Environmental Rules in Olmsted County, MN (2026)
4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Olmsted County, Minnesota.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Olmsted County bans dumping anything but storm water into its MS4 storm drainage system and watercourses under Chapter 3800. The Public Works, Environmental Resources and Planning Departments enforce it, and illicit connections or discharges can draw a notice of violation, remediation costs, or criminal charges.
Stormwater Discharge Rules in Olmsted County
Significant RestrictionsOlmsted County Code of Ordinances, Ch. 3800 § VI (Discharge Prohibitions) and § XVII (Criminal Prosecution)
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged into the County storm drainage system or watercourses any materials, including but not limited to pollutants or waters containing any pollutants that cause or contribute to a violation of applicable water quality standards, other than storm water. ... Any person violating the provisions of this ordinance for which no civil notice of violation ...
Erosion Control
Olmsted County's zoning ordinance limits soil loss from construction and land clearing to five tons per acre per year, tightened to two tons near shorelines and wetlands, and requires an approved erosion control plan before the Zoning Administrator issues a zoning certificate for any land disturbing activity over 10,000 square feet.
Erosion and Sediment Control Rules in Olmsted County
Some RestrictionsOlmsted County Code of Ordinances, Ch. 1400 §§ 10.20(B)(1)-(2), 10.20(C)(1)
B. Standards: Any land disturbing activity initiated after the effective date of this ordinance must meet the following standards: 1. At no time shall a land disturbing activity cause the estimated sheet erosion rate to exceed five (5) tons per acre per year. 2. At no time shall a land disturbing activity within a shoreland area or within three hundred (300) feet of a wetland cause the estimate...
Flood Zones
Olmsted County participates in the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program and administers floodplain rules through Chapter 3750 - Floodplain and Shoreland Ordinance (Ordinance No. 23-5). The ordinance regulates development along the Zumbro River and its tributaries, requires Department of Natural Resources approval and FEMA notification for changes to base flood water surface elevations, and applies Minnesota's statutory floodplain framework under Minn. Stat. Ch. 103F (Floodplain Management). The Olmsted County Planning Department administers and enforces the ordinance.
Flood Zone Rules in Olmsted County
Some RestrictionsOlmsted County Code of Ordinances Chapter 3750, Floodplain and Shoreland Ordinance, Section 4.01 (Ord. 23-5, eff. Sept. 21, 2023)
Section 4.01 LAND TO WHICH ORDINANCE APPLIES. (A) This ordinance applies to all lands within the jurisdiction of Olmsted County within the boundaries of the Floodway, Flood Fringe and General Floodplain Districts. (B) The Floodway, Flood Fringe or General Floodplain Districts are overlay districts. The standards imposed in the overlay districts are in addition to any other requirements. In case...
Boat Dock Permits
Olmsted County's shoreland zoning code caps water-oriented accessory structures like docks, boathouses and watercraft storage buildings at one per residential lot, ten feet tall and 250 square feet, set back at least ten feet from the ordinary high-water level, and buildings or decks in shoreland need a Section 9.10 zoning permit before construction.
Boat Dock and Boathouse Rules in Olmsted County
Some RestrictionsOlmsted County Code of Ordinances, Ch. 1400 Zoning Ordinance, Art. IX § 9.15(C)(3)
3. Water oriented accessory structures or facilities: Each residential lot may have one water oriented accessory structure or facility if it complies with the following provisions: a. The structure or facility must not exceed ten (10) feet in height, exclusive of safety rails, and cannot occupy an area greater than 250 square feet. The structure or facility may include detached decks not to exc...
Environmental Rules by City in Olmsted County
1 cities in Olmsted County have their own environmental rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Olmsted County ordinances
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