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City of Medicine Lake

Where Water Meets The Sky

Land Use, Building and Development

The City of Medicine Lake building and land use permitting, and approvals is managed by a City Council member acting as a building liaison with the Public Works Director and a contract City Planner. These individuals provide information and assistance to residents, consultants and contractors regarding questions pertaining to permitting for new and existing building, landfill, driveways, infrastructure and land use. Zoning codes comprise the laws and rules adopted by the City Council regarding the above listed issues and are published on the City website for reference in planning, designing or constructing changes to a residence.

Our City relies on the services of a certified professional consultant, acting as our City Planner, to provide guidance and answer questions pertaining to land use, zoning, and design related developments. As these services are at a cost to the city, it is the City’s practice to pass these costs through to the party that initiates the demand for services. We do this through a Pre-planning Application. This process requires a $500 escrow fee to be paid to the City of Medicine Lake by the applicant to initiate the pre-planning application process. These funds will be placed in an Escrow account held by the City and used for consulting fees from the contracted City Planner. Unused escrow funds will be returned to the applicant at the conclusion of the pre-application process or credited towards additional application fees/escrow funds needed should the project move to a formal land use application. The city consultant will provide up to a half hour of services, at no charge to the applicant, prior to initiating the formal pre-planning application process.

Land use and permitting jobs that require a delivery of any kind may require a road permit. Prior to initiating any land use projects or permits contact Chris Klar, Public Works for review for need of road permit at public_works@cityofmedicinelake.com.

If you have questions pertaining to planning and zoning related projects, please contact:

Council member Connie Shaffer at cshaffer@cityofmedicinelake.com for questions regarding

  • Land use
  • New principal structure
  • New accessory structure
  • Additions

Public Works, Chris Klar at public_works@cityofmedicinelake.com with questions regarding

  • Driveways
  • Grading/Fill/Excavation
  • Road permits
  • Sewer issues and connections

Contact the Building Inspector at inspections@plymouthmn.gov or call 763-509-5430 with permit requests or go online here to find permits for

  • Remodels
  • Any permits that do not affect the footprint of the existing structures
  • Mechanical permits
  • Plumbing
  • Sewer

All Electrical inspections are completed by the State. Inspection permitting and requests can be found at http://www.dli.mn.gov/workers/homeowners/electrical-permits-homeowners-printable.

What Kind of Improvement Are You Planning To Do?

  1. Before tearing down your house, think through your plans for after the tear down to make sure you have a conforming lot and you can build a new house within the zoning code standards. It is recommended that you have a current survey of the lot, including the structures on either side of your parcel so you can establish the lake side line of site setback and existing utilities and sewer infrastructure.
    1. This is a good opportunity to televise your sewer lateral that connects the house to the city sewer main to check for leaks or other issues with the sewer lateral. (See the Metropolitan Council inflow and infiltration page.)
  2. First you will need to prepare a Construction Management Plan (CMP)
    1. Contact Public Works to facilitate a preconstruction/demolition meeting.
    2. This process will require an application escrow fee, See current year ordinance for most recent fees.
  3. Second you will need a demolition permit from the building inspector to complete a tear down (schedule with inspections@plymouthmn.gov).
  4. Third you will likely need a road permit for heavy equipment and hauling. This will be issued by the public works superintendent at the preconstruction meeting facilitated through the CMP process.

  1. Obtain a survey of the site.
    1. Be sure to survey adjacent structures and the ordinary high water (OHW) line so you can determine the lake side line of site if applicable.
    2. Make sure the survey includes elevations and 2 foot contours at a minimum.
    3. Make sure to identify any easements (private and/or public sewer easements).
    4. Locate the sewer line connecting the house (lateral) to the city sewer main. This is a good opportunity to televise your sewer lateral that connects the house to the city sewer main to check for leaks or other issues with the sewer lateral. (See the Metropolitan Council inflow and infiltration page.)
    5. Identify existing mature trees on the site by type of tree and caliper.
    6. Identify the existing well and determine if you will need a new well.
    7. Identify any culverts or other drainage improvements if available – these are likely if you are not the northwesterly end of the Peninsula… indicate the diameter and elevations of the culverts.
  2. Locate the new structure on the survey. Ensure it meets setback requirements.
  3. Understand drainage and make sure that a grading plan is done to demonstrate that runoff is maintained on site and managed so that you do not direct runoff to neighboring property and you minimize direct runoff to the street or lake.
  4. Submit a site plan and grading/drainage plan to the City Planner for review
    1. Is a variance needed?
      Variance process and application.
    2. Is rezoning needed?
      Current Zoning Map
      See current Zoning Code
    3. Is a comprehensive plan amendment needed?
      City of Medicine Lake Comprehensive Plan
    4. Is a conditional use permit needed?
    5. Is site plan approval needed? You will need this if you are proposing a non-residential development project.
    6. If your project involves more than 200 cubic yards of cut or fill, OR disturbs more than 10,000 square feet of a property, a Storm Water Pollution Control Plan (SWPCP) will be required.
  5. You will need to prepare a Construction Management Plan (CMP)
    1. Contact Public Works to facilitate a preconstruction meeting.
    2. This process will require an application escrow fee.

  1. Obtain a survey of the site.
    1. Be sure to survey adjacent structures and the ordinary high water (OHW) line so you can determine the lake side line of site if applicable.
    2. Make sure the survey includes elevations and 2 foot contours at a minimum.
    3. Make sure to identify any easements (private and/or public sewer easements).
    4. Locate the sewer line connecting the house (lateral) to the city sewer main. This is a good opportunity to televise your sewer lateral that connects the house to the city sewer main to check for leaks or other issues with the sewer lateral. (See the Metropolitan Council inflow and infiltration page.)
    5. Identify existing mature trees on the site by type of tree and caliper.
    6. Identify the existing well and determine if you will need a new well.
    7. Identify any culverts or other drainage improvements if available – these are likely if you are not the northwesterly end of the Peninsula… indicate the diameter and elevations of the culverts.
  2. Locate the new structure on the survey. Ensure it meets setback requirements.
  3. Understand drainage and make sure that a grading plan is done to demonstrate that runoff is maintained on site and managed so that you do not direct runoff to neighboring property and you minimize direct runoff to the street or lake.
  4. Submit a site plan and grading/drainage plan to the City Planner for review
    1. Is a variance needed?
      Variance process and application.
    2. Is rezoning needed?
      Current Zoning Map
      See current Zoning Code
    3. Is a comprehensive plan amendment needed?
      City of Medicine Lake Comprehensive Plan
    4. Is a conditional use permit needed?
    5. Is site plan approval needed? You will need this if you are proposing a non-residential development project.
    6. If your project involves more than 200 cubic yards of cut or fill, OR disturbs more than 10,000 square feet of a property, a Storm Water Pollution Control Plan (SWPCP) will be required.
  5. You will need to prepare a Construction Management Plan (CMP)
    1. Contact Public Works to facilitate a preconstruction meeting.
    2. This process will require an application escrow fee.

  1. Obtain a survey of the site.
    1. Be sure to survey adjacent structures and the ordinary high water (OHW) line so you can determine the lake side line of site if applicable.
    2. Make sure the survey includes elevations and 2 foot contours at a minimum.
    3. Make sure to identify any easements (private and/or public sewer easements).
    4. Locate the sewer line connecting the house (lateral) to the city sewer main. This is a good opportunity to televise your sewer lateral that connects the house to the city sewer main to check for leaks or other issues with the sewer lateral. (See the Metropolitan Council inflow and infiltration page.)
    5. Identify existing mature trees on the site by type of tree and caliper.
    6. Identify the existing well and determine if you will need a new well.
    7. Identify any culverts or other drainage improvements if available – these are likely if you are not the northwesterly end of the Peninsula… indicate the diameter and elevations of the culverts.
  2. Locate the new structure on the survey. Ensure it meets setback requirements.
  3. Understand drainage and make sure that a grading plan is done to demonstrate that runoff is maintained on site and managed so that you do not direct runoff to neighboring property and you minimize direct runoff to the street or lake.
  4. Submit a site plan and grading/drainage plan to the City Planner for review
    1. Is a variance needed?
      Variance process and application.
    2. Is rezoning needed?
      Current Zoning Map
      See current Zoning Code
    3. Is a comprehensive plan amendment needed?
      City of Medicine Lake Comprehensive Plan
    4. Is a conditional use permit needed?
    5. Is site plan approval needed? You will need this if you are proposing a non-residential development project.
    6. If your project involves more than 200 cubic yards of cut or fill, OR disturbs more than 10,000 square feet of a property, a Storm Water Pollution Control Plan (SWPCP) will be required.
  5. You will need to prepare a Construction Management Plan (CMP)
    1. Contact Public Works to facilitate a preconstruction meeting.
    2. This process will require an application escrow fee.

  1. Permits can be found here.
  2. You will likely need a road permit. Contact Public Works prior to obtaining work permit.

  1. If you are building a new driveway or expanding or reconstructing an existing driveway, a driveway permit is needed.
    1. A site survey, site plan showing proposed driveway footprint, and grading/drainage plan is required to ensure zoning standards are met and storm water runoff is maintained on site and managed so that you do not direct runoff to neighboring property and you minimize direct runoff to the street or lake.
  2. You will likely need a road permit. Contact Public Works prior to obtaining work permit.

  1. If you are filling or excavating more than fifty (50) cubic yards or disturbing 10,000 square feet or more of area, a permit is required.
    1. Submit a grading and drainage plan showing area of work and quantities of cut and fill to Public Works.
  2. You will likely need a road permit. Contact Public Works prior to obtaining work permit.

  1. Contact the Council liaison to planning and building for any other projects prior to initiating the project.
City Hall

10609 South Shore Drive
Medicine Lake, MN 55441
(763) 542-9701
(763) 746-0142 fax

Office Hours:
First Monday of the month 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Zoning Regulations