Environmental Rules in St. Louis County, MN (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated St. Louis County, Minnesota.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Countywide, Section 6.19 of Zoning Ordinance 62 lets stormwater management proceed without a separate permit only if a property stays under the zone district's maximum impervious lot coverage, leaves natural drainage features unchanged, retains sediment on site during any disturbance, and restabilizes disturbed ground within seven days; engineered stormwater facilities still need Director review and approval.
St. Louis County Stormwater Management Rule
Some RestrictionsSt. Louis County Zoning Ordinance 62, Section 6.19.A
Section 6.19 Stormwater Management Administrative Standards "C" A. No Permit Required: General Minimum Standards for All Stormwater Management: No permit shall be required for stormwater management if the following standards are met: 1. Impervious lot coverage shall not exceed the maximum lot coverage of the zone district. 2. Existing natural features that control stormwater runoff shall remain...
Erosion Control
Any land alteration within 300 feet of a lake or river in unincorporated St. Louis County, whether or not it needs a permit, must follow Section 6.16's erosion-control minimums: expose the least bare ground possible, cover disturbed soil with mulch, stabilize it with permanent vegetation within seven days, and use silt fences or sediment traps to keep material out of the water.
St. Louis County Shoreline Erosion Control
Some RestrictionsSt. Louis County Zoning Ordinance 62, Section 6.16.A, C
A. General: Minimum Standards for All Alterations: The following standards shall apply to all land alterations whether they require a permit or not: 1. Alterations shall be designed and constructed to ensure the least amount of bare ground is exposed. 2. Mulches or similar materials shall be used for temporary bare ground coverage, and the disturbed area shall be stabilized with permanent veget...
Flood Zones
St. Louis County Floodplain Ordinance No. 69 requires a permit from the Director before any building, fence, pool, fill, excavation, or utility work occurs within a mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, covering the Floodway, Flood Fringe, General Floodplain, and Coastal Districts identified on FEMA's March 25, 2025 Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
Floodplain Development Permits in St. Louis County
Significant RestrictionsSt. Louis County Floodplain Ordinance No. 69, Section 4.1
4.1 Permit Required. A permit must be obtained from the Director to verify compliance with all applicable standards outlined in this ordinance prior to the following uses or activities: 4.11 The erection, addition, modification, maintenance, rehabilitation, repair, or alteration of any building, structure, or portion thereof. Normal maintenance requires a permit to determine if such work, eithe...
Flood Elevation Requirements
St. Louis County sets its Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation (RFPE) at one foot above the base flood elevation, plus any rise from floodway encroachment, and requires the lowest floor of a residential structure built on fill in the Flood Fringe District to sit at or above that RFPE, with fill extending at least 15 feet beyond the structure.
Flood Elevation Standards in St. Louis County
Some RestrictionsSt. Louis County Floodplain Ordinance No. 69, Sections 2.141, 6.21.A
2.141 Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation (RFPE). An elevation that is one foot above the elevation of the base flood plus any increases in the water surface elevation caused by encroachments on the floodplain that result from designation of a floodway. ... 6.21 A. Elevation on Fill. Structures erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, or moved on fill within the Flood Fringe District sha...
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