Todd County Considers Tougher Penalties for Building without Permits
by Trinity Gruenberg
The Todd County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, October 20. Commissioner Lew Noska was absent.
After The Fact Fees
Todd County commissioners discussed clarifying fees for work done without the required permits.
Currently, the county charges an after-the-fact fee that can be up to three times the regular fee, but it’s unclear when different amounts apply or if the penalty is added to the permit fee.
Planning and Zoning Administrator Adam Ossefoort shared how nearby counties handle similar situations: Douglas County uses escalating fees based on violation notices and distinguishes land-use permits from shoreline work. Morrison County charges a $75 late fee if a permit is obtained within 10 days of a notice; later applications may be charged the permit fee plus three times that fee. Stearns County sets different fees by work type and notice history. For some zoning work without a permit, the additional fee rises from $250 to $500 to $1,000 after successive notices, plus the permit fee.
Commissioners Randy Newman and Bob Byers emphasized that stronger and consistently enforced penalties could discourage unpermitted work, while also highlighting the need to help property owners understand the rules...
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