Subd. 1.

Except for City landfilling and City land excavation/grading operations, or as may be otherwise stipulated by this Chapter, any person who proposes to add landfill or extract sand, gravel, black dirt, or other natural material from the land or grade land shall be subject to the permit requirements specified below:

*  Except that the movement (landfilling, excavation, or grading) of more than ten cubic yards: 1) on steep slopes; 2) in a shore impact zone; or 3) in a bluff impact zone (all of which are defined in this Chapter) lying within the Shoreland Management Overlay District shall require a grading permit, pursuant to Section 21665.09, Subd. 2(e).

Subd. 2.

Notwithstanding the requirements of this section, no separate grading permit shall be required for depositing landfill or excavation/grading on a lot for which a building permit has been issued for construction thereon or for a development where the development contract has been executed and related financial sureties have been submitted, provided the landfill or excavation/grading complies with Section 425 of the City Code and an approved grading plan.

Subd. 3.

A grading permit may be issued for depositing landfill or excavation/grading on a lot for which a preliminary plat or a site plan has been approved, provided the landfill or excavation/grading complies with Section 425 of the City Code and the approved grading plan.

Subd. 4.

Landfilling and land excavation/grading operations are an allowable activity within all zoning districts.

Subd. 5.

No filling, excavation, or grading within a wetland or floodplain shall be authorized under this section.

(Ord. No. 2025-02, § 25, 3/25/2025)

Any person desiring a grading permit shall file an application for such on a form provided by the Engineering Division. Such application shall be accompanied by detailed written and graphic materials fully explaining the proposal, the number, size, and format as prescribed by the City Engineer. (Note that grading permit fees are established by Section 1015.23 of the Plymouth City Code.)

If protected watersheds, floodplains, and/or protected wetlands are in question, the City Engineer shall forward, or shall require the applicant to forward, a copy of the permit application and materials to the applicable watershed agency, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and/or Army Corps of Engineers, as appropriate. Those agencies shall be requested to review the application and prepare applicable reports prior to issuance of the permit.

Applications for grading permits involving over 1,000 cubic yards of land fill or land excavation that are not otherwise allowed or addressed in this Section, and that are adjacent to residentially-zoned property, including FRD property that is guided for residential use, shall require a mailed notice to all property owners within 500 feet of the site. The mailed notice shall be sent at least five business days prior to the issuance of the permit, and shall provide information on the proposed land fill or land excavation operation, including amount of material involved, haul route, and anticipated completion date.

(Amended by Ord. No. 2019-01, 02/12/19)