Houses & Apartment Buildings
Regulations
Permits Required for Work on Residential Buildings
Chapter 4-1 & State Building Code, Minn. Statute §326B.101 et seq.
Residents are required to obtain permits from Community Development – Building Safety for remodeling work, including additions, decks, new windows and doors, garages, sheds over 120 square feet in area, pools over 5,000 gallons, retaining walls greater than 4 feet high and fences over 6 feet tall.
Zoning Certificates for Work not Requiring a Building Permit
61.111 Zoning Ordinance regulated by Community Development
When a Zoning Certificate is required: Subdivision 1. A zoning certificate shall be required before (1) any new use may be established involving a change in the manner in which the exterior portion of a site is used or involving the erection, construction, reconstruction or alteration (as defined) of a building or structure; (2) an existing use is changed or modified so as to alter the character of its occupancy; (3) the re-establishment of a use involving the erection, reconstruction, construction or alteration of a building or structure; or (4) the establishment of a temporary use on a site may proceed.
Storage sheds 200 sq ft or less do not require a building permit (changed from 120 sq ft), but they require a zoning certificate.
Fences 6’ or less do not require a building permit. Fences over 6’ but at or below 7’ require a zoning certificate.
Identification of Houses, Buildings, and Apartments
Sect. 7-2-38 & Sec. 9-11-3
Every house and building must have address numbers that can be easily read from the street or road fronting the property. The numbers must be on the front of the building, be as close to the main entrance as practicable, be at least .5 inches in width and 4 inches tall, Arabic numerals or alphabet letters and contrast with the color of the building. Easily visible numbers and/ or letters are also required on the entrance door to every apartment and rooming unit in any dwelling.
Houses and Apartment Buildings / Sign Restrictions
61.130 Zoning ordinance regulated by Community Development
A sign permit issued by the zoning administrator is generally required before a sign can be erected, altered or replaced. Temporary signs do not require a sign permit but may need to meet other applicable regulations.
Well & Water Supply
3200 (Olmsted County Ordinances)
Owners of wells on residences which are also served by a public water supply must apply for a maintenance permit for that well.
Standards
Minimum Housing Standards
Chapter 7-2
All residential dwellings must have: Properly functioning kitchen sink, bathroom sink, toilet, bathtub or shower, running hot and cold water, adequate and safely functioning heat and electricity, adequate number of windows and proper ventilation, garbage storage containers, with operable smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detector, and a safe way to exit the building.
Rental Property
Chapter 7-5
All rental property within the City of Rochester must be registered with Building Safety as meeting all safety requirements and have a current rental certificate.
Sections 7-4-1 & 7-3-12
All rental property must be fit for human occupancy, and must be kept clean and safe.
Section 7-5-5 (c)(19)
Either the rental property owner or property manager hired to maintain the property is required to attend a public safety seminar.
Violations of Public Health or Safety Hazards Abatement Procedure
Sections 7-3-23 & 7-3-24
A person who creates, maintains, or allows to continue a property condition that poses a risk to public health or safety must abate the hazard contained on any property. The City, by and through its authorized personnel, may under appropriate circumstances enter upon such property and abate the public health hazard by any reasonable means, including the contracting with a private person to do so.
Disorderly Use
Section 7-5-19
Landlords are responsible for taking appropriate action against tenants or tenant’s guests who are disorderly on the property. Disorderly use of the property can include loud music/noises, assault (other than domestic), obscenity, overcrowding, unlawful sale of alcoholic beverages, gambling, disorderly conduct, indecent conduct, prostitution, participating in a disorderly house, drug offenses, and weapon offenses. Three violations within one year can result in sanctions against the landlord, including the loss of the landlord’s rental certificate.
Open Areas
Section 7-3-21
All open areas and parts of premises shall be maintained and kept in a reasonably clean and neat condition. This requirement shall include the removal of dead trees and brush; the removal of inoperable machines, appliances, fixtures and equipment; the removal of lumber piles and building materials not being used in actual construction on the premises unless such premises are being used by a business dealing in or requiring the use of such lumber and materials, and the storage of these materials for business use is allowed or permitted by ordinance; the removal of tin cans, broken glass, broken furniture, mattresses, box springs, boxes, crates, cardboard, tires, and other garbage and debris; and the removal of furniture and other items of the type not designed or intended to be stored outside or in such a manner that they are exposed to weather and climatic conditions.