Accessory Structures in Olmsted County, MN (2026)
2 rules for unincorporated Olmsted County, Minnesota.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Olmsted County doesn't allow garage apartments or backyard ADUs by right on its farm lots; a second dwelling on an agricultural lot is only permitted as a mobile home, approved as a conditional use, and only when the household meets one of four narrow family or farm-labor conditions.
Second Dwelling Unit Rules in Olmsted County
Significant RestrictionsOlmsted County Code of Ordinances, Ch. 1400 § 5.00(B)(1)
1. One mobile home as a second dwelling on a lot, under one or more of the following circumstances. a) When there is a need to provide services to residents of either of the dwellings for reasons of physical or mental condition; or b) When all adult residents of either of the dwellings are sixty (60) years of age or older; or; c) When at least one of the adult occupants of each dwelling is empl...
Shed & Carport Rules
In the townships Olmsted County zones directly, Eyota, Marion, Oronoco and Quincy, a shed or other accessory building is capped by lot size. In the R-1, ARC and RSD districts a lot under one acre tops out at 1,000 square feet of combined accessory floor area, rising to 1,200 on one-to-two-acre lots and 1,500 on lots of two acres or more, and a Zoning Certificate is required before you build.
Shed and Accessory Building Rules in Olmsted County
Some RestrictionsOlmsted County Code of Ordinances, Ch. 1400 § 10.22(B)(1),(5)
1. In the R-1, ARC - Residential Area, and RSD Districts, accessory buildings may be located in the buildable area or within the rear yard. In the case of an accessory building located in the rear yard, such building may be located not less than five (5) feet from an interior side lot line and not less than eight (8) feet from a rear lot line. The maximum cumulative gross floor area (measured o...
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