City of Scandia, MN

The number, type and size of accessory buildings allowed depend on the lot size and the type of building. The regulations are found in the Development Code, Chapter 2 (Zoning). Section 3.2 contains most of the requirements, with additional standards on building type and materials found in Section 3.14.

Permitted Total Square Footage and Number of All Accessory Structures, Section 3.2 (C)

	Residential Accessory Structures (non-agricultural) *		Agricultural and Rural Buildings
Lot Size	Number of Structures**	Total Square Footage	Number of Structures	Total Square Footage
Parcels less than 1 acre	1	720 sq. ft.	None	None
1.0 to less than 3.0 acres	1	1,000 sq. ft.
3.00 acres to less than 5.00 acres	2	2,500 sq. ft.
5.00 acres to less than 10.00 acres	2	3,000 sq. ft.	1 rural use building***(3 total)	4,000 sq. ft. including non-agricultural buildings
10.00 acres to less than 20.00 acres	2	3,500 sq. ft.	2 agricultural buildings(4 total)	6,000 sq. ft. including non-agricultural buildings.
20.00 acres to less than 30.00 acres	2	4,500 sq. ft.	No limit provided structures are agricultural buildings.	No limit provided structures are agricultural buildings
30.00 acres to less than 40.00 acres	2	5,500 sq. ft.
40.00 acres to less than 60.00 acres	2	6,000 sq. ft.
60.00 acres to less than 80.00 acres	2	7,000 sq. ft.
80.00 acres and larger	2	8,000 sq. ft.

* If the property has no garage, one attached or detached garage is permitted in addition to the number of accessory structures listed in Section (C) above. This exception is intended to permit a garage only. If the garage exceeds 864 sq. ft. in size, any additional square footage above 864 sq. ft. shall count towards the total square footage of residential accessory structures that are permitted on the property by the table above. The total area of structures, including the garage, shall meet the lot coverage requirements. The property owner must demonstrate that there is adequate space available on the parcel for a primary and secondary septic system that meet Washington County SSTS ordinance requirements outside the area proposed for the garage.

** One single story shed of 120 square feet or less is permitted in addition to the number of accessory structures listed in Section (C), above. Ice fishing houses stored on parcels of land during non-winter months shall be deemed to be the permitted shed.

*** One rural accessory structure to shelter domestic farm animals or to provide storage for rural/farm uses is permitted on lots between 5.0 and 10.00 acres.

For a summary of the standards, download the Quick Refence Guide, below.

Quick Reference Guide, Accessory Buildings

Scandia requires a minimum lot size of 5 acres for keeping any livestock—including horses, cattle, hogs, llamas, sheep and goats, except for fowl. There must be at least 2 acres per “animal unit” (1 horse = 1 animal unit.) Scandia prohibits the keeping of wild or exotic animals.

The minimum acreage and animal density requirements are waived for the keepnig of fowl (chickens, turkeys, geese or ducks) on lots smaller than 5 acres provided minimum setbacks are met for any yards, runs or coops, and there is a minimum of 1 acre of land for each 0.1 animal unit. The maximum number of fowl per acre of land is as follows:

Chickens: maximum 10 per acre
Turkeys, geese or ducks: maximum 5 per acre

For more information, please see the printable (PDF document) "Quick Reference Guide" below.

Quick Reference Guide, Livestock and Livestock Operations

All personal property must be stored in a building or fully screened so as not to be visible from adjoining properties or public streets, except:

Construction, landscaping and agricultural equipment currently being used (within 6 months) on the premises
Off street parking of license passenger automobiles and pick-up trucks (maximum of four per lot on parcels 10 acres or less)

No personal property may be stored on a vacant lot (except materials used in the process of construction.)

Recreational Equipment:

No more than two items of the following may be stored outside: boats and canoes, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, and automobiles, trailers for their transport, and all travel trailers or motor vehicles designed, constructed, or used to provide temporary, movable living quarters for recreational use.Campers, travel trailers or RVs shall not be used as living quarters, except that such a vehicle owned by a non-resident guest may be parked on a residential (not vacant) lot for up to 30 days per year. The trailer or RV must have sanitary facilities.

Waste, refuse or garbage

Shall be kept in an enclosed building or a closed container.
The owner shall keep all property free of refuse.

For a printable (PDF document) summary of city regulations on this topic, please download the "Quick Reference Guide" and/or the excerpt of the Development Code provided below.

Question: When are permits required for land alteration or grading, or shoreland alterations?

Answer: Any land alteration or grading of 10 cubic yards or more and/or the disturbance of land area of 600 sq. ft. or more requires a grading permit. Any excavating, grading or filling or change in the earth's topography in any designated wetland or public water, wetland setback area, bluff setback or bluff impact area, floodplain, shoreland district or St. Croix River District. Any land alteration or development, regardless of size, that the City determines is likely to cause an adverse impact to an environmentally sensitive area, to another public property or to a City right-of-way. ANY grading or filling, including natural rock riprap in a Shoreland District requires a permit. Other special requirements also apply in Shoreland Areas. See the City's Development Code, Chapter 2, Section 3.6 for more information on Land Alteration and Grading.

BMP's (Best Management Practices) must be followed. Permits from other agencies (the DNR, watershed districts) may also be required. For more information,download the Quick Reference Guide, below.

Quick Reference Guide Land Alteration and Grading

Parking areas must have a durable and dustless surface.
Commercial vehicles (over 1 ton capacity) or commercially-license trailers may not be parked or stored on property zoned AG or SR except when loading, unloading or rendering service. Exceptions: trucks and tractors associated with an agricultural use, and one such truck or trailer in regular use by the property owner.
Parking accessory to residential uses must be used solely for passenger vehicles and /or one (1) truck not to exceed 12,000 pounds gross capacity.
Inoperable vehicles may not be parked for more than 7 days.
Unlicensed, operable vehicles may not be parked for more than 30 days.

For a printable (PDF document) summary of city regulations on this topic, please download the "Quick Reference Guide" and/or the excerpt of the Development Code provided below.

For answers to business sign questions, please see Ordinance 165 provided below.

Ordinance No. 165 (Signs)

No permit will be required for the following signs: Signs up to 10 square feet in area, noncommercial signs that comply with MN Statutes 211B.045 or successor statutes, signs placed on parcels that are currently offered for sale, or signs on parcels that are currently under construction for single-family or multiple-family residences. NO SIGNS ARE ALLOWED IN PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY.

For questions about signs, please see Ordinance 165 provided below.

Ordinance No. 165 (Signs)

To find the zoning classification of any property, consult the city zoning map.

For a detailed description of the requirements for each zoning district, see Chapter 2 of the Scandia Development Code. You may also want to review the Summary Chart of Allowable Land Uses by Zoning District.

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