If you are planning to build a deck in Minneapolis or a shed in Plymouth, do not look for the "Hennepin County Building Department." It doesn't exist for residential projects.
In Hennepin County, the 46 individual municipalities hold the permitting power. However, because they all enforce the Minnesota State Building Code, the baseline requirements for a site plan are uniform—and they are strict about boundary accuracy.
Do You Need a Site Plan for a Small Permit in Hennepin County?
Yes. If your project requires a building permit from your city, you will need a site plan.
The Minnesota State Building Code states that site plans must be drawn according to an accurate boundary line survey. At a minimum, your city will require the plan to show:
- Property lines with exact dimensions and total lot area.
- Setbacks (the exact distance from the proposed structure to all property lines).
- Existing structures and the proposed construction.
- Lot coverage and impervious surface calculations (in square feet and percentages).
- Easements, driveways, and parking areas.
- The Hennepin County Property ID (PID) number.
- A North arrow and an indicated scale (minimum 1/8″ scale; 1/4″ recommended).
Who Runs Into This in Hennepin County
* who waste days searching the Hennepin County website for a building permit application, only to realize they need to apply through the City of Bloomington.
- Minneapolis residents who try to build a 150-square-foot shed without a permit, running afoul of the state's strict 120-square-foot exemption limit.
- DIY deck builders who submit a hand-drawn sketch without locating their property pins, resulting in the city demanding a costly licensed survey.
- Suburban homeowners who max out their backyard with a massive patio, triggering a stormwater management review because they exceeded their city's impervious surface limits.
What Needs a Site Plan in Hennepin County
- Fence permit site plan — Fences under 7 feet are often exempt from building permits under state code, but cities like Minneapolis require a zoning check and site plan for fences of any height.
- Shed permit site plan — Required for sheds over 120 sq ft. (Sheds 120 sq ft or less are generally exempt from building permits statewide).
- Deck permit site plan — Required for decks over 30 inches above grade or attached to the house.
- Patio permit site plan — Required to calculate impervious surface, which is strictly capped in most Hennepin County cities to manage stormwater.
- Pool permit site plan — Required for pools with a water depth exceeding 24 inches.
- Addition permit site plan — Required. A full survey is usually required for additions, though some cities grant survey waivers for small footprints.
- ADU (Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit) — Required. The Minneapolis 2040 plan allows internal and detached ADUs on all residential lots, but strict site plans showing setbacks and utilities are required.
Why This Trips People Up in Hennepin County
The Jurisdiction Confusion. Hennepin County only issues permits for county-owned buildings and a few unincorporated slivers. If you live in Minneapolis, you apply through CPED. If you live in Edina, you use the Edina building department. You must check your jurisdiction on the Hennepin County GIS before doing anything else.
The Boundary Line Survey Rule. Minnesota state code requires site plans to be based on an accurate boundary survey. For new construction, you must hire a licensed surveyor. However, for smaller projects (like decks and sheds), most cities offer a survey waiver. To get the waiver, you must physically locate your property monuments (iron pins in the ground) and prove to the city that your proposed project is well within the required setbacks (often requiring 2x the minimum setback distance to waive the survey).
Minneapolis 2040 Plan. If you live in Minneapolis, the zoning rules have changed drastically. Single-family-only zoning was eliminated, meaning you can potentially build up to a triplex on a standard lot. However, this density is heavily regulated by new lot coverage and impervious surface limits, making accurate site plan math critical.
The 120 Square Foot Exemption. Across Minnesota, sheds that are 120 square feet or less are generally exempt from building permits. But remember: they are not exempt from zoning setbacks.
Zoning and Setbacks in Hennepin County
Because you are dealing with 46 different cities, setbacks vary wildly. You must check your specific city's municipal code.
Examples of Variation:
- Minneapolis (R1 Zone): 15-20 ft front setback; 3-5 ft side setback; 5-6 ft rear setback. Maximum lot coverage is typically 45-50%.
- Bloomington: Often requires a 20 ft front, 5 ft side, and 5 ft rear setback for accessory structures.
- Corcoran / Rural areas: Often requires structures to be significantly further from the property line (sometimes 50+ feet) and heavily scrutinizes well and septic locations.
How the Tool Handles This — 4 Steps
SitePlans.ai loads Hennepin County parcel data so you can generate the scaled site plan required by your specific city's building department:
- Enter your address — Lot lines load from county GIS records.
- Place your project — Add your deck, shed, or ADU to the lot.
- Label the Set the setbacks — Drop distance lines to prove your project is far enough from the property line to qualify for a city survey waiver.
- Export a clean PDF — Download a professional, scaled plan ready for your city's specific permit portal.
Where This Tool Fits — and Where It Doesn't
| Situation | Best path |
|---|---|
| Shed over 120 sq ft, deck, or small addition | SitePlans.ai for the preliminary site plan (often qualifies for a survey waiver) |
| Checking setbacks for an exempt 100 sq ft shed | SitePlans.ai to visualize layout and avoid zoning violations |
| New home construction | Licensed MN Surveyor legally required |
| Disputed property lines / missing iron pins | Licensed MN Surveyor required |
| Substantial stormwater disturbance | Licensed Civil Engineer required |
What This Doesn't Replace
SitePlans.ai helps create preliminary, conceptual site plans for projects where your city building department allows homeowner-prepared drawings (via a survey waiver). It is not a licensed land survey. If you are building a new residential dwelling, or if you are building inches away from a setback line and cannot locate your property pins, the Minnesota State Building Code requires you to hire a licensed Minnesota surveyor.
Comparison: Your Options for a Hennepin County Site Plan
| Method | Cost | Time | Stamp | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand sketch | Free | 1–2 hrs | ✗ | Often rejected if impervious surface calculations are missing |
| SitePlans.ai | Free first plan | Minutes | ✗ | Generates the clean PDF and math required for city survey waivers |
| CAD drafter | $300–$800+ | 1–2 weeks | Sometimes | Overkill for most decks and sheds |
| Licensed MN Surveyor | $800–$2,500+ | 3–5 weeks | ✅ | Mandatory for new homes and large footprint additions |
| SitePlans.us (done-for-you) | Custom | 1–3 days | ✗ | Best if your first attempt was rejected by your city's planning desk |
Common Mistakes That Delay Hennepin County Permits
- Applying to the county — Sending permit applications to Hennepin County instead of the specific city building department.
- Ignoring impervious surface caps — Submitting a site plan for a massive patio in Minneapolis without calculating the impervious surface percentage, resulting in an automatic rejection.
- Forgetting the PID — Failing to include the Hennepin County Property ID number on the site plan title block.
- Missing the 120 sq ft rule — Assuming a 10x14 shed (140 sq ft) doesn't need a permit, leading to a stop-work order from the city.
- Guessing property lines — Drawing a deck 5 feet from a guessed property line. (If you can't find the physical survey pins in the ground, the city will likely deny your survey waiver and force you to hire a surveyor).
Support and Local Resources
- Hennepin County GIS / Property Map — gis.hennepin.us/property/ — CRITICAL for finding your PID and verifying your city jurisdiction.
- Minneapolis CPED (Permits) — minneapolismn.gov
- Minneapolis 2040 Plan — minneapolis2040.com (Review new zoning allowances).
- Hennepin County Environmental Health — (612) 543-5200 (for septic/well permits in rural areas).
- FEMA Flood Maps — msc.fema.gov
Nearby Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does Hennepin County issue building permits?
For residential construction, no. Building permits are issued by the individual cities within the county (e.g., Minneapolis, Edina, Plymouth). Hennepin County only issues permits for county-owned property and handles health/septic permits.
2. Do I need a surveyor for a deck in Minneapolis?
Not always. While state code requires a boundary survey, most Hennepin County cities (including Minneapolis) offer a "survey waiver" for decks and small additions if you can physically locate your property pins and prove your project easily meets setbacks using a homeowner-drawn site plan.
3. Do I need a permit for a shed in Hennepin County?
Statewide, sheds that are 120 square feet or less are exempt from building permits. If your shed is over 120 square feet, a building permit and site plan are required by your city.
4. What is the Minneapolis 2040 Plan?
It is a comprehensive plan that eliminated single-family-only zoning in Minneapolis, allowing up to three units (triplexes) on standard residential lots and expanding the ability to build Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
5. How do I find my Property ID (PID) number?
You can find your 13-digit PID by searching your address on the Hennepin County GIS Property Map. This number must be included on your site plan.
6. Can I use SitePlans.ai for a permit in Hennepin County?
Yes. For projects that qualify for a survey waiver (like decks, sheds, and small additions), SitePlans.ai allows you to create the scaled, dimensioned site plan with lot coverage calculations that your specific city building department requires.
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Start Your Hennepin County Site Plan
Check your jurisdiction and grab your PID from the Hennepin County GIS first. Then, enter your address below to pull your property lines, place your project, calculate your impervious surface, and download the clean PDF you need for your city's permit portal.
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