Plymouth, MN Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Plymouth City Code § 400.13
- Survey required
- New buildings and additions
- Min. lowest floor elevation
- 2 ft above 100-year floodplain
- Permit fees
- Set in Chapter X fee schedule
- Violation penalty
- Misdemeanor under § 400.07
Summary
In the City of Plymouth, Minnesota, every permit application for a new building or addition must include a certified survey under City Code § 400.13, showing lot lines, wetland buffers, and flood-plain elevations. The Building Official reviews the survey before construction, and Building Code violations are prosecuted as misdemeanors under § 400.07.
Each permit application for a new building or addition shall be accompanied by survey of said premises and information on the location and the dimension of existing and proposed buildings, locations of easements crossing the property, encroachments, and any other information which shall be necessary to ensure conformance with the City ordinances and may include the following: ... E.The approved lowest floor minimum elevation shall be no less than two feet above the established 100-year flood plain elevation as determined by the City Storm Water Drainage Plan and/or the Federal Flood Insurance Map, subject to approval by the City Engineer. The lowest opening shall be no less than one and one-half feet above the highest point of any adjacent emergency flow.
Full Breakdown
13, prepared to City Engineer standards. The survey must show every existing and proposed building's dimensions and distance from lot lines and any wetlands or wetland buffers, plus elevations to sea-level datum for the foundation top, garage floor, lowest floor and lowest opening. The approved lowest floor must sit at least two feet above the established 100-year floodplain elevation, and the lowest opening must be at least one and one-half feet above the highest point of any adjacent emergency overflow, both subject to City Engineer approval. 03. Lots within a shoreland management overlay district must calculate total impervious surface coverage. 133. 148. 07.
Violations & Fines
Building without the required survey and permit information, or building below the minimum flood-plain elevations set in § 400.13, is enforced as a Building Code violation, which § 400.07 makes a misdemeanor. The Building Official can withhold a certificate of occupancy until corrected survey, grading and elevation certifications are on file, and the City may require corrective construction work before further building is permitted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Plymouth require a survey to get a building permit?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Plymouth
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Building Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Hennepin County handle building permits.