Absence of Certificate of Survey Form [PDF]

Required when proposing additions, garages, decks, sheds or other structures on properties with no Certificate of Survey on file with the City.

Accessory Structure Worksheet [PDF]

Helps determine allowable square footage of accessory structures, which include sheds, detached garages and pool houses

Building Height [PDF]

Details how to measure building height

Reasonable Accommodation Policy and Application [PDF]

Recreational Vehicle Parking [PDF]

Guidelines for RV parking in the City

Shoreland Management Guide

Details regulations for developing in parcels that are within the shoreland overlay district, which includes all lots within 300 feet of a tributary and within 1,000 feet of a lake.

Development Projects Map

Other City Maps

The City uses electronic plan review via ProjectDox for all submissions and review of development projects.

ProjectDox allows all parties participating in the process to review, enter comments and exchange ideas in a secure digital environment.

Email completed project application form (listed below) to Planning@edenprairie.org. Once the project application form is submitted, you will receive an automated email inviting you to the project in ProjectDox where additional application materials can be submitted.

ProjectDox-Related Information

File Name Convention [PDF]

User Acceptance Guide [PDF]

Zoning regulations ensure that land in the City is being used efficiently and appropriately, and that homes and businesses meet certain community standards.

The three primary services of zoning are to develop and maintain the land use regulations (zoning), enforce zoning controls and provide information, and make recommendations on projects to the Planning Commission which acts as the City’s Board of Adjustments and Appeals.

Chapter 11 is the portion of the City Code relating to Land Use Regulations and covers a variety of information relating to land use in residential, commercial, office, industrial and public property.

A sampling of topics found in Chapter 11 include:

• Required setbacks for buildings or structures from lot lines
• Signs
• Permitted use in different zoning districts
• Home occupations
• Fences

The Planning Division is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to answer questions you have related to your property or surrounding properties. Below is a list of the most commonly requested zoning information. Should you need additional information on a piece of property or have a concern, please contact the Planning Division at 952-949-8485.

Planning and Zoning FAQ

Zoning Map [PDF]

• In the residential R1 zoning districts all driveways must be of cement, asphalt or permeable pavers. Crushed rock or stone is not a permitted driveway surface.
• The driveway must be at least 3 feet from a side lot line and shall not cross the extension of a property line to the curb line.
• There is traditionally 10 to 12 feet from the back of the curb to your lot line. It is suggested a driveway not be placed in the drainage and utility easement of your property as utility lines, including cable TV, electric, sewer, water and gas may be in the easement area.
• No permit is required to install or replace a driveway unless a new curb cut is being created.
• Circular driveways with two street entrances are permitted provided there is no conflict at the street intersections.
• Maximum driveway width is 30 feet at the curb.

No permits are required for construction of fences.

• Maximum height for a fence is 7 feet.
• Measure fence height from the ground below a fence to the top of the fence.
• Fences may be located up to a property line, however if the fence is placed up to the lot line you may need to go on your neighbors property for installation, repairs or maintenance.
• The fence may be placed on your lot several feet if you desire to have the area for maintenance purposes.
• If a fence is placed on the corner of a lot that abuts an intersection or abuts a street, that is public right-of-way, contact the Engineering Division and request an appointment for a sight-line distance review. The fence will need to be placed or setback to allow for safe views and not block pedestrian or vehicular views at an intersection.
• It is suggested to have a copy of the property survey prior to fence installation to indicate location of lot lines.
• The curb line is not the property line.

Private covenants and restrictions through a homeowner's association may prohibit fences or indicate some architectural controls. In all areas, fence design and construction is expected to be residential in character and constructed to withstand seasonal weather, including wind, snow and rain.

Should the City or a public service utility have to enter a drainage and utility easement, the City or service utility may not be responsible for replacement of the fence in all cases. Call Gopher State One Call at 651-454-0002 before you dig!

All in-ground swimming pools located outside are required to have a fence surrounding the pool of at least 4 feet in height and a maximum height of 7 feet.

• The fence must be located at least 4 feet from the pool's edge.
• The bottom of the fence or wall around the pool shall be no higher than 4 inches above the surface of the ground.
• Fence openings or points of entry to the pool area shall be equipped with self-closing and self-latching lockable gates.
• Temporary fences are required during construction if the pool not secured with a fenced area.

Call Gopher State One Call at 651-454-0002 before you dig.

• One temporary garage sale sign of 6 square feet may be place on the lot where the sale is occurring.
• Two off-site signs of 6 square feet may be placed on private property one day prior to the garage sale and removed one day after the garage sale.
• No sign shall be up for more than 5 days.
• Signs may not be placed in public right-of-way.
• City crews may remove signs if in public right-of-way.
• It is suggested you request permission from the lot owner where a sign is to be placed.
• Signs may not be attached to utility poles, street sign posts, utility boxes or street light posts.

All residential structures and accessory structures, which include sheds, pools, outbuildings, play structures, and gazebos, are subject to specific setbacks from a lot line based on the zoning district your property is located.

Structure setbacks are taken from the property line. The setback from a front, rear or side yard may vary based on the zoning district in which your property in located.

Call 952-949-8485 to find out what your property is zoned and what the required setbacks are between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

A home occupation may occur in the Rural, Single Family or Multiple zoning districts provided the following code regulations are maintained:

• A home occupation shall be conducted in a dwelling and shall be clearly incidental or secondary to the use of the structure as a dwelling. Not more than 25% of the dwelling may be dedicated to a home business use.
• No home occupation shall be conducted in an accessory structure or outbuilding.
• No equipment or supplies associated with a home occupation shall be stored outside.
• There shall be no external alteration of the dwelling in which the home occupation is conducted.
• One sign of not more than 1 square foot is permitted, which must be 10 feet from the property line. No off-site signs are permitted.
• The home occupation shall be carried on only by members of a family residing in the dwelling and not more than one nonresident of the dwelling.
• Not more than one truck of more than 3/4 ton capacity associated with a home occupation and no semi-trailers may be stored on site. Vehicles with ladders, pipes, buckets or limousines shall be parked in an enclosed attached garage. Complete code can be found in City Code Chapter 11, Section 11.65, titled "Home Occupation."

Plant material and sod may be located on your lot. It is suggested plant materials, that is, trees, bushes, shrubs not be placed within a drainage and utility easement. If plant material has been placed in the drainage and utility easement and the City or public utility service needs to access the easement area, removal or trimming of plant material may be necessary.

To find out if any utility lines are in an easement call Gopher State One Call at 651-454-0002. Certain lots in Eden Prairie may be subject to a Conservation Easement. As a property owner you should be aware if your property is subject to a Conservation Easement. No plant material may be placed in or removed from a Conservation Easement area until the City Forester has been notified. If you do not know if your property is subject to a Conservation Easement, contact Parks and Natural Resources.

When installing plant material, please keep in mind that to have complete control of the plant material at full growth it cannot grow over the lot line. It is suggested to place plant material in such a way that at maturity, maintenance of the plant material can occur from the lot on which it is located. No plant material may be placed in street right-of-way which is usually 10 to 12 feet from the back of the curb. Plant material may not interfere with vision of traffic.

All ground in a residential zoning district, not covered by a building, patio, or driveway, must be covered in grass or ornamental landscaping, including rock material.

• Ground cover may grow to a height of 10 inches.
• Once the yard exceeds 10 inches, City Code requires cutting.
• Should you identify a property in which grass is over 10 inches in height between the months of June through September, you may contact Parks and Natural Resources.

Parking or storing a recreational vehicle (RV) is permitted in the residential zoning district provided:

• Not more than two RVs may be stored outside.
• Recreational vehicles may not be more than 12 feet in height.
• If RVs are parked in front of the house, they must be parked on a hard-surfaced driveway of asphalt or cement, and must be at least 15 feet from the curb.
• If RVs are parked in the rear or the side of a home they must be setback at least 10 feet from the side or rear lot line.
• RVs parked outside for more than 14 days must be owned by the property owner.
• RVs may not be used for living quarters or connected to water/sanitary sewer.
• RVs must have current licenses, registration or tags.
• No RV may be parked on any public street for more than 24 consecutive hours. Complete Information about RV parking code can be found in City Code Chapter 11, Section 11.03.
• It is suggested you talk with your neighbors prior to placement of an RV on your lot. In addition, your neighborhood or lot may have private covenants or agreements which prohibit or limit the parking of RVs. This covenant or agreement would supersede the City regulations.

Refuse must be removed on a weekly basis.

• Storage of refuse shall be in 5 to 100-gallon metal or plastic containers with tight-fitting covers.
• No furniture, appliances or auto parts may be stored outside.
• Yard waste must be removed on a weekly basis or placed in a compost according to City Code.
• Yard waste may not be disposed on city property or in public right-of-way.

Solid Waste Containers

• Storage containers for Single Family dwellings, Multiple Family dwellings or Commercial establishments must be stored at least 20 feet from the property line.
• Storage containers stored within the front yard must be screened from the public street with an opaque fence or coniferous landscape material.
• For the purposes of this ordinance, a corner lot shall be defined as having two front yards.
• Storage containers for solid waste, recyclable materials or yard waste may be set curbside 24 hours prior to the scheduled pickup.
• The storage containers must be removed from curbside within 24 hours after scheduled pick up.

Wetlands

Wetlands are protected in the City of Eden Prairie. No yard waste may be disposed in a wetland area. For questions related to wetlands, contact the City's Water Resources Coordinator.

Two off-site signs may be placed on private property from 10 p.m. on Friday to 6 a.m. on Monday.

• Signs may not be greater than 6 square feet.
• Maximum height for a sign is 6 feet.
• Each sign shall have the name and telephone number of the owner of the sign.
• A sign may not be placed more than 2 miles from the property being sold or leased.

There is usually 10 feet from the back of the curb to a property line. Signs placed in a public right-of-way may be removed by City crews. Areas where sidewalks or trails exist or close to street pole names/stop signs is public right-of-way.

A variance is a formal request to depart from the strict reading of the ordinance. A variance often involves relief from a numerical requirement like a setback.

The City may grant a variance if the applicant can prove:

• The deviation is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and the intent of the ordinance(s)
• There is a practical difficulty with respect to the lot
• The variance will not impact the character of the neighborhood in a negative way.

To learn more about this process, contact the Planning Division.

Private Property

All vehicles parked on private property must have current license tabs, be operable and registered. All parking must occur on a hard surfaced area of cement or asphalt. No parking may occur on grass or snow covered areas. Vehicles that are not operable or licensed may be stored inside a garage. In the Residential districts trucks with commercial licenses or over a certain weight may not be parked on private property.

Parking on the Public Street

Unless there is a sign stating “no parking” vehicles may park in the street. All vehicles parked on a public street must have current license tabs, be operable, and registered. Vehicles must be moved every 24 hours. No vehicles may be marked “for sale” and be parked in the public street. Recreational vehicles may not be parked on any public street for more than 24 consecutive hours. In the Residential districts trucks with commercial licenses or over a certain weight may not be parked in the public street except for delivery purposes.