Lakeville City Zoning Code

The purpose of the RST-2 District is to provide for a transition in housing density and styles between low density traditional single-family areas and medium density housing areas, in a manner which satisfies the following objectives:

   A.   Creation of cohesive low to medium density neighborhoods that provide attractive living environments and contribute to the City's identity.

   B.   Provide attractive and durable low and medium density housing options as a means of addressing the City's life cycle housing needs.

   C.   Preservation of natural land farms, open spaces, and greenways for scenic enjoyment and recreational use through the regulation of medium density residential land use. (Ord. 867, sec. 102, 5-17-2010)

In addition to other uses specifically identified elsewhere in this title, the following are permitted uses in an RST-2 District:

   A.   Parks, trails, play fields, playgrounds, and directly related buildings and structures; City of Lakeville only.

   B.   Residential facility serving six (6) or fewer persons in a single-family detached dwelling.

   C.   Single-family detached dwellings.

   D.   Townhomes, detached only, subject to the provisions of subsection 11-57-17B of this chapter.

   E.   Two-family dwelling units subject to the provisions of subsection 11-57-17B of this chapter. (Ord. 867, sec. 102, 5-17-2010)

In addition to other uses specifically identified elsewhere in this title, the following are permitted accessory uses in an RST-2 District:

   A.   Accessory uses, buildings and structures customarily incidental and directly related to the uses allowed as permitted, conditional, interim, and administrative permit in this section, subject to applicable regulation of this title and only those accessory buildings, structures, or fences owned and maintained by a homeowners' association shall be erected on a common base lot for detached townhouse or two-family dwellings.

   B.   Administrative offices, meeting rooms, classrooms, and food preparation and service areas in private and public recreational facilities, and the uses of which are incidental and directly related to the primary use.

   C.   Community gardens as regulated by section 11-18-15 of this title; institutional uses only.

   D.   Daycare facilities serving fourteen (14) or fewer persons in a single-family detached dwelling.

   E.   Fences as regulated by chapter 21 of this title. For detached townhome unit lots of record or preliminary platted prior to April 5, 2004, fences may be erected on an individual unit lot subject to the following standards:

      1.   The unit lot has a minimum width of sixty feet (60') and minimum area of seven thousand five hundred (7,500) square feet.

      2.   The fence shall only be constructed of steel or coated steel chainlink, plastic, vinyl or other maintenance free material approved by the zoning administrator.

      3.   No fence may exceed a height of six feet (6').

      4.   If the fence, or a combination of the fence and other structures, fully encloses any portion of the unit lot, a gate shall be provided such that the yard is accessible within the area of the unit lot, but outside any access internal to the principal building, for maintenance access.

      5.   The fence shall comply with the provisions of section 11-21-5 of this title.

   F.   Gardens for produce not to be offered for sale.

   G.   Ground source heat pump systems as regulated by chapter 29 of this title.

   H.   Home occupations and home offices as regulated by chapter 32 of this title.

   I.   Keeping of animals subject to chapter 35 of this title.

   J.   Play and recreational facilities, only accessory to an existing principal permitted use on the same lot and which are operated for the enjoyment and convenience of the residents of the principal use and their occasional guests, except as otherwise permitted.

   K.   Private garages and off street parking and off street loading as regulated by chapters 19 and 20 of this title.

   L.   Recreational vehicles and equipment parking and storage as regulated by chapter 22 of this title.

   M.   Secondary or accessory use antennas as regulated by chapter 30 of this title.

   N.   Signs as regulated by chapter 23 of this title.

   O.   Solar energy systems as regulated by chapter 29 of this title. (Ord. 867, sec. 102, 5-17-2010; amd. Ord. 920, 4-7-2014; Ord. 1031, 6-1-2020)

In addition to other uses specifically identified elsewhere in this title, the following are conditional uses in an RST-2 district and require a conditional use permit based upon procedures set forth in and regulated by chapter 4 of this title. Additionally, besides the specific standards and criteria which may be cited below for respective conditional uses, each request for a conditional use permit shall be evaluated based upon the standards and criteria set forth in subsection 11-4-3E and section 11-4-7 of this title.

   A.   Daycare, head start, and early childhood education facilities as a principal or an accessory use provided that the use complies with the provisions of chapter 31 of this title.

   B.   Essential services involving transmission pipelines and transmission or substation lines in excess of thirty three (33) kV and up to one hundred (100) kV, as regulated by chapter 26 of this title.

   C.   Golf courses.

   D.   Government buildings and structures; public or quasi-public or private recreational buildings and neighborhood or community centers; public and private educational institutions limited to accredited elementary, middle or junior high and senior high school, including preschool, head start, early childhood education, before and after school care, and adult education programing,; and religious institutions such as churches, chapels, temples, and synagogues provided that side yards shall be double that required for the district, but no greater than thirty feet (30').

   E.   Manufactured home parks, provided that:

      1.   The minimum area required for a manufactured home park designation shall be twenty (20) acres.

      2.   The following minimum lot requirements within the manufactured home park are:

 

 

   3.   The following principal structure setbacks are satisfactorily met:

 

 

      4.   Accessory buildings, uses and equipment comply with the applicable provisions of chapter 18 of this title.

      5.   Except as provided in chapter 17 of this title, the total ground floor area of all residential buildings shall not exceed a lot coverage of thirty percent (30%).

      6.   All residences are limited to a maximum height of one story.

      7.   The public improvements within manufactured home parks are developed in accordance with title 10 of this code, which include:

         a.   Public utilities (telephone, cable, electric and/or gas service).

         b.   Sanitary sewer improvements.

         c.   Street and storm sewer improvements.

         d.   Water improvements.

      8.   Except as specifically regulated by this section, the provisions of sections 11-55-13 through 11-55-19 of this title are considered and satisfactorily met.

   F.   Parks and recreational areas owned or operated by public bodies; other than the city of Lakeville.

   G.   Personal wireless service antennas not located on a public structure, or existing tower as regulated by chapter 30 of this title.

   H.   Single-family detached dwellings; reduction of minimum lot area and width requirements for a preliminary plat having a net developable area of one hundred (100) acres or greater, provided that:

      1.   The mean area of all single family lots within the preliminary plat shall be equal to or greater than the minimum lot area required by Section 11-57-15.A of this title.

      2.   Not more than thirty five (35) percent of the lots within the preliminary plat shall have a lot area or width less than the minimums required by Section 11-57-15.A of this title.

 

      4.   Sewer and water utility capacity consistent with the Comprehensive Plan is sufficient and available to accommodate the preliminary plat, subject to review and approval of the City Engineer.

      5.   The preliminary plat shall have direct access via minor collector or local streets to an arterial or major collector street as defined by the Comprehensive Plan.

   I.   Social services or other activities which are not directly worship related as an accessory use within a religious institutional building(s). (Ord. 867, sec. 102, 5-17-2010; amd. Ord. 1052, sec. 9, 9-7-2021; Ord. 1089, secs. 47 - 49, 5-6-2024; Ord. passed 8-4-2025)

In addition to other uses specifically identified elsewhere in this title, and subject to applicable provisions of this section, performance standards established by this chapter, and processing requirements of chapter 8 of this title, the following are uses allowed in an RST-2 district by administrative permit:

   A.   Essential services, except transmission pipelines and transmission or substation lines in excess of thirty three (33) kV and up to one hundred (100) kV, as regulated by chapter 26 of this title.

   B.   Model homes as regulated by chapter 27 of this title.

   C.   Personal wireless service antennas located upon a public or quasi-public structure or existing tower, as regulated by chapter 30 of this title.

   D.   Temporary structures as regulated by chapter 28 of this title.

   E.   WECS conforming to the height limit of this district, as regulated by chapter 29 of this title.

   F.   Separate living quarters that include kitchen facilities for housing multiple generations as an accessory use within a single-family dwelling provided that:

      1.   The design and construction of the principal building is not a two-family dwelling as defined by this title and shall comply with the following:

         a.   The area of the accessory dwelling unit shall be limited to not more than thirty (30) percent of the gross floor area of the principal building (not including attached accessory floor area).

         b.   There shall be no more than two (2) bedrooms as defined by the building code within the accessory dwelling unit.

      2.   There shall be an interior connection between the main living area and accessory living quarters that is able to be unlocked from each side of the connection and that is not secured by a deadbolt or keyed lockset.

      3.   The principal building shall be served by single municipal water, sanitary sewer, gas and/or electric utility service lines each with a single meter for the respective utility where applicable.

      4.   The principal building shall have one heating and air conditioning system.

      5.   The property shall have one postal address.

      6.   There shall be a minimum of three (3) garage stalls having direct exterior access (not in a tandem arrangement) attached to the principal building with a driveway access in front of each stall so as to allow direct vehicle maneuvering to each of the stalls. (Ord. 867, sec. 102, 5-17-2010; amd. Ord. 903, 3-4-2013; Ord. 920, 4-7-2014; Ord. 1065, 4-4-2022; Ord. 1121, 2-17-2026)

The following minimum requirements shall be observed in an RST-2 district subject to additional requirements, exceptions and modifications set forth in this title:

   A.   Single-family detached dwellings:

 

   B.   Detached townhome and two-family dwellings. The following minimum unit and base lot requirements shall be applied to the subdivision of detached townhome and two-family dwellings to permit individual private ownership of a single dwelling within a structure:

      1.   Unit Lots. Unit lots shall have sufficient lot area to include the living area, garage, decks, patios, or porches of the individual dwelling units.

      2.   Base Lot Setbacks. A minimum setback of ten feet (10') shall be required at the periphery of the base lot.

      3.   Setbacks Between Buildings. A minimum setback of fourteen feet (14') shall be required between buildings within the same base lot.

      4.   Setback from Public Rights-of-Way. Buildings shall be set back a minimum of twenty feet (20') from public rights of way, except that the garage face shall be set back twenty five feet (25') from public rights of way.

      5.   Wetlands. A protective natural buffer and building setback shall be provided for all designated wetlands in conformance with section 11-16-13 of this title. (Ord. 867, sec. 102, 5-17-2010; amd. Ord. 958, 3-21-2016; Ord. 1031, 6-1-2020; Ord. passed 8-4-2025)

The following minimum requirements shall be observed in the RST-2 district governing common areas:

   A.   Ownership: All common areas within an RST-2 development not dedicated to the public including, but not limited to, open space, driveways, private drives, parking areas, play areas, etc., shall be owned in one of the following manners:

      1.   Common interest community pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 515B.

      2.   Detached townhome and two-family base lot common areas shall be owned by the owners of each unit lot, with each owner of a unit having an equal and undivided interest in the common area.

   B.   A homeowners’ association subject to review and approval of the City Council responsible for exterior building maintenance of two-family dwellings and common accessory buildings or structures, approval of any exterior architectural modifications, landscaping, snow clearing and regular maintenance of private driveways and other areas owned in common when there is more than one (1) individual property owner having interest within the development. (Ord. 867, sec. 102, 5-17-2010; amd. Ord. 1031, 6-1-2020; Ord. 1052, sec. 10, 9-7-2021)

   A.   Unit Sizes: The size of dwelling units shall comply with the minimums established in section 11-17-13 of this title.

   B.   Unit Construction:

      1.   Subdivision Requests: Building elevations and floor plans shall be furnished with subdivision requests illustrating exterior building materials and colors to demonstrate compliance with chapter 17 of this title. Building floor plans shall identify the interior storage space within each unit.

      2.   Decks Or Porches: Provision shall be made for possible decks, porches or additions as part of the initial dwelling unit building plans. The unit lot shall be configured and sized to include decks or porches.

      3.   Exterior Building Finish: The exterior of detached townhome and two-family dwelling units shall include a variation in building materials that are to be distributed throughout the building elevations and coordinated into the architectural design of the structure to create an architecturally balanced appearance and shall comply with the following requirements:

         a.    Except for brick, stucco, and/or natural or artificial stone, no single elevation shall have more than seventy five percent (75%) of one type of exterior finish.

         b.   Except for brick, stucco, and/or natural or artificial stone, no townhome dwelling structure shall have more than sixty percent (60%) of all elevations of one type of exterior finish.

         c.   For the purpose of this section:

            (1)   The area of the elevation shall not include area devoted to windows, entrance doors, garage doors, or roof areas.

            (2)   Variations in texture or style (i.e., lap siding versus shake shingle siding) shall be considered as different materials meeting the requirements of this section.

            (3)   Integral colored split face (rock face) concrete block, cement fiberboard, or engineered wood shall be considered the same as brick, stucco, and/or natural or artificial stone exterior materials for any elevation of a building that is not its front defined by the primary exterior entrance.

   C.   Garages:

      1.   Each dwelling unit shall include an attached garage.

      2.   Minimum Requirements:

         a.   Garages shall have a minimum area of four hundred forty (440) square feet.

         b.   Garages shall be a minimum of twenty feet (20') in width.

      3.   The area of an attached garage shall be measured by interior dimensions.

   D.   Outside Storage: Outside storage shall be allowed only in designated areas which are screened in accordance with chapter 21 of this title and under the ownership of the property owners' association subject to other applicable provisions of this title.

   E.   Utilities:

      1.   Underground: All utilities serving an RST-2 district subdivision, including telephone, electricity, gas and telecable shall be installed underground.

      2.   Public Utility Service: Separate public utility services shall be provided to each unit unless exempted by the city engineer.

      3.   Water Connection: Individual unit shutoff valves shall be provided.

      4.   Sewer Connection: Where more than one unit is served by a sanitary sewer service, all maintenance and cleaning shall be the responsibility of the property owners' association or owners.

   F.   Streets: All streets shall be public and shall comply with design standards and specifications as governed by title 10 of this code.

   G.   Landscaping/Screening/Lighting: A detailed landscaping and lighting plan shall be provided and implemented pursuant to section 11-16-17 and chapter 21 of this title. Said landscaping and screening shall address the following:

 

 

      2.   Landscaping at the boundary of the site adjoining another property and the immediate perimeter of the principal structure.

      3.   Buffer yard landscaping for yards bordering major collector and arterial streets.

      4.   All boulevards shall be sodded.

      5.   Screening of designated outdoor storage areas.

      6.   All landscaped areas, including on site traffic islands and all public rights of way adjacent to the property (where access is allowed by the governmental jurisdiction), shall have an inground irrigation system with an automatic controller.(Ord. 867, sec. 102, 5-17-2010; amd. Ord. 958, 3-21-2016; Ord. 1022, 1-6-2020; Ord. 1031, 6-1-2020; Ord. 1052, sec. 11, 9-7-2021; Ord. passed 8-4-2025)

Except as provided for by section 11-17-7 of this title or other requirements, exceptions and modifications set forth in this title, no structure within the RST-2 district shall exceed the following height:

   A.   Principal buildings: Three (3) stories or thirty five feet (35'), whichever is less.

   B.   Accessory buildings: As regulated by subsection 11-18-9C of this title. (Ord. 867, sec. 102, 5-17-2010)