Permits & Licenses

Building Permits are required for a number of home building, remodeling, or repair projects. The City of Golden Valley processes all building permits electronically through its ePermits system.

Visit the Building Permits page for more information.

Golden Valley’s domestic partnership registration allows unmarried couples to register their relationship with the City. 

This registry application (see below) helps people in committed relationships gain health insurance from employers who recognize such partnerships or to gain hospital visitation rights. Golden Valley is one of several cities in Minnesota to provide a domestic partnership registration. Others include Minneapolis, St Paul, Duluth, Edina, Rochester, Robbinsdale, and Maplewood. For more details, see the Golden Valley City Code, Section 2-163.

• Domestic Partnership Registration (PDF)
• Domestic Partnership Termination Notice (PDF)

Submit forms for notarization at Golden Valley City Hall (second floor, City Manager's Department). Both partners must be present.

The City of Golden Valley requires a Zoning Permit (PDF) for fences.

• Informational Handout (PDF)
• Zoning Requirements (PDF)

Fences more than 6 feet high also require a Building Permit (apply online through City's ePermits system).

Apply for Fire permits online through the City's ePermits system.

• Alarm Daywork, Demo, and Emergency Work 
• Alarm Full Submittal
• Fireworks Display
  Fireworks operators must apply for a permit two weeks in advance. Permit requires rental of fire engine and crew to stand by at display.
• Hood and Duct Cleaning | Informational Handout (PDF)
• Pre-Engineering Systems
• Recreational Fire Permit
  Required for outdoor fires that burn materials other than rubbish and are not contained in an incinerator, outdoor fireplace, barbeque grill, or barbeque pit.
  To apply for a permit, visit the Recreational Fire Permit page.
• Sprinkler Full Submittal
• Sprinkler Daywork, Demo, and Emergency Work
• Tanks and Related Equipment
• Temporary LP Tanks
• Tents and Canopies | General Requirements Handout (PDF)
  Required for tents exceeding 400 square feet and canopies exceeding 700 square feet.

Purchasing a gun requires a permit. Gun-owners who wish to carry their weapons must also obtain a special permit. For more information, call the Golden Valley Police Department at 763-593-8079.

Applications may be submitted online (pay by credit card), by mail, or in person (pay by check). 

See Inflow & Infiltration (I/I) for step-by-step directions to the I/I Point Of Sale and Sump Pump Inspection Program.

• Commercial - Certificate of Compliance Inspection Online Application | Paper Application (PDF)
• Commercial - Sump Pump Discharge Online Application | Paper Application (PDF)
• Residential - Certificate of Compliance Inspection Online Application | Paper Application (PDF)
• Residential - Sump Pump Discharge Inspection Online Application | Paper Application (PDF)
• I/I Program Acknowledgement Form (PDF)

To learn more and to apply for a mobile food vending permit, visit the Mobile Food Vending page. 

Residents who live in parking-restricted areas must obtain parking permits for guests.

• No Parking Waiver Permit: This permit is required to temporarily suspend enforcement of a no parking zone in Golden Valley. Due at least one week in advance of the event date. City staff may require additional information from the event organizer before approving the permit.
• Winter Parking Restriction Waiver Permit:This permit is required to temporarily suspend enforcement of the 2-6 am (Nov 1-March 31) on-street parking restriction in Golden Valley. Each permit is for one night only. Vehicles are allowed three waivers of one night each per winter season. All waivers are temporary and void during snowfalls of 2 inches or more until snow has stopped falling and the streets are cleared curb to curb. Due three days before the parking waiver is needed.

Planning & Zoning Permits cover a range of topics, from large development projects such as a master-planned neighborhood to individual licenses.

Required for outdoor fires that burn materials other than rubbish and are not contained in an incinerator, outdoor fireplace, barbeque grill, or barbeque pit.

To apply for a permit, visit the Recreational Fire Permit page.

Unless otherwise provided in the City Code, no person may obstruct or excavate in the right-of-way (ROW) without first obtaining a ROW Permit from the City. This includes:

• construction of retaining walls, fences, berms, or other obstructions (Zoning Requirements PDF)
• planting of trees, shrubs, or other landscaping over 12 inches high
• temporary obstructions in the travel way, such as trailers, parades, or special events
• construction of paved driveways and walks (Zoning Requirements PDF)
• installation of utilities, irrigation, conduits, wires, or other objects
• ROW Permit Application (PDF)
• ROW Permit Requirements & Standards (PDF)
• ROW Informational Handout (PDF)

Guidelines

• Homeowners and/or contractors are required to submit a scale drawing of the proposed project.
• Email the completed ROW Permit application to Karen Moores.
• Staff will review the application for completeness and will contact you to verify the permit fee, securities, and other documentation. Please mail a check for the fee and security amounts with a copy of the application to City of Golden Valley, Attn: ROW Permit, 7800 Golden Valley Rd, Golden Valley, MN 55427.
• Following receipt of your check, staff will email you the permit.

Questions? Please call the City at 763-593-8030

As outlined in City Code Chapter 105, the City of Golden Valley regulates signage and requires permits before signs are constructed or erected (some exceptions apply). Plan review required. 

Apply for sign permits online through City's ePermits system.

• Sign - Permanent
• Sign - Special Temporary
• Sign - Temporary

Visit the Special Events Permits page to learn more and to apple for a special events permit.

Stormwater Management Permits are required for land-disturbing activities that remove soils or vegetation, including but not limited to clearing, digging, dredging, draining, or filling (see specifics below).

• Stormwater Management Permit Application (online)
• Stormwater Management Permit Application Packet (PDF)
• Standard Details

Specific projects requiring a Stormwater Management Permit include:

• activities that disturb more than 4,000 square feet of soils or vegetation
• any activity that would involve construction, installation, demolition, modification or expansion of a building foundation wall
• construction or demolition of a swimming pool
• construction or demolition of a retaining wall of sufficient height to require a building permit
• any land disturbing activities within City right-of-way that have a duration greater than 72 hours and which are not covered by a right-of-way excavation, utility, or plumbing permit
• cutting, filling, disposal, hauling in, or storage of more than 30 cubic yards of soil
• construction, reclamation, expansion, removal, or modification of a parking lot
• construction, expansion, or modification of a stormwater quality treatment facility or stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs)
• any land-disturbing activities within the 100-year floodplain or calculated high water level of any water body, or immediately adjacent to any wetland or public water body, including shoreline restoration and creek bank stabilization
• those activities required to meet “Level 1 standards” and “Non-degradation standards” of the Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission (BCWMC) as set forth in the current version of BCWMC’s Requirements for Improvements and Development Proposals as amended from time to time

Questions? Email Drew Chirpich or call 763-593-8030.

Tree and Landscape Permits

Required for:

• all new construction projects
• projects that increase the building footprint by 100 percent in single-family residential (R1 and R2) zoning districts
• projects that increase impervious areas by 10 percent in all other zoning districts.

Multi-lot or two-phase development projects may require additional permits. Note: It may take up to a minimum of 15 business days to review a complete application.

• Tree & Landscape Permit Application (PDF)
• Email the completed Tree & Landscape Permit application to  Carrie Nelson.
• Staff will review the application for completeness and will contact you to verify the permit fee, securities, and other documentation. Please mail a check for the fee and security amounts with a copy of the application to: City of Golden Valley, Attn: Tree & Landscape, 7800 Golden Valley Rd, Golden Valley, MN 55427.
• Following receipt of your check, staff will email you the permit.

Native Vegetation Permit

Golden Valley's lawn maintenance ordinance ( City Code Chapter 10-87) allows residents to cultivate native plants in residential lawns. The Native Vegetation Permit (fee: $100) requires property information along with a description of the work, including:

• purpose and intent (e.g., general yard landscaping or water source buffer zone)
• detailed site plan, planting plan, and maintenance plan with contact information for responsible person(s)
• Native Vegetation Permit Application (PDF)

Questions? Contact Public Works at 763-593-8046.