Please review these preliminary guidelines before moving forward with the permitting process:

1. Before applying for a permit, verify that it is in the City of Wayzata. Addresses with a Wayzata mailing address are often in a different city. Property Map | Hennepin County

2. Commercial Plumbing Plan Review is completed by the state. Before applying for a commercial plumbing permit, review this checklist to see if you meet the requirements for a minor remodel. If you do not meet the requirements, you can apply for plan review here. If you have five or fewer standard plumbing fixtures and the work being done is a non-licensed facility, it may qualify as a minor remodel and plan review will be done by the city. 

3. Residential plumbing work may be exempt from requiring a permit. Use this document to determine if your project requires a permit. 

4. To reduce the time plan review takes, before applying for a building permit review this document to ensure you have met all the Plan Review requirements.

Click here to apply for a permit

Click here to apply for a rental license

State Inspection Requirements

Electrical permits are required for all electrical wiring. In Wayzata, the State Board of Electricity issues these permits and performs all the inspections.

State Electrical Inspector

If you have questions or need to schedule an inspection, call Dave Hucky, State Electrical Inspector, at 952-442-2761.

Electrical Inspection Requests

If electrical wiring is to be done by a licensed electrical contractor, the electrical contractor is responsible for filing the Request for Electrical Inspection and calling for inspections. Once the electrical permit has been issued, a rough-in and final inspection must be scheduled.

Rental Licenses

The City of Wayzata administers a rental dwelling licensing program. This program helps to ensure that all rental dwelling units meet minimum standards to protect public health, safety, and welfare.

Rental property owners or a designated manger must also complete phase 1 of the Crime Free Multi Housing training.

Ordinance 815

On March 6, 2012, the Wayzata City Council amended Ordinance number 815, which requires all premises rented in whole or in part as a dwelling unit to be licensed annually. This includes all apartment complexes, single family homes, condominiums with private entrances, town homes, duplexes, owner occupied duplexes, and guest and caretaker houses. Rental dwelling units must meet the requirements of Wayzata City Code Chapter 803 regarding property maintenance.

Prior to inspection, landlords should review the Rental License Preinspection Checklist.   Rental License Pre-inspection Checklist (PDF) 

Renter Information

The following provides some information about your rights as a renter. For more information contact Wayzata's Inspection Department at 952-404-5301

Background

In 2008 the City of Wayzata developed a rental license ordinance which references the City Property Maintenance Code. The purpose of this ordinance is to assure that rental housing in the City is decent, safe and sanitary and is so operated and maintained as not to become a nuisance to the community.

Licensing

Before you move into your new apartment, your landlord must be able to show proof of a rental license. It is illegal to offer a dwelling for rent without a current rental license. The license lets you know, that the common space of the building and grounds has been inspected and approved as rental property. 

Complaints

According to Minnesota law the landlord is responsible to make sure that the rental unit is:

• Fit to live in
• Kept in reasonable repair
• Kept in compliance with state and local health and housing codes

Tell the landlord or caretaker about any problems with the housing unit. If the repairs are not completed after notice has been made, you can ask the City Inspector to inspect the rental unit by calling 952-404-5301. Violations discovered by the inspection will be cited and the owner given a timetable for corrections, based on the seriousness of each violation. It is always a good idea to notify the landlord both verbally and in writing of the problem, include dates and keep a copy of the letter for your records.

Filing a Complaint

Any citizen of Wayzata can file a complaint about the appearance of any property. All complaints will be investigated by the Wayzata Inspection Department. Complaints involving life/safety issues will take priority. Complainant information is classified as confidential and will not be released except by a court order. It is a crime for your landlord to retaliate against you for making a complaint; it is likewise illegal for you to make a false or malicious complaint.

Please note that your lease with the landlord is a legally binding contract of which the City of Wayzata has no part. Except for the provisions outlined in the City ordinance, the City will not get involved in breaches of your lease in any way, including evictions.

Responsibilities

As a tenant, you have an obligation to help keep your apartment or rental unit in compliance with the Property Maintenance Code. This includes making sure all garbage and waste is disposed of properly, as well as keeping your premises safe and sanitary.

Conduct on Rental Property

Landlords are held responsible for the conduct of the people on their property. Therefore, loud parties and other disruptive activity, which result in the police being called, may put your landlord's license in danger of being revoked.

Attorney General's Office

The Minnesota Attorney General's Office publishes a handbook called "Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities," that outlines the expectations spelled out by state statutes. The handbook is available at no cost and can be obtained by calling the Attorney General's Office at (651) 296-3353 or 800-657-3787 (TDY 1-800-366-4812). This handbook is also  available online (PDF) .

Home Line

Home Line provides free legal, organizing, education, and advocacy services so that tenants can solve their own rental housing problems. Home Line works to improve public and private policies related to rental housing by involving affected tenants in the process. Tenant/landlord legal advice and problem-solving includes:

• Explanations of applicable laws
• Procedures for legal options available to tenants
• Providing form letters, fact sheets, excerpts from statutes, or other written information
• Referrals to local housing inspectors, sources of emergency assistance, etc.

Tenants who contact Home Line will usually receive immediate attention to their problem from 1 of the staff attorneys or law student volunteers. Tenants will receive free advice regarding Minnesota landlord/tenant law and options for resolving the problem will be offered. Home Line is free and available to all tenants, regardless of income. The number for Home Line is 612-728-5767 and you can  learn more on their website .

Applying for a Building Permit

Projects Requiring Permits

Building permits are required for most building projects, including new construction, additions, structural changes, decks, finished basements, pools, demolition, structural alterations, roofing, siding and window replacements. Generally additional permits are required for electrical, plumbing and heating/air conditioning work.

Exempt Projects

Work that is exempt from a permit includes painting, wallpapering, flooring, kitchen cabinets, minor repairs, and detached storage buildings not exceeding 120 square feet. Please note that lot line setback requirements apply to all structures.

Application Process

You may apply online on our Permits and Licensing page .

The permit will be issued after the plans have been reviewed for code compliance, when a permit is ready to be issued, you will be notified. Fees are paid at the time permits are issued.

Plan Review

Plans should be detailed and neatly drawn to a useable scale. A common scale would be 1/4 quarter inch to 1 foot. Typical residential remodeling plans include floor plans, cross sections, elevations, details of various structural components, and a window schedule. Plans should be dimensioned and include information on use of rooms, wall and ceiling finishes, and lumber sizes and spacing.

For additional requirements for new 1 and 2 family dwellings and additions read our  Building Permits Submittal Requirements (PDF). 

Projects that do not require plans are residential reroofs, siding and window replacement if the size of the opening remains unchanged. If your project does not require plans, your permit can be processed upon submittal.

Contractor License

Residential building contractors and remodeling contractors must provide evidence of a current license from the State of Minnesota. Contractors with an exemption certificate must provide a copy of the certificate.

A state law enacted in 2012 requires registration of commercial and residential building construction and improvement contractors who are not already licensed or bonded through the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI). For more information call 651-284-5074 or visit their website .

Fee Schedule

Building, demolition, fire suppression, fire alarm and swimming pool permits are based on valuation. Permit valuation includes the total value of all construction work, including material and labor. Also include the value of electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing equipment and installation and all permanent systems. Plumbing and mechanical permit fees are also based on valuation. View our fee schedule on the Permits and Licensing Page for more information.

1.  Reroofing Policy (PDF) 
2. Roofing (PDF)
3.  Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors (PDF) 
4.  Window Replacement Policy (PDF) 

Land Disturbance

Permit Requirements

Application for a swimming pool is made on the building permit application. Prefabricated pools that are less than 24 inches in depth, contain less than 5000 gallons and are installed entirely above ground do not require permits. A 4 foot high nonclimbable fence with self-closing and self-latching gates, or with an auto cover* must be installed around all pools. Fences and gates shall have a pattern such that a 4 inch sphere can not pass through.

* an automatic powered safety cover that complies with safety standard ASTM F1346-91