Common Code Violations

The following includes the most common code violations and descriptions. View common city code FAQs. To submit a code violation, please complete this online form.

§ 150.090 REFUSE AND RECYCLABLES 
Every occupant must store and dispose of or recycle all refuse and recyclables in a clean, sanitary, and safe manner as prescribed by city ordinances. The storage of refuse and recyclable collection items may not be kept in the front yard setback without approved screening or fencing. 

§ 92.19 NUISANCE PARKING AND STORAGE
(B2) A person must not place, store, or allow the placement or storage of pipe, lumber, forms, steel, machinery, or similar materials, including all materials used in connection with a business, outside on residential property, unless shielded from public view by an opaque cover or fence. 

§ 152.179 PARKING 
(3) All vehicles, as defined in § 152.008, parked on any lot in an R-l, R-1A, R-2, or R-3 District must be parked on a surface paved with asphalt or bituminous material, concrete, cement, brick, or other paved surface, or on a gravel driveway located in the front yard. 

(4) Any vehicle without a current state registration must be parked in a garage or other building. 

§ 92.20 INOPERABLE MOTOR VEHICLES
(A) It shall be unlawful to keep, park, store, or abandon any motor vehicle which is not in operating condition, partially dismantled, used for repair of parts or as a source of repair or replacement parts for other vehicles, kept for scrapping, dismantling, or salvage of any kind, or which is not properly licensed for operation with the state,   pursuant to M.S. § 168B.011, Subd. 3

§ 150.094 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
(E) Yard cover. Every yard of premises on which a dwelling stands must be covered by lawns and/or ground cover of vegetation, gardens, hedges, shrubbery or related decorative materials and must be maintained. No land owner may permit or maintain on the land any growth of weeds, grass, brush or other rank vegetation to an average height greater than 6 inches, any accumulation of dead weeds, grass or brush, or any noxious weeds or plants as defined by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. 

§ 94.32 WEED CONTROL
Any weeds or grasses, whether noxious as defined by law or not, growing outside the traveled portion of any city street or alley, or growing on private property, to a greater height than 6 inches or which have gone or are about to go to seed must be cut or removed by the owner of the abutting property if within the city right-of-way, and by the owner of the property upon which they are growing if they are outside the right-of-way. 

§ 92.21  BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND APPEARANCE
(A) Declaration of nuisance.  Buildings, fences, and other structures that have been so poorly maintained that their physical condition and appearance detract from the surrounding neighborhood are declared to be public nuisances because they:

(1) Are unsightly; 

(2) Decrease adjoining landowners and occupants’ enjoyment of their property and neighborhood; and 

(3) Adversely affect property values and neighborhood patterns. 

(B) Standards.  A building, fence, or other structure is a public nuisance if it does not comply with the following requirements:

(1) No part of any exterior surface may have deterioration, holes, breaks, gaps, loose or rotting boards or timbers. 

(2) Every exterior surface that has had a surface finish such as paint applied must be maintained to avoid noticeable deterioration of the finish.  No wall or other exterior surface may have peeling, cracked, chipped, or otherwise deteriorated surface finish on more than 20%

§ 152.176  ACCESSORY BUILDINGS 
(A) In yards.  No detached accessory building may be located within any yard other than the rear yard, except that garages may be located in side yards. 

(B) Minimum setback.  The wall of an accessory buildings shall not be located less than five (5) feet from any property line and in no case shall any eave or other portion of any accessory building may be located within 3 feet of any property line, except as provided in division (L) below. 

(D) Setback from principal building.  Unless attached to and made a part of the principal building, no eave or other portion of an accessory building may be closer than 5 feet from any eave or other portion of a principal building 

(E) Design.  All accessory buildings constructed after the construction of the principal building must be designed and constructed in a manner consistent with the design and general appearance of the principal building. Accessory buildings constructed primarily of canvas, plastic fabric, or other similar non-permanent materials shall be prohibited.

(G). Number of buildings. A maximum of two individual accessory buildings per lot, including detached garages, shall be allowed in all zoning districts

§ 150.051 SWIMMING POOLS 
Any structure, bathing chamber, or tank used for swimming or bathing, over 24 inches in depth, or with a surface area of more than 150 square feet, that is constructed above or below ground. (1993 Code, § 1315.01)

BUILDING PERMITS REQUIRED - A building permit is required for the construction of or the alteration, remodeling, or addition of any improvement to a swimming pool.  A separate building permit is required for any pump house, filter house, enclosure for the swimming pool or any structure erected in conjunction with a swimming pool.  An applicant for the building permits shall make application on forms provided by the city and shall provide the Building Inspector with a complete set of plans and specifications of the proposed project.

SAFETY REQUIREMENTS 
Safety precautions must be at a minimum to comply with the following. 

(A) All pools must be provided with safeguards to prevent children from gaining uncontrollable access.  Safeguards must include a fence at least 6 feet in height designed to reasonably prevent uncontrolled access by children

(B) All fence openings or points of entry into the pool area enclosure must be equipped with a gate, and all gates must be equipped with self-closing and self-latching devices placed so as to be inaccessible to small children.  The gates must be locked at all times when the pool is not in direct use. (1993 Code, § 1315.04)

There are many additional requirements for any structure, bathing chamber, or tank used for swimming or bathing, over 24 inches in depth, or with a surface area of more than 150 square feet, that is constructed above or below ground.

PERMITS, PERMITS PERMITS – assume that you need one. Here are  just a few of the 165 references to permits in our code:

• § 150.051 BUILDING PERMITS REQUIRED
• § 150.071 BUILDING PERMITS REQUIRED
• § 152.005 PERMITS REQUIRED
• § 152.243 CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS
• § 154.02 PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
• § 155.24 SIGNS REQUIRING PERMITS
• § 50.03 PREREQUISITES TO ISSUE OF PERMITS
• § 50.04 SEWER PERMITS
• § 73.05 SPECIAL PERMITS
• § 94.53 PERMIT
• § 96.24 REVOCATION OF PERMIT