Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15 § 15.12

GRADING PERMIT (Bloomington Buildings and Structures Code)

In Force
Verified 9/15/2026 · Next check 12/14/2026
BloomingtonHabitability & Repair

Operative Text

Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15 § 15.12
(a) Where required. A grading permit is required prior to any land disturbing activity if the combined volume of excavation, filling, and other movement of earth material on a site is equal to or greater than 50 cubic yards or the area disturbed is greater than or equal to 5,000 square feet. Activities requiring a grading permit may be a component of a parking lot, foundation, or building permit, and in these cases, a separate grading permit is not required. The provisions of this section apply to a grading permit that is a component of another permit except as stated otherwise.


(b) Exemptions. A grading permit will not be required for the following:


(1) Activity conducted in the public right-of-way under a right-of-way permit obtained through the requirements of city code Chapter 17 that specifically authorizes the activity;


(2) Excavation and filling of cemetery graves;


(3) Maintenance or reconstruction of the facilities of public parks and playgrounds including work required for the protection, repair, replacement, or reconstruction of any existing public paths, trails, sidewalks, public improvement, or public or private utility, and the stockpiling of material for these maintenance and reconstruction activities;


(4) Grading done as part of a city, county, or state public works or transportation project; or


(5) Underground storage tank removal and replacement that is subject to regulation by a state or federal agency.


(c) Application requirements. The following information must be submitted with each application for a grading permit or other permit meeting the thresholds requiring a grading permit:


(1) A completed application that lists the volume in cubic yards or the area in square feet to be disturbed;


(2) A general vicinity map and legal description of the site;


(3) An erosion and sediment control plan and an erosion control surety as set forth in city code Chapter 16 ;


(4) A site plan drawn to a clearly indicated and commonly accepted engineering scale showing:


(A) Existing and proposed contours at not more than two-foot contour intervals;


(B) Location of existing buildings and structures, easements, utilities, and other surface and above-ground improvements on the site and adjacent land within 100 feet of proposed activity;


(C) Location of existing and planned temporary and permanent drainage control facilities, existing and proposed drainage discharge points, watercourses, drainage patterns, environmentally critical areas, and areas of standing water;


(D) Approximate location, type, and size of trees and other vegetation on the site;


(E) Location and amount of temporary stockpiles and excavations;


(F) Designation of trees and vegetation to be removed, and the minimum distance between tree trunks and the nearest excavation and/or fill; and


(G) Areas where equipment traffic will be permitted and excluded.


(5) A storm water management plan that meets the requirements of city code Chapter 16 and the Comprehensive Surface Water Management Plan; and


(6) If applicable, a wetland delineation and replacement plan as described in city code Chapter 16 .


(d) Other permits required. It is the property owner and/or grading contractor’s responsibility to determine if other agency permits are required to complete the grading activity. Other permits may include but are not limited to: watershed district or management organizations, Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, State Department of Transportation, and the county.


(1958 Code, § 35.31) (Ord. 63-21, passed 6-24-1963; Ord. 71-19, passed 3-15-1971, renumbered to § 35.19; Ord. 71-96, passed 12-20-1970; Ord. 72-61, passed 11-20-1972, renumbered to § 35.10; Ord. 2015-28 , passed 11-2-2015)
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15.12 establishes when a grading permit is required before any land-disturbing activity — specifically when the combined volume of earth movement reaches 50 cubic yards or more, or when the disturbed area is 5,000 square feet or more. The rule also identifies several exempt activities, such as cemetery grave work, public works projects, and right-of-way work conducted under a separate permit. When grading is part of a larger parking lot, foundation, or building permit, a standalone grading permit is not separately required, though the same substantive standards still apply.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on September 15, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Property owners and grading contractors operating under § 15.12 generally ensure that any land-disturbing activity meeting the volume or area thresholds is covered by a grading permit — or by a qualifying combined permit — before work begins. A compliant operator typically submits a complete application package including a site plan with contour intervals, an erosion and sediment control plan, a stormwater management plan, and any required wetland delineation. Because § 15.12(d) places responsibility on the property owner and contractor to identify additional agency permits (such as those from watershed districts, the DNR, or the Army Corps of Engineers), operators commonly conduct a multi-agency review before commencing grading.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

While § 15.12 primarily governs property owners and contractors rather than tenants directly, renters may have an interest in grading activity occurring on or adjacent to their residence — for example, when excavation or fill work affects drainage, trees, or site conditions near their unit. Tenants who observe unpermitted land-disturbing activity that meets the thresholds described in § 15.12 can contact the City of Bloomington's relevant permitting or code enforcement office to inquire whether a required permit is in place. Tenant-rights organizations or local housing advocates can help residents understand how municipal code provisions like § 15.12 may intersect with habitability or lease concerns.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated September 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

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Related Rules

§ 8.60.130
Severability
§ 15.12.010
Definitions
§ 15.12.240
Temporary housing

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