Frequently Asked Questions

Office-Based Occupations

Professional offices in the residence of a physician, dentist, lawyer, etc.  are allowed, with provisions. One such provision is that only one person that does not reside on the premises may be employed. Aside from licensed daycare facilities, the use shall be designed to serve only one client at a time. Also exclusive of licensed daycare facilities, not more than one half of the floor area of one floor of the principal dwelling shall be devoted to the professional use.

The professional use must be established in accordance with applicable local and state licensing requirements.

Home-Based Occupations

Customary home occupations, such as handicrafts, dressmaking, millinery, etc. are allowed, provided that such occupations shall be conducted exclusively by resident occupants and that no more than one quarter of the area of one floor of the dwelling shall be used for such purpose. There are several conditions:

1. No structural alteration or constructions involving features not customarily found in dwellings shall be made
2. One unlighted sign with a maximum area of two square feet in area and attached flat against the building shall be permitted
3. No mechanical or electric equipment that will interfere with TV or radio reception or affect the health and safety of area residents shall be used
4. The use shall not emit any noise, air pollution, fumes or odors that are not customary for a residence
5. The use shall not generate or dispose of any liquid effluent other than household waste
6. If not connected to public sewers, the use shall not generate waste exceeding the design standards for residential use under current building codes for new construction
7. The use shall not include the outside storage of supplies, materials or equipment

The lowest part of any projecting sign that is located over any public or private walkway or within a radius of 30 feet of any intersecting curb shall be not less than 8 feet above the finished grade of the surface below it. Projecting signs shall not be permitted over any public alley and shall not project above the parapet line of the wall to which it is attached, or exceed 24 feet in height and measured from finished grade to the sign’s uppermost feature, whichever is lower. Projecting signs shall not extend to more than eight feet from a building or two feet from the inner curb line of the nearest street, whichever is less.

To determine whether your property is in a floodplain, call the Engineering Department at 507-457-8269. General flood and floodplain information may be obtained at the Federal Emergency Management Agency website. Flood insurance information can be found at the Federal Emergency Management Agency website.

A pool may be installed on a residential property as long as it is at least 10 feet from any property line and that the pump and filter installations are at least 20 feet from any property line. A private swimming pool or the entire property on which it is located, shall be so walled or fenced as to prevent uncontrolled access by children from the street or from adjacent properties. If a corner lot is involved, more restrictions may apply.

Please call the Community Development Department at 507-457-8250 should you wish to install a pool. 

Permits are not required for putting up a fence. Property lines should be determined by a surveyor. Fences may be placed up to but not on the property line. On street sides, fences must be at least one foot back from the sidewalk. Fences may be up to six feet high in the back yard (non street side) and up to four feet high in the front yard or street sides of a lot. Placing the “nice” side toward the neighboring lot is a courtesy to neighbors, however, there is no code to require this practice.

If you live on a corner lot, you are subject to additional fence regulations and should call the Community Development Department at 507-457-8250 before installing a fence.

The only accurate way to determine a property boundary is to hire a professional land surveyor to perform a survey of your property. The city does not provide surveying services.

Recreation vehicles should be stored inside an enclosed structure that conforms to the district’s zoning requirements or outside in a side or rear yard behind the required front yard setback. If this space is not available for your recreational vehicle, please call the Community Development Department at 507-457-8250. Parked vehicles may not be used for living, sleeping, or housekeeping purposes while stored. The vehicle shall be at all times mobile and not be permanently fixed to the ground in a manner that would prevent removal.

Minimum lot sizes and street frontages must exist before a subdivision would be allowed. To determine if your property could be subdivided please call the Community Development Department at 507-457-8250.

The sign code regulates advertising based on the zoning district and street frontage of a property. Properties in more intensive zoning districts with larger street frontages are allowed more signage than smaller, less intensively zoned properties.

Please call the Community Development Department at 507-457-8250 to determine the allowable sign size, height and setback requirement for your property or refer to Section 43.43 in the Winona City Code.

Please call the Community Development Department at 507-457-8250 with the property address or tax parcel number and we will verify the zoning on any property in Winona.

Generally, off-street parking cannot be provided in front yards, or in side yards adjacent to a side street.  Parking is permitted in driveways that lead directly to an off-street parking area (e.g., garage).

Cars cannot be parked in a manner that blocks sidewalks.

Contact the Planning Division with any questions.