In addition to conformity with State of Minnesota and St. Louis County laws, the Town of Duluth is dedicated to the health, safety and general welfare of its citizens. It therefore has diligently and as thoroughly as possible created a land use ordinance to encourage the most appropriate uses of its land, to protect its rural character and its natural resources, resulting in a sustainable community into the future.

The gateway to this abstract picture is the land use permit, through which one enters the realm of zone districts, land uses, building setback dimensions, lot coverage limitations, waste water handling and many other vital elements, all designed to meet the above goals.

To complete the application for all new construction and most, if not all, alteration on a parcel in the township, an owner needs to know the parcel code, found on a tax statement, a legal description found on a deed, and to know the dimensions of the land, and the existing and proposed new building(s). An accurate drawing, on a notebook-sized sheet of paper, if possible, must accompany the application. THE OWNER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLETION AND THE VALIDITY OF THE INFORMATION IN THE APPLICATION, AND MUST SIGN IT.

The application, with the fee, is to be submitted to the Town Clerk: it will then be given to the Zoning Administrator or an assistant. He/she will examine the document, visit the site, look for conditions or circumstances pertaining to ordinance provisions, pass the application to the Planning Director with observations and recommendations. Once the Director is satisfied that all ordinance provisions are met, he/she will approve and send the paperwork back to the Town Clerk for processing and filing, and the original will be sent to the applicant who can then proceed with the project. This action, once all the requested information is provided, is, by law, to be completed in 60 days or less, unless an extension becomes necessary.

For more specific information, page 3 of Zoning Ordinance Number 3 is a guide to the use of the ordinance provisions: the entire ordinance can be accessed on the Township web site at www.duluthtownship.org . A printed copy may be obtained via the web site, or at the Town Hall, 6092 Homestead Road, Duluth, MN 55804.

Total existing impervious surface (square feet)

Wetland Types - pictures and descriptions

I need help identifying wetlands - regional agency contacts

Wetlands - Many types of small wetlands do not hold water all year long and do not show up on aerial photography or large scale surveys. It is your duty to identify these wetlands on Figure 1.
See brochure for pictures and descriptions of wetlands
found in Duluth Township.

Steep Slope(s) - Lands outside of the Shoreland Overlay Area (SLO) having an average slope greater than twelve percent (12%) as measured over the horizontal distances of fifty (50) feet or more, which are not bluffs.

Bluff(s)

A topographic feature such as a hill, cliff, or embankment having the following characteristics

• Part or the entire feature is located in the shoreland overlay area (SLO)
• The slope rises at least 25 feet above the Ordinary High Water Level OHWL (click here for illustration of OHWL)
  of the waterbody;
• An area with an average slope of less than 18 percent over a distance for 50 feet or more shall not be considered part of the bluff;
• The grade of the slope from the toe of the bluff to a point 25 feet or more above the ordinary high water level averages 30 % or greater; and
• The slope must drain toward the water body.

Streams

Ponds

Residential: Single family_X__ Two family___ Multi- family___Seasonal cabin___

Commercial___ Industrial___ Home business___ Other____________________ _________________________________________________________________

With a red pen, add a detailed sketch (show measurements in table below), showing all proposed buildings, driveways, mounds and other disturbed surfaces .

Total existing impervious surfaces (Refer to page 7)

Building height (feet)

These measures may include but are not limited to:

• INCOMPLETE OR INCORRECT APPLICATIONS WILL BE RETURNED, AND WILL CAUSE THE 60 DAY RULE FOR PERMIT APPROVAL TO BE SUSPENDED. REFERRAL TO DNNSD MAY ALSO RESULT IN A SUSPENSION. MISLEADING INFORMATION WILL RENDER THIS APPLICATION INVALID. FOR A PARCEL WITHIN THE DNSSD, A SHORT APPROVAL FORM OR A PERMIT FOR A SEWER LINE HOOKUP MUST ACCOMPANY THIS APPLICATION.
• THE APPLICATION MUST BE SIGNED BY THE OWNER, AND A CHECK FOR THE APROPRIATE FEE MUST BE ATTACHED.