Planning applications & permits

The planning commission meets once a month, generally on the 4th Tuesday.

Please check the application schedule(PDF, 163KB) to verify the date of the upcoming planning commission meeting as well as the deadline to submit the application to ensure it gets on that agenda.

See below for the planning commission applications and handouts for the required information.

WARNING: The FBI recently released a public service announcement about a scam involving planning and zoning permits. Scammers pretending to be city officials are sending emails asking for money on planning and zoning permits. The city will not ask you to make payments with the following methods:

Wire transfer
Apps like Venmo or Zelle
Cryptocurrency

If you get a suspicious email about a permit fee, do not pay it. Instead, call our office at 651-490-4680 to make sure it's real. You can also file a complaint at IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center).

City code or comprehensive plan amendments

These requests are initiated by the city council, planning commission, or affected property owner. They require a public hearing and planning commission and city council approval. Comprehensive plan amendments also need to be approved by the Metropolitan Council.

City code text amendment

City code text amendment application(PDF, 168KB)

City code text amendment info sheet(PDF, 43KB)

$500 filing fee

Comprehensive plan amendment

Comprehensive plan amendment application(PDF, 170KB)

Comprehensive plan amendment info sheet(PDF, 328KB)

$600 filing fee or
$100 if amending from natural or residential sections of the comp plan

Rezoning

Rezoning application(PDF, 170KB)

Rezoning info sheet(PDF, 59KB)

$500 filing fee or
$100 if amending from UND to residential

Commercial or large-scale residential projects

Comprehensive sign plan

Comprehensive sign plan application(PDF, 170KB)

Comprehensive sign plan info sheet(PDF, 72KB)

For a multi-tenant building or where proposed signage does not meet the sign regulations.
Depending on request, it requires an administrative approval or planning commission review and city council approval

Major subdivisions

Major subdivision application(PDF, 171KB)

Major subdivision info sheet(PDF, 341KB)

For four or more parcels in residential districts or any division is all other districts
Requires planning commission review and city council approval for both preliminary and final plats
Preliminary plat - $600 filing fee plus $25 per lot
Final plat - $400 filing fee plus $20 per lot

Planned unit development (PUD)

Planned unit development application(PDF, 175KB)

PUD concept review info sheet(PDF, 117KB)

PUD development stage info sheet(PDF, 59KB)

PUD final stage info sheet(PDF, 45KB)

Concept and development stages
- Requires planning commission review and city council approval
- Concept review – reviews land use compatibility, not required but encouraged
- Concept review - $300 filing fee
- Development stage – detailed review of site and subdivision plans
- Development stage - $600 filing fee plus $25 per lot
Final stage
- Reviews compliance with prior approvals
- Requires city council approval
- Final review - $300 filing fee

Sign permit

Sign permit application(PDF, 330KB)

For installing any sign
Regulations are in Section 208 of the development code

Site and building plan review

Site and building plan review application(PDF, 169KB)

Site and building plan review info sheet(PDF, 70KB)

For the alteration, or expansion of any use in all commercial, industrial, business park district, mixed use or multi-family residential district.
Requires planning commission review and city council approval
$500 filing fee

Temporary sale or event permits

Temporary sale/event permit application(PDF, 170KB)

Temporary sale/event info sheet(PDF, 44KB)

For temporary sales or events
Requires administrative approval
$50 filing fee

Conditional uses

Conditional use permit application(PDF, 171KB)

Conditional use permit info sheet(PDF, 51KB)

For establishing or expanding certain uses that have greater potential for adverse impact on nearby areas
For establishing certain uses within a floodplain
Conditions are included in the permit
Requires a public hearing before the planning commission and city council approval
$400 filing fee
$46 recording fee

Residential applications

A residential planning request application(PDF, 174KB) is needed for the following items. Please review the informational handouts for each item to see what else needs to be submitted.

Accessory apartment

Accessory apartment info sheet(PDF, 47KB)

For an accessory apartment on single family properties
Requires administrative approval
$75 filing fee
$46 recording fee

Detached accessory structure permit for a lake lot

Detached accessory structure info sheet(PDF, 280KB)

For constructing an accessory building in the front yard of a lake lot
Requires administrative approval
$50 filing fee

Home occupation

Home occupation info sheet(PDF, 237KB)

For a home occupation business in a residential district
Requires administrative approval
$75 filing fee

Minor subdivision

Minor subdivision info sheet(PDF, 46KB)

Generally, for three or less parcels
Requires planning commission review and city council approval
$250 filing fee

Residential design review

Residential design review info sheet(PDF, 84KB)

Residential design review worksheet(PDF, 242KB)

For constructions, reconstruction, alteration, or addition to dwellings on substandard lots
Requires planning commission approval
$150 filing fee
$46 recording fee

Variance

Variance info sheet(PDF, 282KB)

For permitting something different from the development code when strict compliance would cause practical difficulty
Requires planning commission approval
$400 filing fee for residential or $750 for commercial
$46 recording fee