Anoka County, MN Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Coverage limit
- 25% of parcel or buildable area
- Governing section
- Anoka County Ord. 2022-1, § 8.4.2.A
- Applies within
- Shoreland: 1,000 ft lakes / 300 ft rivers
- Effective date
- June 28, 2022
- Relief option
- Variance, § 3.5, Minn. Stat. § 394.27
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor plus possible injunction
Summary
On unincorporated shoreland lots in Anoka County, Ordinance No. 2022-1 caps every building and impervious surface combined at 25 percent of the parcel or the buildable area, whichever limit is tighter, to keep stormwater runoff from overwhelming nearby public waters.
2.5.23. Impervious surface. A constructed hard surface that prevents or retards entry of water into the soil and causes water to run off the surface in greater quantities and at an increased rate of flow than prior to development, including rooftops; decks; sidewalks; patios; swimming pools; parking lots; concrete, asphalt, gravel driveways, or permeable pavers; and other similar surfaces.
8.4.2. Specific Standards:
A. The combined area of all buildings and impervious surfaces on a parcel of land may not exceed 25 percent of the total area of the parcel or 25% of the buildable area, whichever is more restrictive.
Full Breakdown
Anoka County Ordinance No. A, sets the county's actual lot-coverage limit for unincorporated shoreland property: the combined area of all buildings and impervious surfaces on a parcel may not exceed 25 percent of the total parcel area, or 25 percent of the buildable area, whichever produces the smaller allowance. 23 as any constructed hard surface that prevents or retards water from entering the soil, expressly including rooftops, decks, sidewalks, patios, swimming pools, parking lots, and gravel, concrete, asphalt or paver driveways. 40 as land within 1,000 feet of a lake, pond or flowage's ordinary high water level, or 300 feet of a river or stream.
2 requires any addition or expansion of an existing nonconforming structure's outside dimensions to be reviewed for compliance rather than automatically grandfathered in. 5, evaluated under Minn. 7's mitigation criteria, which weigh soil erosion, visibility from the water and adequacy of the sewage system before any relief is granted. 2.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the 25 percent impervious-surface cap without an approved variance is a misdemeanor under Section 2.2.1, and this applies whether or not a building permit was ever pulled for the addition that pushed the lot over the limit. The County Attorney, working with the Public Health and Environmental Services Department, may also pursue injunctive relief in court to force removal or correction of the excess coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts toward the 25 percent lot-coverage cap?
Does the 25 percent cap apply to my whole property?
My house already covers more than 25 percent from before 2022. Am I in violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anoka County
Compare Anoka County to another location·View the Minnesota building setbacks & zoning overview
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