Planning and Zoning
The Planning Department maintains the City's Comprehensive Plan, which establishes overall goals and policies for community development, revitalization, maintenance, and growth. The Zoning Ordinance is the principal tool used to regulate land uses and development standards. Its primary purpose is to ensure public health, safety, and general welfare in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Department also produces many Maps, Development Lists, Reports, and Presentations for the public.

Zoning/Code Enforcement
The laws, ordinances, and resolutions adopted by the City Council are enforced through the Community Development Department. Zoning Ordinance violations are investigated, and notices are sent to residents who may not be in compliance with the City's regulations. The notice describes the nature of the violations and a reasonable time for the person to take corrective action.

Land Use Permits
The Planning Department is responsible for processing Land Use/Development applications including Concept Plans/Rezonings, Preliminary and Final Plats, Lot Consolidations/Divisions, Building/Site Plan reviews, Conditional Use Permits, Variances, and Mining/Filling Permits. For questions regarding application requirements, contact the City Planner at 952-448-9200.

Sign Permits
The Planning Department is responsible for processing Temporary Sign and Permanent Sign permit applications. Two sign permit applications are available, temporary sign permits and permanent sign permits. Temporary sign permits are for signs that advertise special sales, for example. Whereas permanent sign permits are for building signage. For questions regarding permit requirements, contact the City Planner at 952-448-9200.

Engineering
The Engineering Department manages issues related to lot grading, overland drainage, street signage, wetland management, development reviews, utility system review, and construction inspection. Management of public and private improvement projects represents the main focus of the Department. The Engineering Department is responsible for processing General Storm Water applications for Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems. For questions regarding engineering related issues, contact the City Engineer at 952-448-9200.
Description Sheets
1-001,1-002, 1-003, 1-004, 1-005, 1-006, 1-007, 2-010, 2-011, 3-012, 3-013, 3-014, 3-016, 3-017, 3-018, 3-019, 3-020, 4-021, 4-022, 4-023, 4-024, 4-025, 4-026, 4-027, 5-028, 6-029, 6-030, 6-031, 6-032, 6-033

Building/Plumbing/Mechanical Permits
The Building Division of the Department reviews Building, Plumbing, and Mechanical Plans. The department is also responsible for issuing building, plumbing, mechanical, and fence permits, as well as schedule and conduct inspections.

The Building Inspections Department also issues information regarding detached garages, porches, decks, and basements to assist homeowners.

For questions regarding permit requirements and scheduling inspections, contact the Building Inspections Department at 952-448-9200.

Electrical Permits
Building Permits do not include electrical wiring. A separate Request for Inspection must be filed with the Board at or before commencement of any electrical wiring that is required by law to be inspected. An owner who wishes to do his own electrical wiring may obtain a Request for Inspection form by sending one dollar ($1.00) with a request for such form to the State Board of Electricity at the following address:

1821 University Avenue, Ste. S-128
St. Paul, MN 55104-2993

For inspections only (651-642-0800), office hours are 7:00AM to 8:30AM Monday through Friday. It is the responsibility of the person filing the Request for Inspection to call for all required inspections.

Fire Marshal
The Fire Marshal is responsible for reviewing plans and issuing permits and policies for sprinklers, alarms, fireworks, and recreational fires. Plans are reviewed for existing occupancies as well as new. In addition, the Fire Marshal conducts fire extinguisher training for area businesses, fire safety education, and fire investigations. For questions regarding permit requirements or other issues related to fire safety, contact the Fire Marshal at 952-448-9200.

Rental Housing Maintenance/Inspection
The Fire Marshal administers the City's Rental Housing Maintenance / Inspection and Licensing Program. All rental housing units need to comply with minimum standards of maintenance. The Fire Marshal makes periodic inspections of rental property to assure this compliance. The purpose of this program is:

To protect, preserve, and promote the public health, safety, and general welfare;
To prevent housing conditions that adversely affect the lives of renters including their physical, mental, and social well-being;
To provide minimum standards for basic equipment and facilities for light, ventilation, and thermal conditions;
For safety from fire;
For the monitoring of the use, location, and the amount of space for human occupancy;
For an adequate level of maintenance;
To preserve the value of land and buildings throughout the City;
To provide for the administration and enforcement thereof.

For information on Rental Housing Maintenance/Inspection Program or the minimum standards of maintenance, call the Rental Housing Licensing at 952-448-9200.