Mille Lacs County Development Code
The Development Code is the County’s rules for regulating land use. The Development Code includes zoning standards, subdivision rules, and regulations relating to uses within the shoreland areas around lakes and along the Rum River. The current rules can be accessed by clicking on the applicable section name; however, since the Code is currently being updated, please contact staff to verify that no changes have been made:
- Flood Plain
- Solid Waste
- Subdivision (effective 8-16-07)
- Tobacco
- Tower
- Zoning (Warning: this file is very large and will take some time to load with a dial-up connection.)
Development Code Working Group (DCWG)
The current standards were adopted in 1992 with minor, scattered amendments occurring intermittently since then. In January 2006, the County Board appointed the following citizens to serve on the DCWG.
Working Group Members:
The role of the DCWG is to assist staff in the update of the Development Code and provide a public forum for resident input on the needed changes to the Development Code. They are an advisory group and their work will be forwarded to the Planning Commission who will hold public hearings and make recommendations on the proposed changes to the County Board.
The DCWG began their work in February 2006 with an organizational meeting. They next held a public input meeting to ask residents how they felt about development in Mille Lacs County and what the future held for the County. The next several meetings were spent on providing all of the members a basic understanding of the components of development: wetlands, soils, septics, and basic zoning terminology. The DCWG meets the first Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm in the Commissioner’s Room in the Courthouse. Meeting notes are kept for each meeting and can be accessed through this link: DCWG Meeting Notes
In 2007 the DCWG completed the update to the Subdivision Ordinance and reviewed changes to the sign requirements for the County. They also completed a review of the Zoning District requirements which are now under consideration by the Planning Commission.The DCWG has proposed that the County consider rezoning lands within 1/4 mile of Highway 169 to commercial zoning. They believe that this measure will attract more businesses and jobs to the County and make the County more business-friendly. The DCWG is continuing to study this issue by doing the following: evaluating proposed Mn/DOT traffic plans, reviewing the zoning ordinances from Princeton and Greenbush Townships, and discussing the types of uses that might be allowed or promoted in this new commercial area.
If you are interested in participating in this process, you have several options:
- Attend the DCWG meetings. They meet the first Thursday of each month in the Commissioner’s Room at the Courthouse. The agendas are published in the Mille Lacs County Messenger and there is designated time during each meeting for public input.
- Submit your comments in writing. You may use either US Mail to Michele McPherson, Zoning Administrator, Mille Lacs County Zoning and Environmental Services Department, 245 6th Avenue SE, Milaca, MN 56353, fax at 320-983-8258, or email at michele.mcpherson@co.mille-lacs.mn.us. Your comments will be forwarded to the DCWG at their next meeting after they are received.
- Contact any of the members of the DCWG.
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For further assistance, please contact the Land Services Office
at 635 2nd Street SE, Milaca, MN 56353 or call (320) 983-8205 or (888) 850-8205.