Community Development
Permits

If you are considering a project, call or stop by the Community Development Office located in the rear of City Hall, 303 Ninth Street (entrance door located on Third Avenue) to find out if you need a building permit, and to obtain the requirements that may apply to your project.  Most projects require a building permit.  Some examples of projects that require a Building Permit are: re-shingling, siding, finishing the basement, altering room walls, installing drywall, or adding a room, storage shed or deck.  You don't need a permit when wallpapering, painting or carpeting.  

The cost of a building permit is determined by the cost of the project - the larger the project the higher the fee.  Check with the Community Development office for fee information on your specific project.

An excavation permit is required for replacement of a driveway approach or public sidewalk and for all other work allowed within the road right-of-way.

A sewer permit is required for a new connection or if you need to replace your existing sewer service.  If you have questions regarding your sewer service location, please contact the Community Development Office.

A plumbing permit is required if you are replacing piping, moving fixtures or adding new plumbing in your home.  All plumbing must be completed by a plumber licensed by the State of Minnesota, except that you can do plumbing only in the home you own and live in.  All plumbing work must be inspected.

You don't need a building permit from the City for electrical wiring but the work must be inspected by the State Electrical Inspector.  All electrical wiring work must be completed by an electrician licensed by the State of Minnesota, except that you can do electrical wiring in the home you own and live in.  All electrical wiring must be inspected by the State Electrical Inspector.

Storage sheds, although usually not subject to the building code, do require a building permit because there are certain zoning requirements you must follow.  There are required setbacks from the principal structure and setbacks from the lot lines for sheds.  No structures, including storage sheds, are allowed on easements.

You do need a building permit for a deck or the replacement of an existing deck.  There are both building code and zoning regulations that apply to the construction of a deck.  It is best to bring in a plan of the deck you wish to construct to see if it complies with the requirements.  To repair a small portion of an existing deck you should contact the Community Development office to determine whether or not your repairs would require a building permit.

A building permit is required for window replacement or window inserts.  If the entire window is removed, the replacements may continue to be nonconforming but the openable area may not be made smaller.  Window insert units or window track inserts that slip into the existing window frame, within normal tolerances, and without substantially reducing light and ventilation, may be installed in all windows.

You should contact the Community Development Office for fence height restrictions that apply at your location.  A building permit is required for fencing over the height of 6 feet.

An excavation permit is required for replacement of the driveway approach.  Driveway width standards apply to all driveways in Worthington.  You will need to contact the Community Development office for the driveway width applicable for your driveway or any other requirement which may apply.