The Environmental Services Department is responsible for administering plans and ordinances relating to planning and zoning, solid waste management, comprehensive local water planning and feedlot management. In addition to these local controls, the Environmental Services Department is also responsible for permitting and enforcement programs of the State’s individual septic treatment system program and the feedlot program. The department’s overall mission in administering these programs is to protect the public’s health, safety and welfare.

    The purpose of planning and zoning is to provide for orderly land use development that minimizes conflicts and reduces impacts to local resources. The Comprehensive Plan, revised in 2002, lays out policies that will guide future land use decisions. The County Planning Commission is responsible for adopting the Comprehensive Plan and for reviewing conditional use permits, subdivisions, ordinance amendments and zoning classification amendment proposals. They recommend actions to the County Board for final approval. The Land and Related Resources Management Ordinance is the tool used to reach the goals established in that plan. This ordinance lays out which activities can occur in certain areas or zoning districts, as shown on the Official Zoning Map. Big Stone County is laid out into the following zones: A-1 Agricultural District; A-2 Agricultural District; OS Open Space District; UD Urban District (Residential); C-1 Commercial; I-1 Industrial; and the Shoreland Management Zone.

   By the close of 2006, the Big Stone County Wind Power Management Ordinance should be in place to address land use rules in relation to wind energy conversion systems.  There currently seems to be a movement toward renewable energy sources in our area and the county board chose to take a proactive approach by adopting an ordinance which outlines our objectives for wind developers.

    The county’s Solid Waste Management Ordinance regulates solid waste management. This includes household and commercial garbage disposal, recycling and household hazardous waste management. The Solid Waste Management Plan required by the State, plans management strategies and budget needs to insure proper management.

    Solid waste collection rates and haulers vary by the municipality you reside in. Rural residents can haul trash to the solid waste transfer station operated by Waste Management of Central Minnesota, contract with a licensed trash hauler for pick up, or dispose of household generated waste (other than recyclables and hazardous waste) on-site.

    Recycling is also handled by Waste Management of Central Minnesota. They are contracted by the county to collect and process recyclables throughout Big Stone County. Curbside collection of recyclables is available in all the cities except Barry. Drop-off sites are located in all the cities for rural residents to bring their recyclables to. Click here for Curbside Collection Schedule or to see a list of Acceptable Items.

    Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is managed through special collections here in the county or residents can dispose of HHW at the regional facility located in Willmar. Collection sites vary from year to year and are advertised in local papers. Used oil and oil filters can be disposed of free of charge at the County Highway Garage in Ortonville Monday – Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. The Highway Garage is located at 437 Minnesota St. across from the athletic fields. For answers to other questions relating to your solid waste management needs please call our office.

    Big Stone County adopted its first Comprehensive Local Water Plan in 1991. An update was completed according to State requirements in 1995. The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) provides an annual grant that is approximately $36,000 a year for administering the local water plan and to implement projects and programs that improve water quality. A local water plan committee consisting of farmers, citizens, state and local agencies and county commissioners, among others approves projects and expenditures. Projects vary with some of the on-going projects being well-sealing cost share, support of the Ortonville fourth grade class wetland restoration project, and rural drinking water well testing for coliform and nitrates conducted by the Ortonville High School students. For more information on the local water planning program or to become involved please call our office.   Click here to view the Big Stone County Water Plan.

    Big Stone County has been delegated by the State to permit feedlot activities since 1995. In 1996, the county adopted it's first feedlot ordinance to deal with certain aspects that are beyond the scope of the state rules (setbacks, conditional use requirements and allowable animal units per quarter). On October 23, 2000 the state rules were revised and then in 2003, Big Stone County also updated their local ordinance.  Click here to view the BSC Animal Feedlot Ordinance, 2003.  One of Minnesota's most substantial changes requires that all feedlot owners or operators register sites over 50 animal units with a delegated county or with the state. The registration deadline was January 1, 2002. Click here for the feedlot registration form which has an animal unit conversion chart on the last page. Operators over 1000 animal units are also required to apply for a NPDES permit. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) permits feedlots over 1000 animal units. Go to www.pca.state.mn.us/hot/feedlots.html for other facts and information regarding feedlot regulations or to review the newly revised rule.  There is no fee for registering, however new or expanding operations in the county must submit a $.50/animal unit permit application fee. The operator will be walked through all the necessary permit applications needed and a manure management plan specific to that operation will need to be completed.  Please call our office with specific questions in regard to your operation.

    In 1993, Big Stone County adopted its first Shoreland Management Ordinance. This ordinance governs all land uses within 1000 feet of a lake or 300 feet from a river or stream. This includes all bodies of water as listed on the DNR’s Protected Waters Map. Lakes are one of Minnesota’s greatest resources and if gone unprotected and left to be overdeveloped they will quickly degenerate. The ordinance lays out development densities, minimum lot sizes, structure and sewage treatment setbacks and vegetation removal limitations. The purpose of the ordinance is to provide for wise land use and development practices to protect water quality, wildlife habitat, fishery potential and aesthetics. The county works diligently with the Department of Natural Resources to preserve the county’s relatively undeveloped and natural state of its shorelines. By doing this, the economic and natural environmental values of our county’s shorelands can be preserved. For questions pertaining to development of your lake lot or other questions pertaining to shorelands give our office a call.  The county's rules regarding the subdivision of undeveloped shoreland can be found in The Big Stone County Subdivision Controls Ordinance, 2002.  Developers may also find the Developer's Checklist helpful in this process.

The Shoreland Management Ordinance is currently being amended and will be adopted June 15, 2004.  For a copy of the ordinance and amendments click on Shoreland Management Ordinance.  The main highlights of the Shoreland Ordinance can be found in a shorter summary called Shoreland Guidelines.

    Some areas in shoreland zones also fall under regulations of the Floodplain Management Ordinance. The purpose of this ordinance is to minimize the potential for loss of life and property in flood prone areas by limiting placement of residences and structures in those areas. New structures or additions built must be at least one foot above the regulatory floodplain elevation. By enforcing floodplain regulations, county residents are able to participate in the Federal Flood Insurance Program.

    The county has regulated individual septic treatment systems for years. In 1996, the State required that all septic system designers, installers and pumpers become licensed and that counties adopt a Septic Treatment Ordinance based on MN Rules Chapter 7080. The county issues permits based on a design submitted by a licensed designer. If the design is legal a permit is issued and installation may occur. Final inspections are done by the county to insure installation is done according to the design. Inspections are also done if complaints are registered on suspected failing systems that may be causing an imminent public health threat. Sellers must also provide inspections by a licensed inspector to buyers prior to the transfer of property in the county. Certain exemptions apply to property transfer inspections. The county regulates all septic systems in the county, including those within city limits. Contact a licensed designer, installer or pumper from the area or contact our office with further questions.

    In accordance with Big Stone County Ordinances, permits are required outside the corporate limits of municipalities for:

1. All new construction;
2. All structures moved and all structures replaced;
3. all individual on-site sewage treatment systems; and
4. Excavations in excess of fifty cubic yards or ten cubic yards in shoreland areas;

The fee schedule is:

All permits are also available at the Environmental Office at 20 2nd Street SE, Ortonville, MN  56278.  Copies of Big Stone County Ordinances are available for public inspection at the Environmental Office or can be purchased for a fee of $10.00 each, or $.50/page, whichever is greater.