City of Northfield, Minnesota, U.S.A.

The Building Inspection division administers and enforces building codes and other related municipal ordinances (including the rental property code) to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of the public. The division follows the Minnesota State Building Code and other laws and ordinances related to the construction, occupancy and maintenance of built structures, including plumbing and mechanical installations. Building inspectors review plans and systematically inspect all new construction, remodeling, and renovations. The division also administers a rental licensing program, which requires inspections of all new and existing residential rental housing units.

Required Permits

Any work involving a structure that is erected, enlarged, repaired, moved or removed requires a separate permit for each building or structure. Call the Building Inspections Division for additional information.

Permit Application Process

Building a structure in Northfield starts with the process of submitting an application and required documents to the Building Inspection division. Most projects requiring a building permit must be accompanied with building plans and specifications, regardless of the size and scope of the project. Construction documents need to be dimensioned and drawn on suitable material; electronic media documents are permitted upon approval by the Building Official. Construction documents should clearly indicate the location, nature and extent of work proposed, along with details that indicate conformity to relevant laws.

All permit applications available online are listed on the Licenses and Permits page.

To review the Rental Housing Ordinance click on this link and open up the Northfield City Code, Chapter 14, Article III - Rental Housing: Rental Housing Ordinance

To review the Rental Code Board of Appeals meetings, click here: Rental Housing Board of Appeals

Inspection Requests

Inspection requests are accepted by phone, Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm. Requests for inspections must be made at least 24-hours in advance.

Certificate of Occupancy

A Certificate of Occupancy is required before any new building can be put into use, or before an existing building can be used for a new purpose. Temporary certificates may be issued to a section of a building undergoing phased construction to allow occupancy while construction continues; temporary certificates have very specific limitations and always include an expiration date.