does not establish municipal zoning districts.
    “For the unincorporated areas of Yellow Medicine County that lie within the jurisdiction of this Ordinance, they are hereby divided into seven Management Districts.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — County land-use and overlay districts documented in the Yellow Medicine County Land and Related Resource Management Ordinance.
      “Section VIII - General Business District”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Dwellings in Yellow Medicine County's Rural Preservation Management District

    • All dwellings must be on at least three acres.
    • Only one non-farm dwelling site is allowed by conditional-use permit on each quarter-quarter section in Rural Preservation Areas #1-#4.
    • Non-farm dwellings in Rural Management Areas #5-#8 are permitted but limited to one per quarter-quarter section.
    • A second dwelling may be permitted on an existing building site in Areas #1-#8 if the building site is at least six acres.

    minimum dwelling tract: >= 3 acres (second dwelling on existing building site requires at least 6 acres) · non-farm dwelling density: one per quarter-quarter section (Areas #1-#4 require conditional use permit; Areas #5-#8 are permitted)

    “All dwellings shall be located on a tract of land consisting of a minimum of three (3) acres.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Permitted and conditional uses in Yellow Medicine County's Urban Expansion Management District
      “one-third (1/3) acre with central sewer and water, and one (1) acre for on-site utilities.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Permitted and conditional uses in Yellow Medicine County's Rural Preservation Management District

    • All farm and non-farm buildings and accessory structures must be set back at least 100 feet from state, county, township, and other public roads.
    • A waiver may be obtained from the appropriate road authority for an existing site when the proposed building or structure is within the 100-foot road setback and in line with other structures; if denied, the applicant may request a public hearing before the Board of Adjustment.
    • A neighboring-property waiver may be obtained for buildings or structures within required side or rear setbacks; if denied, the applicant may request a public hearing before the Board of Adjustment.
    • A drainage-authority waiver may be obtained for a building or structure within the drainage-ditch setback; if denied, the applicant may request a public hearing before the Board of Adjustment.
    • A waiver may not be used for buildings or structures exceeding 50% of the required setback.

    front yard setback: 100 feet from public road right-of-way (existing-site waiver conditions apply) · side yard setback: 30 feet (existing-site neighboring-property waiver conditions apply) · rear yard setback: 30 feet (existing-site neighboring-property waiver conditions apply) · drainage ditch setback: 100 feet (existing-site drainage-authority waiver conditions apply)

    “2. Side Yard Setbacks - Thirty (30) feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Tiny homesLimited

    A tiny home used as a dwelling in unincorporated Yellow Medicine County Rural Preservation Areas 1 through 4, if treated as a non-farm dwelling under the county ordinance.

    • The ordinance does not define or separately regulate the term "tiny home"; this claim applies the ordinance's non-farm-dwelling rules to a tiny home used as a dwelling.
    • The Rural Preservation use chart lists non-farm dwellings as conditional uses in Areas 1 through 4.
    • A non-farm dwelling replacing an existing dwelling is expressly a permitted use, rather than requiring a conditional-use permit.
    • The dwelling must be on a tract of at least 3 acres.
    • Only one non-farm dwelling site is allowed by conditional-use permit on each quarter-quarter section in Areas 1 through 4.
    • A second dwelling may be permitted on an existing building site if the building site is at least 6 acres.
    • All farm and non-farm buildings and accessory structures must be at least 100 feet from the right-of-way of state, county, township, and other public roads.
    • Minimum setbacks are 30 feet side yard, 30 feet rear yard, and 100 feet from a drainage ditch.
    • Every lot must have at least 100 feet of width abutting a public road right-of-way.
    • A county land-use permit is required for new construction, additions, or a structure moved onto the property.
    • For existing sites, specified road, neighboring-property, and drainage-ditch setback waivers may be obtained; a waiver may not be used for a building or structure exceeding 50% of the required setback.

    minimum tract area: >= 3 acres · public-road setback: >= 100 feet (Existing-site waiver rules apply.) · side-yard setback: >= 30 feet (Existing-site waiver rules apply.) · rear-yard setback: >= 30 feet (Existing-site waiver rules apply.) · drainage-ditch setback: >= 100 feet (Existing-site waiver rules apply.) · lot width at public road: >= 100 feet · non-farm dwelling sites per quarter-quarter section: 1 site (A second dwelling may be permitted on an existing building site of at least 6 acres.)

    “Non-Farm Dwellings C C C C P P P P [...] All dwellings shall be located on a tract of land consisting of a minimum of three (3) acres. [...] Only one non-farm dwelling site shall be allowed by conditional use permit on each quarter quarter (1/4 - 1/4) section of land located within Rural Preservation Areas #1 - #4.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — Occupancy of a code-compliant tiny house as a single-family dwelling in the unincorporated Urban Expansion Management District.
      “1. Single family dwellings, provided that they conform to the standards set forth in Section V, Subdivision 4.0.”
    • Allowed — A tiny home used as a dwelling in unincorporated Yellow Medicine County Rural Preservation Areas 5 through 8, if treated as a non-farm dwelling under the county ordinance.
      “Non-Farm Dwellings C C C C P P P P [...] Non-farm dwellings in Rural Management Areas #5 - #8 shall be a permitted use, and shall be limited to only one per quarter quarter (1/4 – 1/4) section of land.”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    SSTS regulation and administration within Yellow Medicine County's applicable jurisdiction.

    • The ordinance incorporates Minnesota statutes and MPCA rules; it applies to unsewered incorporated and unincorporated areas.
    “Department - Yellow Medicine County Zoning Department”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • County — Administration of subsurface sewage treatment system permitting in Yellow Medicine County.
      “Yellow Medicine County requires landowners to obtain a sewer permit”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation, construction, replacement, modification, alteration, repair, or capacity expansion of sewage treatment systems.

    • A holding-tank-only installation has a $175 permit fee.
    • Other sewer permits have a $200 fee.

    sewer permit fee: 200 USD · holding tank permit fee: 175 USD (holding-tank-only installation)

    “Sewer permits are available at the Yellow Medicine County Land and Resource Management Office. There is a $200 sewer permit fee. If you are only installing a holding tank, the permit fee is $175.00.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Installation, construction, replacement, modification, alteration, repair, or capacity expansion of sewage treatment systems.
      “Yellow Medicine County requires landowners to obtain a sewer permit prior to the installation, construction, replacement, modification, alteration, repair or capacity expansion of a sewage treatment system.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Privy vaults, other non-water-carried sewage systems, and holding tanks under the county SSTS ordinance.

    • All such systems remain subject to county siting, design, installation, operation, maintenance, monitoring, management, permitting, and inspection requirements; holding tanks may be used for single-family homes and other buildings with limited water use under specified conditions.
    “The appropriate utilization of privy vaults and other non-water carried sewage collection and storage facilities.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Division of land into two or more parcels in unincorporated Yellow Medicine County.

    • Agricultural-use lands not intended for development are excepted; land with development potential or clearly intended for development is not treated as agricultural-use land for administering the ordinance.
    • Nonbuildable tracts in permanent easement programs, designated wetlands, and tracts located in the floodway are excepted.
    • Developed U.S. government lots or government survey tracts of 40 acres or greater are excepted.
    • No land may be subdivided or platted, and no plat or deed recorded, except as provided in the subdivision section and approved by the County as satisfying the subdivision section, other Land Use Ordinance sections, and Minnesota Statutes Chapter 505.
    • The regulations also apply to transfer of ownership, building development, or tax-assessment purposes through platting, replatting, registered land survey, conveyance, sales, contracts for sale, or other transfer of a beneficial interest.
    “No land shall be subdivided or platted nor shall any plat or deed be recorded except as provided in this Section”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    New structures and additions in Yellow Medicine County floodplain areas.

    • All structures must be elevated to at least the regulatory flood protection elevation; certifications may be required and accessory structures have additional conditions.

    minimum elevation: >= 1 foot above base flood (The regulatory flood protection elevation includes any applicable floodway elevation increase)

    “New structures or additions built must be at least one foot above the regulatory floodplain elevation.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    County land-use permit fees for construction in unincorporated Yellow Medicine County.

    • Fees are based on construction cost.
    • Solar energy systems are charged $750 per MW.
    • Commercial wind energy systems are charged $750 per MW.
    • Variance applications cost $250 plus a $46 recording fee.
    • Conditional-use applications cost $450 plus a $46 recording fee.

    land-use permit fee for construction cost $0-$25,000: 25 USD · land-use permit fee for construction cost $25,001-$75,000: 50 USD · land-use permit fee for construction cost $75,001-$150,000: 100 USD · land-use permit fee for construction cost $150,001-$250,000: 150 USD · land-use permit fee for construction cost $250,001-$400,000: 200 USD · land-use permit fee for construction cost $400,001-$600,000: 300 USD · land-use permit fee for construction cost $600,001-$800,000: 400 USD · land-use permit fee for construction cost $800,001 and up: 500 USD

    “Permit fees are based on the cost of construction: $ 0.00 - $ 25,000 $ 25.00 $ 25,001 - $ 75,000 $ 50.00 $ 75,001 - $150,000 $100.00 $150,001 - $250,000 $150.00 $250,001 - $400,000 $200.00 $400,001 - $600,000 $300.00 $600,001 - $800,000 $400.00 $800,001 and up $500.00”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Permit processPartial

    County land-use permit application process.

    • Applications may be obtained by calling the Land and Resource Management Office or applying in person at 1000 10th Avenue, Clarkfield, Minnesota.
    • Conditional-use permits require ordinance identification, conformity with enumerated conditions, adequate utilities and access, nuisance prevention, and necessary state and federal permits.
    “Permit applications may be obtained by calling the Land and Resource Management Office at 320-669-7524 or you may apply in person at 1000 10th Avenue in Clarkfield MN.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published — County land-use permit application process.
      “Permit applications may be obtained by calling the Land and Resource Management Office at 320-669-7524 or you may apply in person at 1000 10th Avenue in Clarkfield MN.”

Minnesota rules that apply here

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, and use of buildings and other structures of the type governed by the Minnesota State Building Code throughout Minnesota.

    • The State Building Code supersedes the building code of any municipality.
    • The State Building Code does not apply to agricultural buildings except for the state inspections and rulemaking identified in Minnesota Statutes section 326B.121, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), clause (1), and the structural-support requirement for translucent panels or other skylights without raised curbs in clause (2).
    • The 2020 Minnesota State Building Code is effective March 31, 2020, except the Minnesota Mechanical Fuel Gas Code, which is effective April 6, 2020.
    • Municipal enforcement generally requires adoption by local ordinance, subject to statutory requirements for certain municipalities and statutory enforcement responsibilities where no adoption ordinance is in effect.
    • The 2024 Minnesota Commercial Energy Code is effective January 5, 2024.
    • Requirements for adult changing stations are effective August 15, 2025, and requirements for window-cleaning safety features are effective November 7, 2025, according to the Department of Labor and Industry update page.

    2020 Minnesota State Building Code effective date: 2020-03-31 (Minnesota Mechanical Fuel Gas Code effective 2020-04-06) · 2024 Minnesota Commercial Energy Code effective date: 2024-01-05 · Adult changing station supplement effective date: 2025-08-15 · Window-cleaning safety feature supplement effective date: 2025-11-07

    “(a) The State Building Code is the standard that applies statewide for the construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, and use of buildings and other structures of the type governed by the code.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Minnesota State Building Code as the construction standard applicable in Yellow Medicine County.
      “The Minnesota State Building Code is the minimum construction standard throughout all of Minnesota including all cities, townships and counties. Although it isn't enforceable by municipalities unless it is adopted by local ordinance, the State Building Code creates a level playing field for the construction industry by establishing the construction standard for all buildings in the state.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Construction or work for which a Minnesota State Building Code permit is required.

    • The work must remain accessible and exposed until approved.
    • The permit applicant must cause the work to remain accessible and exposed for inspection.
    • The building official identifies required inspections; the permit holder must maintain the inspection record card until final approval.
    • Work may not proceed beyond each successive inspection point without building-official approval; noncomplying portions must be corrected and may not be covered or concealed until authorized.
    “Construction or work for which a permit is required is subject to inspection by the building official”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Use or occupancy of buildings and structures, and changes in existing occupancy classification, in Minnesota jurisdictions administering and enforcing the State Building Code.

    • A building or structure may not be used or occupied, and an existing occupancy classification may not be changed, until the building official issues a certificate of occupancy under Minnesota Rules part 1300.0220.
    • The rule applies through the building official and therefore depends on the relevant jurisdiction administering and enforcing the State Building Code.
    • Issuance of a certificate of occupancy is not approval of a violation of the code or other municipal ordinances; a certificate purporting to authorize violation or cancellation of those requirements is invalid.
    • A municipality has the option of requiring certificates of occupancy for U occupancies constructed under the International Building Code, accessory structures constructed under the International Residential Code, and used manufactured homes moved into or within a jurisdiction.
    • Legal occupancy of a structure existing on the date of code adoption may continue without change.
    • A temporary certificate may be issued before all permitted work is complete if the occupied portion can be occupied safely; the building official sets its validity period.

    optional certificate category: U occupancies constructed under the International Building Code (municipality has the option of requiring a certificate) · optional certificate category: accessory structures constructed under the International Residential Code (municipality has the option of requiring a certificate) · optional certificate category: used manufactured homes moved into or within a jurisdiction (municipality has the option of requiring a certificate)

    “No building or structure shall be used or occupied, and no change in the existing occupancy classification of a building, structure, or portion of a building or structure shall be made until the building official has issued a certificate of occupancy for the building or structure under this part.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Private or public areas accommodating five or more tents or recreational camping vehicles on a daily, nightly, weekly, or longer basis

    • An annual license from the Minnesota Department of Health is required before establishing, maintaining, conducting, or operating a recreational camping area.
    • The license requires application, payment of the statutory fee, and approval for operation including plan review.
    • A recreational camping area excludes children's camps, industrial camps, migrant labor camps, United States Forest Service camps, state forest service camps, qualifying state wildlife-management or state-owned public-access areas, qualifying temporary holding areas adjacent to motorsports facilities, and a privately owned area used by a private club no more than once annually and no longer than seven consecutive days.
    • A special event recreational camping area operates no more than two times annually and for no more than 14 consecutive days.
    • The statute does not resolve local zoning or land-use requirements.

    minimum accommodated tents or recreational camping vehicles: >= 5 units (Statutory exclusions apply.) · special event operating frequency: <= 2 times annually (Special event recreational camping area.) · special event duration: <= 14 consecutive days (Special event recreational camping area.) · annual license base fee for recreational camping area with 24 or fewer sites: 100 USD (Additional $8 per licensed site; special event areas are excluded from that per-site paragraph.) · annual license base fee for recreational camping area with 25 to 99 sites: 410 USD (Additional $8 per licensed site; special event areas are excluded from that per-site paragraph.) · annual license base fee for recreational camping area with 100 or more sites: 610 USD (Additional $8 per licensed site; special event areas are excluded from that per-site paragraph.)

    “"Recreational camping area" means any area, whether privately or publicly owned, used on a daily, nightly, weekly, or longer basis for the accommodation of five or more tents or recreational camping vehicles free of charge or for compensation. [...] "Special event recreational camping area" means a recreational camping area which operates no more than two times annually and for no more than 14 consecutive days. [...] No person, firm or corporation shall establish, maintain, conduct or operate a manufactured home park or recreational camping area within this state without first obtaining an annual license from the state Department of Health.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    New manufactured homes installed for occupancy statewide in Minnesota

    • Inspection is required under Federal Installation Standards Programs, CFR 3285 and 3286.
    • Manufactured-home alterations require documentation submitted for review to the Department of Labor and Industry or the local authority having jurisdiction before work begins.
    • Local building officials and local code enforcement may apply depending on the municipality.
    “All new manufactured homes installed in Minnesota for occupancy are required to be inspected according to the Federal Installation Standards Programs, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 3285 and 3286.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Temporary family health care dwellings used as a narrow accessory residential dwelling category statewide, where the municipality has not opted out of Minnesota Statutes § 462.3593.

    • The dwelling must be primarily assembled away from its installation site, be no more than 300 gross square feet, lack a permanent foundation, meet state-recognized accessibility standards, provide water and electric utilities, use compatible exterior materials, have at least R-15 insulation, be transportable by the specified truck types, comply with Minnesota Rules chapter 1360 or 1361 with the required seal and data plate or ANSI Code 119.2, and have a backflow check valve.
    • A caregiver or relative must apply for a municipal temporary dwelling permit with the required signatures and documentation, including provider-network proof, medical certification, septic-service documentation, adjacent-owner notice affidavit, and a site map.
    • The dwelling must be on property where the caregiver or relative resides, comply with setbacks and applicable floor-area-ratio limits, and permit safe and timely access for septic services and emergency vehicles.
    • Occupancy is limited to one identified mentally or physically impaired person, and only one temporary family health care dwelling is allowed per lot.
    • The dwelling must comply with applicable state law, local ordinances, and charter provisions unless otherwise provided.
    • The initial permit lasts six months and may be renewed once for an additional six months.
    • The municipality may inspect, revoke the permit for violations, and require removal within 60 days after revocation.
    • Unless otherwise provided by ordinance, the municipality may charge up to $100 for the initial permit and up to $50 for renewal.
    • The municipality may opt out of the statutory requirements by ordinance.

    maximum dwelling area: <= 300 gross square feet · initial permit term: 6 months (renewable once for an additional six months) · maximum initial permit fee: <= 100 USD (unless otherwise provided by ordinance) · maximum renewal permit fee: <= 50 USD (unless otherwise provided by ordinance) · maximum occupants: 1 person (occupant must be a mentally or physically impaired person) · maximum dwellings per lot: 1 dwelling

    “A temporary family health care dwelling that meets the requirements of this section cannot be prohibited by a local ordinance that regulates accessory uses or recreational vehicle parking or storage.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Accessory dwelling units statewide, including conversion of a structure into an ADU, subject to local zoning and Minnesota residential building-code requirements.
      “Local zoning ordinances dictate if a tiny home or accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is allowed on the property.”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    Compliance inspection of an existing septic system before sale or transfer of property in Minnesota.

    • Minnesota state regulations do not require a compliance inspection before property sale or transfer.
    • Many county, city, or township ordinances require such inspections, especially in shoreland areas.
    • A statutory inspection is required before a local unit of government issues a building permit or variance for an added bedroom on property served by a system, unless the local government lacks an ordinance requiring a building permit for that bedroom addition.
    • For an application made from November 1 through April 30, the local unit may temporarily waive the inspection if inspection occurs by the following June 1 and the applicant submits the certificate or notice within 15 days.
    • A certificate of compliance for an existing system is valid for three years unless the local unit finds an imminent threat to public health or safety.

    existing-system certificate validity: 3 years (unless the local unit of government finds evidence of an imminent threat to public health or safety)

    “Minnesota state regulations don’t require a compliance inspection before a property is sold or transferred, but many county, city, or township ordinances do, especially in shoreland areas.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Inspection of all new construction or replacement of a subsurface sewage treatment system in Minnesota.
      “An inspection shall be required for all new construction or replacement of a system to determine compliance with applicable requirements. The manner and timing of inspection may be determined by the applicable local ordinance.”
  • Well permitLimited

    Construction of water-supply, dewatering, and environmental wells in Minnesota.

    • A well notification and applicable filing fee are generally required before construction; the statute describes notification rather than a general construction-permit requirement for these wells.
    • A drive-point water-supply well personally constructed by an individual on owned or leased property for farming, agricultural purposes, or the individual's place of abode must be reported within ten days after completion, and no notification fee may be charged.
    • The notification requirement preempts local permits and notifications unless the commissioner has delegated permitting or notification authority under section 103I.111.
    • If operation of the well requires a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources appropriation permit, specified information must be submitted to the commissioner of natural resources and construction may begin after preliminary approval.
    • A well that is not in use must be sealed or have a maintenance permit, subject to the statutory environmental/dewatering-well exception.

    drive-point well notification deadline: 10 days after completion (personally constructed by an individual on owned or leased property for farming, agricultural purposes, or the individual's place of abode) · unused well status: sealed or maintenance permit (environmental or dewatering wells not sealed by 14 months after completion require an annually renewed maintenance permit)

    “Except as provided in paragraph (d), a person may not construct a water-supply, dewatering, or environmental well until a notification of the proposed well on a form prescribed by the commissioner is filed with the commissioner with the filing fee in section 103I.208, and, when applicable, the person has met the requirements of paragraph (e).”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Agricultural buildings statewide that meet the definition in Minnesota Statutes § 326B.103, subdivision 3.

    • The structure must be on agricultural land as determined by the governing assessor for the municipality or county under section 273.13, subdivision 23.
    • The structure must be designed, constructed, and used to house farm implements, livestock, or agricultural products under section 273.13, subdivision 23.
    • The building must be used by the owner, lessee, and sublessee and members of their immediate families, employees, and persons engaged in pickup or delivery of agricultural products.
    • The State Building Code does not apply except with respect to state inspections required or rulemaking authorized by sections 103F.141, 216C.19, subdivision 9, and 326B.36.
    • Translucent panels or other skylights without raised curbs must be supported to have equivalent load-bearing capacity as the surrounding roof.
    “The State Building Code is the standard that applies statewide for the construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, and use of buildings and other structures of the type governed by the code. [...] (c) The State Building Code does not apply to agricultural buildings except: (1) with respect to state inspections required or rulemaking authorized by sections 103F.141; 216C.19, subdivision 9; and 326B.36; and (2) translucent panels or other skylights without raised curbs shall be supported to have equivalent load-bearing capacity as the surrounding roof.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Direct driveway connections to or from Minnesota state highways and work within MnDOT right-of-way.

    • A permit is required before constructing or modifying a direct driveway connection to or from a state highway.
    • The requirement covers agricultural, single-family residential, commercial, industrial, recreational, public, institutional, natural-resource, and multiple-family residential uses, and privately owned streets.
    • A new driveway, including a temporary driveway, requires a permit.
    • Modifying an existing driveway or changing its use or major traffic pattern may require a new permit.
    • The application should be submitted by the property owner; an agent, tenant, contractor, or developer must include written authorization from the owner.
    • This claim does not establish driveway-permit requirements for roads outside MnDOT jurisdiction.
    “A MnDOT Access Driveway Permit is required before a direct driveway connection to or from a state highway is constructed or modified.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Additional ingress to or egress from a public highway for property with a right of direct private access.
      “The owner or occupant of property abutting upon a public highway, having a right of direct private access thereto, may provide such other or additional means of ingress from and egress to the highway as will facilitate the efficient use of the property for a particular lawful purpose, subject to reasonable regulation by and permit from the road authority as is necessary to prevent interference with the construction, maintenance and safe use of the highway and its appurtenances and the public use thereof.”
    • Required — Changes in access to or from a MnDOT right-of-way, including driveway or other access points to a trunk highway, and changes in property use affecting such access.
      “An Access / Driveway Permit is required whenever there is a request for change in access to or from a Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) right-of-way or a change in use of the property.”
  • county zoning authorityLimited

    County planning and zoning authority over unincorporated areas of Minnesota.

    • The authority applies to a county having less than 300,000 population according to the 1950 federal census.
    • The statute authorizes county planning and zoning activities generally within the qualifying counties; it does not identify a separate unincorporated-area limitation in this section.
    • Except as otherwise provided, a county regardless of population must not enact, amend, or enforce an ordinance eliminating or terminating a lawful use by amortization.
    • The amortization prohibition does not apply to adults-only bookstores, adults-only theaters, or similar adults-only businesses as defined by ordinance.
    • The amortization subdivision does not prohibit nuisance-prevention or nuisance-abatement enforcement or elimination of a use determined to be a public nuisance without payment of compensation.

    population threshold: < 300000 persons (According to the 1950 federal census)

    “having less than 300,000 population according to the 1950 federal census is authorized to carry on county planning and zoning activities.”
  • county building authorityGeneral

    Minnesota counties may administer and enforce the State Building Code within their jurisdiction by ordinance; this includes a county's authority over residential construction in unincorporated county territory, subject to the statutory limits on code application and local provisions.

    • The statutory authorization is to administer and enforce the State Building Code, rather than a county-specific building code.
    • A county that is not already required by Minnesota Statutes § 326B.121, subdivision 2(a), to administer and enforce the code may elect to do so by ordinance.
    • The State Building Code applies statewide to construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, and use of buildings and structures governed by the code.
    • The State Building Code does not apply to agricultural buildings except for state inspections or rulemaking authorized by Minnesota Statutes §§ 103F.141, 216C.19, subdivision 9, and 326B.36, and except that translucent panels or other skylights without raised curbs must have equivalent load-bearing capacity as the surrounding roof.
    • A municipality may not require building-code provisions regulating structural components or systems that differ from the State Building Code; with state building official approval, it may adopt a more restrictive ordinance where geological conditions warrant it.
    • A municipality may enforce the State Building Code through lawful means, including contracts with other municipalities or qualified individuals; building-permit fees may be retained or remitted to reimburse them.
    “If a municipality is not required by paragraph (a) to administer and enforce the State Building Code, the municipality may choose to administer and enforce the State Building Code within its jurisdiction by adopting the code by ordinance.”

Set by your town or city, not the county

In Minnesota, zoning is adopted by each town or city, so Yellow Medicine County has no county-wide answer on these. Find your town or city in the list of places on this page, or call its clerk or zoning administrator.

  • Minimum dwelling size
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Short-term rentals

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Local zoning — Whether incorporated municipalities or townships independently administer zoning within Yellow Medicine County.
  • Mandatory utility hookup — Water and sewer utility-connection requirements.

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.

Living off-grid in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota

Is Yellow Medicine County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Yellow Medicine County scores 51/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: sparse surroundings — about 10,304 people within a 30-minute drive and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: workable self-sufficiency basics (27.8″/yr rainfall).

Do you need a building permit in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota?

Yellow Medicine County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Yellow Medicine County Land and Resource Management Office. Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota?

Land in Yellow Medicine County runs about $7,062 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Yellow Medicine County?

Yellow Medicine County gets about 27.8" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 10.1% of years.

How remote is Yellow Medicine County?

A representative private-land location has about 10,304 people within a 30-minute drive and 620,945 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

How Yellow Medicine compares in Minnesota

Compare side-by-side →See all 87 Minnesota counties ranked →