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Pine County adopts broad zoning, septic and shoreland ordinance package
Summary
The Pine County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt Ordinance 2025‑11 after a staff presentation and public hearing that changed zoning, septic and shoreland rules, including standardizing short‑term rental permitting and clarifying density zoning where parcels cross 40‑acre lines.
The Pine County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt Ordinance 2025-11 amending the County Zoning Ordinance, the Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems Ordinance and the Shoreland Management Ordinance following a staff presentation and a public hearing.
County Auditor‑Treasurer Kelly Schroeder told the board the package bundles three separate ordinance updates and that the zoning board reviewed the changes and recommended them to the county board on Jan. 23. "The zoning board reviewed all of these changes and recommended them to the county board on January 23," Schroeder said during her presentation.
Schroeder said the changes aim to align overlapping rules, reduce duplication between shoreland and non‑shoreland rules, and clarify how the county will treat several recurring permitting questions. Key changes adopted include:
- Short‑term rentals: The county redefines and standardizes terminology to match shoreland language, making short‑term rentals an administratively permitted use in nonshoreland zoning areas rather than an interim use that required a public hearing. Schroeder said the substantive standards (quiet hours, occupancy, pet and boat limits) remain the same and will be enforced through administrative permits. "All of the requirements down between the Shoreland Ordinance and the County Zoning Ordinance are exactly the same," Schroeder said.
- Density zoning clarification: The ordinance clarifies how the county will count parcels in the density zoning scheme (for example, two parcels per 40 or four parcels per 40 in agricultural areas) when a single parcel spans more than one 40‑acre quarter. The change formalizes the approach the zoning board took in prior cases, counting parcel acreage in each 40 where a parcel crosses quarter‑quarter section lines.
- Holding‑tank water meters: The county removed a previously required water‑meter condition for holding tanks. Schroeder said the requirement proved impractical for low‑use properties (campers, hunting shacks) and is not mandated by state rule.
- Shoreland zoning updates: The county added a water‑oriented commercial‑residential district to the shoreland ordinance so townships (notably Windermere Township) can adopt that district if they choose. The ordinance also adds an "office building" definition and makes office buildings a conditional use in the high‑density residential district so Pekegama Township can consider reusing an old sanatorium building as office space.
- Agricultural feedlot language: County language was revised to align with Minnesota statute and state rules by stating that new feedlots are not allowed in shoreland areas and directing regulation of existing feedlots to state feedlot rules.
- Nonconforming structures: Following language the DNR provided, the county now allows complete replacement of nonconforming structures when the replacement is no larger than the original and does not increase the nonconformity.
Public comment and a brief testimonial from Sand Lake Resort owner Mark Lambert were heard during the hearing. "I wanna ask for your support on the water oriented commercial residential use table and language that the planning commission has put in here," Lambert said, referring to the new district language that could affect redevelopment at Sand Lake.
Commission discussion focused on practical effects and how the changes interact with township ordinances. Schroeder noted that townships choose whether to opt into the county zoning ordinance and that only seven cities and townships are subject to the county nonshoreland zoning rules addressed in the package.
Motion and vote: Commissioner Ludwig moved to adopt Ordinance 2025‑11; Commissioner Holland seconded. The board approved the ordinance by voice vote (ayes recorded; no opposition announced).
Why it matters: The consolidated changes remove duplicated provisions, standardize short‑term rental permitting between shoreland and nonshoreland areas, and add district definitions townships have requested so they can implement local plans. Some changes (feedlot language, nonconforming structure replacement) were implemented to align county rules to state statute and DNR guidance.
Next steps: Schroeder’s presentation and the board’s action complete the county adoption step; the ordinance language will be part of the county code going forward. The record of the public hearing and the ordinance file will be available in county offices.
