153.600 Master Glossary_amend Ord No 2023-17City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-1
153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY
153.600.010 Rules of Interpretation and Word Construction
Rules. The language contained in the text of this Ordinance shall be interpreted in accordance with the
following rules of construction:
1. The singular number includes the plural and the plural includes the singular.
2. The present tense includes the past and future tenses, and the future to the present.
3. The words "shall" and “must” are mandatory, and the word “may” is permissive.
4. Whenever a word or term defined hereinafter appears in the text of this Ordinance, its meaning shall be
construed as set forth in such definition.
5. All measured distances expressed in feet shall be to the nearest tenth of a foot.
6. In the event of conflicting provisions, the more restrictive provisions shall apply.
7. For terminology not defined in this Section, the most current Merriam Webster’s dictionary shall be used
to define such terms.
Definitions of Regulatory Bodies, Persons and Policies. The following definitions are provided to
describe persons, regulatory bodies, agencies and applicable policies referenced throughout this Chapter.
1. Administrator: The City Zoning Administrator.
2. Applicant: Any person or entity that is required to submit an application for a permit or approval
required by this UDC.
3. Architectural Design Guidelines: The Architectural Design Guidelines of the City of Scandia dated
September, 2009 as may be amended from time to time.
4. Attorney: The City Attorney.
5. Base Zoning District (“Zoning District”): An area or areas within the City in which the regulations
and requirements of this UDC are applied.
6. Board of Adjustment and Appeals: A judicial type body that hears administrative appeals, requests
for variances, and requests for building permits in Official Map Areas.
7. Building Code: The Minnesota State Building Code.
8. Building Official: The designated authority charged with the administration and enforcement of the
State Building Code.
9. Building Permit: A permit required from the responsible governmental agency before any site work,
construction or alteration to structures can be started.
10. Chapter: The City of Scandia Unified Development Code
11. Comprehensive Plan: The policies, statements, goals and interrelated plans for private and public
land and water use, transportation and community facilities, including recommendations for planned
execution, documented in texts, ordinance and maps which constitute the guide for the future
development of the City.
12. County: Washington County.
13. Engineer: The City Engineer.
14. Governing Body: The City Council.
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-2
15. MPCA: The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
16. MnDNR: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
17. Municipality: A city or township, however organized.
18. Official Control: Legislatively defined and enacted policies, standards, precise detailed maps, and
other criteria, all of which control the physical development of the city, or any part thereof, or any
detail thereof, and the means of translating into ordinances all or any part of the general objectives of
the comprehensive plan. Such official controls may include, but are not limited to ordinances
establishing zoning, subdivision controls, site plan regulations, sanitary codes, building codes, housing
codes and official maps and have been adopted by City of Scandia as the UDC.
19. Official Map: A map adopted in accordance with the provisions of Minnesota State Statutes, 394.361.
20. Ordinance, Zoning: The City of Scandia Unified Development Code.
21. Overlay District: A zoning district shown as an overlay on the zoning map.
22. Owner: Includes all persons interested in a property as fee simple owner, life estate holder,
encumbrancer.
23. Park and Recreation Committee: An appointed advisory board of the City used to address matters
relating to parks, recreation facilities and programs within the City. This Committee also makes
recommendations for dedication of land or fees for subdivisions within the City.
24. Person: Any person, corporation or association, including governmental agencies and political entities.
25. Planning Commission: The duly appointed planning and zoning commission of the City.
153.600.020 Definitions of Dimension, Measurement, Structure and Subdivision
1. Area, Net Developable: Those lands within a development parcel remaining after the deletion of
flood plains, wetlands, slopes greater than 25%, unbuildable easements or rights-of-way, and required
building setbacks.
2. Basement: Any area of a structure, including crawl spaces, having its floor or base subgrade (below
ground level/grade plane) on all four sides, regardless of the depth of excavation below ground level.
3. Bluff: See Chapter 5 Shoreland Management Regulations.
4. Buffer: A strip of land intended to create physical separation between potentially incompatible uses of
land.
5. Buffer, Wetland: Undisturbed strip of land adjacent to shorelines and wetlands consisting of native or
existing vegetation.
6. Buildable Land: Land with a slope less than 25%, and situated outside of any required setbacks, and
land situated outside of every floodway, drainageway, or drainage easement; except on a natural
environment lake where a 200-foot structure setback is required, the buildable area calculation shall be
measured from the 150-foot setback rather than the 200-foot setback.
7. Building: Any structure, either temporary or permanent, having a roof and used or built for the
shelter or enclosure of any person, animal or property of any kind. When any portion thereof is
completely separated from every other part thereof by area separation, each portion of such building
shall be deemed as a separate building.
8. Building Height: The vertical distance from the average of the highest and the lowest point of grade
for that portion of the lot covered by the building, to the highest point of the roof for flat roofs, to the
roof deck line of mansard roofs and to the mean height between eaves and ridge for gable, hip or
gambrel roofs. No structure shall exceed the maximum height permitted for the zoning district in
which it is located, except for church spires, chimneys, agricultural silos, wind energy conversion
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-3
systems, wireless communication antennas and towers and flag poles up to 45 feet in height. The
height of a stepped or terraced building is the maximum height of any segment of the building.
9. Building Setback Line: A line within a lot parallel to a public right-of-way line, a side or rear lot line,
a bluff line or a high water mark or line, behind which buildings or structures must be placed.
10. Character, or Character Area: Attributes of architecture, form, and/or the physical environment that
define an area. Examples include front porches, Scandinavian vernacular, farmsteads, roof pitch, color
or materials, similar lot sizes or setbacks, etc., are all characteristics that define the character of an area
or neighborhood.
11. Cluster Developments: See Open Space Conservation Subdivision.
12. Common Open Space: Land held in common ownership used for agriculture, natural habitat,
pedestrian corridors and/or recreational purposes which is protected from future development.
13. Conventional Subdivision: divides property into lots according to the density, minimum lot size and
minimum lot width requirements for the zoning district.
14. Conservation Easement: An interest in real property created in a manner that imposes limitations or
affirmative obligations in regard to the use of property including the retention, protection and
maintenance of natural resources, open space and agriculture.
15. Contiguous: Parcels of land that share a common lot line or boundary. Parcels that are separated by a
road right-of-way, easement, or railroad right-of-way are considered contiguous for the purposes of
this UDC.
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-4
16. Cul-de-sac: A minor street with only one outlet and having a turnaround or terminus.
17. Cul-de-sac, Temporary: A minor street with only one outlet and having a turnaround or terminus
that is planned to connect to an adjacent through-road, and such future extension is provided through
dedicated right-of-way to the property line.
18. Density: The number of dwelling units permitted per acre of land.
19. Density Units: The number of individual dwelling units that can be developed on a parcel of land as
established thorough the use of a yield plan. For the purpose of this UDC, a multi - family residential
dwelling is considered as having as many density units as there are individual dwelling units, regardless
of whether those units are attached or detached.
20. Depth of Lot: The horizontal distance between the frontage right-of-way line and rear lot line. On a
corner lot, the side with the largest frontage is its depth, and the side with the lesser frontage is its
width.
21. Depth of Rear Yard: The horizontal distance between the rear building line and the rear lot line.
22. Development Agreement: An agreement with the owner of the whole parcel as charged on the tax
lists of the County specifying the number of density units allocated amongst the parcels being created,
the zoning district the particular parcels are located in, the fact that the use and development and
further conveyance of the parcels is subject to the regulations contained in the UDC.
23. Final Plat: A drawing or map of an approved subdivision, meeting all requirements of Chapter Three,
Subdivision Regulations and in such form as required by the community for purposes of recording.
24. Flag Lot: A lot with access provided to the bulk of the lot by means of a narrow corridor.
25. Floor Area: The gross area of the main floor of a residential building measured in square feet and not
an attached garage, breezeway or similar attachment.
26. Floor Area, Gross: The sum or the gross area of the various floors of a building measured in square
feet. The basement floor area shall not be included unless such area constitutes a story.
27. Floor Area Ratio (FAR): The numerical value obtained through dividing the gross floor area of a
building or buildings by the net area of the lot or parcel of land on which such building or buildings
are located.
28. Floor Plan, General: A graphic representation of the anticipated use of the floor area within a
building or structure.
29. Footprint: The length and width of the building’s foundation and the building’s height.
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-5
30. Frontage: That boundary of a lot that abuts a public street or private road.
31. Grade Plane: A reference plane representing the average of finished ground level adjoining a building
at exterior walls.
32. Height of sign: the height of the sign shall be computed as the vertical distance measured from the
base of the sign at grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign.
33. Impervious Surface: A constructed hard surface that either prevents or retards the entry of water
into the soil and causes water to run off the surface in greater quantities and at an increased rate of
flow than prior to development. Examples include rooftops, sidewalks, patios, driveways, parking lots,
storage areas, and concrete, asphalt, or gravel roads.
34. Individual Parcel: A parcel as a whole as charged on the tax lists, or two or more contiguous parcels
under common ownership on the effective date of this UDC.
35. Lot: A parcel of land designated by metes and bounds, registered land survey, plat or other means, and
which description is either recorded in the Office of the Washington County Recorder or Registrar of
Titles or used by the County Treasurer or County Assessor to separate such parcel from other lands
for tax purposes.
36. Lot Area: The area of a horizontal plane within the lot lines.
37. Lot Area, Minimum per Dwelling Unit: The minimum number of square feet or acres of lot area
required per dwelling unit.
38. Lot Averaging: Allows the property owner to create parcels smaller than those of a conventional
subdivision plan provided the density of the development does not exceed the maximum density
permitted for the zoning district and the density that can be achieved with a yield plan.
39. Lot, Buildable: A lot that meets or exceeds all requirements of this UDC without the necessity of
variances.
40. Lot, Corner: A lot situated at the junction of and abutting 2 or more intersecting streets; or a lot at
the point of a deflection in alignment of a single street, the interior angle of which does not exceed
135 degrees.
41. Lot Coverage: That portion of a lot containing an artificial or natural surface through which water, air
or roots cannot penetrate. This definition includes, but is not limited to, driveways, structures, patios
and decks.
42. Lot Depth: The mean horizontal distance between the front and rear lines of a lot.
43. Lot, Interior: A lot other than a corner lot, including through lots.
44. Lot Line: A lot line is the property line bounding a lot, except that where any portion of a lot extends
into a public right-of-way or a proposed public right-of-way, the line of such public right-of-way shall
be the lot line.
45. Lot Line, Front: That boundary of a lot that abuts a public street or a private road. In the case of a
corner lot, it shall be the shortest dimension of a public street. If the dimensions of a corner lot are
equal, the front lot line shall be designated by the owner. In the case of a corner lot in a non-
residential area, the lot shall be deemed to have frontage on both streets.
46. Lot Line, Rear: That boundary of a lot that is opposite to the front lot line. If the rear lot line is less
than 10 feet in length, or if the lot forms a point at the rear, the rear lot line shall be a line 10 feet in
length within the lot, parallel to, and at the maximum distance from the front lot line.
47. Lot Line, Side: Any boundary of a lot that is not a front lot line or a rear lot line.
48. Lot, Through: Any lot other than a corner lot that abuts more than 1 street. On a through lot, all
property lines abutting the road right-of-way shall be considered the front lines.
49. Lot Width: The horizontal distance between the side lot lines of a lot measured at the setback line.
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-6
50. Major Highway: Those highways and/or roadways which are classified as Minor Arterials and
County Collectors in the Thoroughfare Plan of the City Comprehensive Plan.
51. Nominal Parcel: A parcel not reduced by more than 10% of its lot area due to road right-of-way
dedication.
52. Nonconforming Lot: A separate parcel or lot of record on the effective date of this UDC, or any
amendments thereto, which lot or parcel does not conform to the regulations, including dimensional
standards, contained in this UDC or amendments thereto.
53. Outlot: A parcel of land included in a plat, of which the use or development is restricted. Such outlot
may be a large tract that could be subdivided in the future or may be too small to comply with the
minimum size requirements of this UDC or may otherwise be unsuitable for development and
therefore not usable as a building site. A recorded plat development must specific the restrictions on
said lot.
54. Open Space Development: See Open Space Conservation Subdivision.
55. Open Space Conservation Subdivision: allows the property owner to create parcels smaller than
conventional subdivisions; however, the development shall comply with certain design standards and a
portion of the property shall remain as common open space. Additional density units may be allowed
if certain criteria are met.
56. Planned Unit Development (PUD): Allows some flexibility from the strict application of the Base
Zoning District standards in exchange for an improved design benefiting the public, which may
include the property owner to have two or more principal uses on a single parcel of land. A specific
development plan, including identification of granted flexibility, shall be approved by the City Council.
57. Platted Land: Lands with legal descriptions described as lot, block, plat name.
58. Quarter-Quarter Section: A tract of land legally described as a full quarter-quarter section or a 40-
acre parcel not reduced by more than 10% due to road right-of-way dedication.
59. Setback: The minimum horizontal distance between a structure and street right-of-way, lot line or
other reference point as provided by Ordinance. Distances are to be measured perpendicularly from
the property line to the portion of the structure closest to the property line.
60. Story: That portion of a building included between the upper surface of any floor and the upper
surface of the floor next above, except that the topmost story shall be that portion of a building
included between the upper surface of the topmost floor and the ceiling or roof above, not including a
basement or a story not above grade plane.
61. Story Above Grade Plane: Any story having its finished floor surface entirely above grade plane,
except a basement, which shall be considered as a story above grade where the finished surface of the
floor above the basement is:
More than 6 feet (1,829 mm) above grade plane;
more than 6 feet (1,829 mm) above the finished ground level for more than 50% of the total
building perimeter; or
more than 12 feet 3,658 mm) above the finished ground level at any point.
62. Structure: Anything constructed or erected on the ground or attached to the ground or on-site
utilities, including, but not limited to, buildings, factories, sheds, detached garages, cabins, recreational
vehicles not meeting the exemption criteria specified in [Section 9.1 (1) of Chapter Six] and other
similar items. Used interchangeably with “building” for purposes of this UDC.
63. Street: A public right-of-way that affords a primary means of access to abutting property.
64. Street, Collector: A street that serves or is designed to serve as a traffic way for a neighborhood or as
a feeder to a major road.
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-7
65. Street, Intermediate or Minor Arterial: A street which serves or is designed to serve heavy flows of
traffic and which is used primarily as a route for traffic between communities and/or other heavy
traffic generating areas.
66. Street, Local: A street intended to serve primarily as an access to abutting properties.
67. Street Pavement: The wearing or exposed surface of the roadway used by vehicular traffic.
68. Street Width: The width of the right-of-way measured at right angles to the centerline of the street.
69. Structural Alteration: Any change, other than incidental repairs, which would affect the supporting
members of a building, such as bearing walls, columns, beams, girders or foundations.
70. Structure, Nonconforming: Any structure lawfully or legally existing on the effective date of this
UDC, or any amendment thereto, which does not conform to the regulations, including the
dimensional standards, for the district in which it is located after the effective date of this UDC or
amendments thereto.
71. Subdivision: The process of dividing land into two or more parcels for the purpose of transfer of
ownership, building development or tax assessment purposes by platting, replatting, registered land
survey, conveyance sale, contract for sale or other means by which a beneficial interest in land is
transferred.
72. Subdivision, Major: All subdivisions not classified as minor subdivisions including, but not limited
to, subdivisions of 4 or more lots, or any size subdivision requiring any new street or extension of an
existing street.
73. Subdivision, Minor: Any subdivision containing 3 or less lots fronting on an existing street, not
involving any new street or road, or the extension of municipal facilities, or the creation of any public
improvements, and not adversely affecting the remainder of the parcel or adjoining property, and not
in conflict with any provisions or portion of the Comprehensive Plan, Official Map, Base Zoning
District or this Chapter.
74. Yard: The open space on an occupied lot that is not covered by any structure.
75. Yard, Front: The yard across the full width of the lot extending from the front line of the principal
building to the front lot line, except for buildings on Recreational or Natural Environment lakes where
the front yard faces the water.
76. Yard, Rear: The yard across the full width of the lot extending from the rear line of the principal
building to the rear lot line, except for buildings on Recreational or Natural Environment lakes where
the rear yard faces a public street or a private road.
77. Yard, Required: A yard area that may not be built on or covered by structures because of the
dimensional setbacks for said structures within the zoning district.
78. Yard, Side: The yard between the principal building and the adjacent side of the lot, extending from
the front line of the principal building to the rear line of the principal building.
79. Yield Plan: A subdivision plan drawn to scale, containing sufficient information showing the
maximum number of lots that could be permitted using the performance standards for lots in a
conventional subdivision in accordance with this UDC.
153.600.30 Definitions of Use, Standards and Terms
(A) This subsection will list all definitions contained in this Chapter.
1. Abandoned Sign: Any sign and/or its supporting sign structure which remains without a message or
whose display surface remains blank for a period of one (1) year or more; or any sign which pertains to
a time, event or purpose which no longer applies; or any sign whose permit has expired shall be
deemed to have been abandoned. Signs applicable to a use temporarily suspended because of a change
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-8
in ownership or management of such use shall not be deemed abandoned unless the property remains
vacant for a period of one (1) year or more. Any sign remaining after demolition of a principal
structure shall be deemed to be abandoned. Signs which are present because of being legally
established nonconforming signs or signs which have required a conditional use permit or a variance
shall also be subject to the definition of abandoned sign.
2. Accessory Dwelling Unit: A dwelling unit that may be attached or detached from the principal
structure and is located on the same lot as a principal residential or commercial structure to which it is
accessory, and that is subordinate in area and form to the principal use. A density unit is not attributed
to this dwelling unit when calculating density.
3. Accessory Use or Structure. A use or structure on the same lot with, and of a nature customarily
incidental and subordinate to, the principal use or structure.
4. Agricultural Building: A structure on agricultural land designed, constructed, and used to house farm
implements, livestock or agricultural produce or products used by the owner, lessee or sublessee of the
building and members of their immediate families, their employees and persons engaged in the pickup
or delivery of agricultural produce or products.
5. Agricultural Direct-Market Business: A commercial enterprise in which agricultural products are
produced on a site and marketed and sold directly to consumers without an intermediate wholesaler or
distributor other than a farm co-op organization. Direct market business may include enterprises such
as pick-your-own operations, and operations in which delivery of products is made directly to
consumers.
6. Agricultural-Business, Seasonal: A seasonal business not exceeding six (6) months in any calendar
year operated on a rural farm as defined offering for sale to the general public, produce or any
derivative thereof, grown or raised on the property.
7. Agricultural Processing: Processing on the farm of horticulture, forestry, dairy, egg, or apiary
products grown on the farm in the course of preparing the product for market. Agricultural processing
shall not include animal slaughtering or meat/animal processing. Agricultural processing is subordinate
and incidental to the farm operation. Agricultural processing includes activities such as cutting, drying,
packaging, canning, milling, grinding, freezing, heating and fermenting of product.
8. Agricultural Production: Land uses including the production of horticulture and nursery stock, fruit
of all kinds, vegetables, forage, grains, bees and apiary products and raising domestic farm animals.
This activity does not need to be the principal source of income.
9. Agritourism Use: A commercial or nonprofit use on a working farm or plant nursery in which the
public or invited groups participate in public recreational or educational activities. These activities
must be related to agriculture and incidental to the farm or nursery operation. This term includes farm
tours, hay rides, corn mazes, field trips or educational experiences or classes related to agricultural
products or skills, or similar uses. Campgrounds or overnight camping shall not be considered an
Agritourism Use.
10. Alteration: To change or make different; to remodel or modify.
11. Animal Unit: A unit of measure used to compare differences in the production of animal wastes
which has a standard as the amount of waste produced on a regular basis by a slaughter steer or heifer.
12. Animals, Domestic Farm: Cattle, hogs, bees, sheep, goats, llamas, chickens, turkeys, bison, horses
(including miniatures) and other animals generally kept for commercial food or fiber production
purposes and commonly accepted as farm animals in the State of Minnesota not to exceed 11 animal
units.
13. Animals, Domestic Pets: House pets such as dogs, cats, ferrets and birds (except those defined as
farm animals or wild animals) that can be contained within a principal structure throughout the entire
year, provided that containment can be accomplished without special modification to the structure
requiring a building permit from the City. Includes rabbits normally sheltered outside the home.
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-9
14. Animals, Wild or Exotic: Any animal that is wild, ferocious, or vicious by nature, habit, disposition
or character. Animals in this category include any ape (including chimpanzee, gibbon, gorilla,
orangutan, or siamang), baboon, bear, bobcat, cheetah, crocodile, coyote, deer (including members of
the deer family such as elk, antelope and moose), elephant, fox, hippopotamus, hyena, jaguar, leopard,
lion, lynx, monkey, puma, also known as cougar, mountain lion or panther, rhinoceros, a snake which
is poisonous, snow leopard, tiger, wolf, or hybrid mix of any of the wild animals such as wolf/dog
mixes.
15. Antenna: That portion of any equipment used to radiate or receive radio frequency energy for
transmitting or receiving radio or television waves. Antennas may consist of metal, carbon fiber, or
other electromagnetically conductive rods or elements. Antennas are regulated to the extent the
regulations are not preempted by the Federal Communications Commission.
16. Antenna, Amateur Radio: That portion of any equipment used to radiate or receive radio frequency
energy or electromagnetic signals for “Amateur Radio Service” communications as defined in 47
C.F.R. Part 97 3(4) and used in 47 C.F. R. Part 97.15(a).
17. Antenna, Household Radio, Television and Short-Wave Radio Receiving: A wire, set of wires or
any device consisting of metal, carbon fiber or other electromagnetically conductive surfaces, rods,
elements or open mesh, including television, receive only (TVROs) satellite dishes two meters or less
in diameter, used in conjunction with the reception of household radio, television and short-wave
radio receiving equipment.
18. Antenna, Satellite Dish: A device consisting of metal, carbon fiber or other electromagnetically
conductive surfaces, rods, elements or open mesh and in the shape of a shallow dish, cone, horn or
cornucopia. Such device is used to transmit and/or receive radio, television or electromagnetic waves
between terrestrially and/or orbitally based uses. This definition shall include, but not be limited to,
what are commonly referred to as satellite earth stations, television receive-only (TVROs) and satellite
microwave antennas.
19. Apartment: A room or suite of rooms with cooking facilities designed to be occupied as a residency
by a single family.
20. Appraised Valuation: The market value of a structure as determined by the current records of the
County Assessor.
21. Arts and Heritage Center: A facility and grounds used for events such as, but not limited to, art
displays, concerts and musical performances, theatrical events, and public gatherings.
22. Assisted Living Facility or Assisted Living Residence: Housing establishment with services that is
registered with the State of Minnesota and provides sleeping accommodations to more than 12 adult
residents, at least 80% of whom are 55 years of age or older, and at a minimum provides or makes
available health-related services under a class A or class F home care license issued by the State of
Minnesota, whether offered or provided directly by the establishment or another entity.
23. Banner: A temporary sign made of lightweight fabric or similar material with no enclosing framework
that is mounted to a pole or a building at one or more edges. National flags, state or municipal flags or
the official flag of any organization shall not be considered a banner if displayed for noncommercial
purposes.
24. Bar or Tavern: A building with facilities for the serving of beer, liquor, wine, set-ups and short order
foods.
25. Bed and Breakfast Inn: An owner-occupied private home where accommodations are offered for
one or more nights to transients; in addition, a breakfast meal is served on the premises to no more
than 10 persons.
26. Best Management Practices (BMP’s): Water quality and erosion and sediment control management
practices that are the most effective and practicable means of controlling, preventing and minimizing
degradation of surface water. BMP’s include schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, general
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-10
good housekeeping practices, pollution prevention and educational practices, maintenance procedures
and other management practices to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants directly or indirectly
to stormwater, surface waters, or stormwater conveyance systems. BMP’s also include treatment
practices, operating procedures, and practices to control site runoff, spillage or leaks, sludge or water
disposal, or drainage from raw materials storage.
27. Brew on Premises Store: A retail business that sells the ingredients and equipment to customers to
brew beer, other malt liquor or wine at the store for personal or family consumption.
28. Brewery, Craft: A facility with a capacity to manufacture twenty thousand (20,000) or fewer barrels of
alcoholic and nonalcoholic malt liquor a year. This definition excludes small breweries operated in
conjunction with a bar or restaurant defined herein as an accessory use.
29. Business: Any occupation, employment or enterprise wherein merchandise is exhibited or sold, or
where services are offered for compensation.
30. Campgrounds: Any area, whether privately or publicly owned, used on a daily, nightly, weekly, or
longer basis for the accommodation of 5 or more tents, or recreational camping vehicles, free of
charge or for compensation.
31. Caregiver: An individual 18 years of age or older who provides care for a mentally or physically-
impaired person and is a relative, legal guardian, or health care agent of the mentally or physically-
impaired parson for whom the individual is caring.
32. Car Wash: A building or area that provides hand or machine operated facilities for washing and
cleaning motor vehicles.
33. Cellar: Any floor level below the first story in a building, except that a floor level in a building having
only one floor level shall be classified as a basement unless such floor level qualifies as a first story as
defined in the Building Code.
34. Cemetery: Land used or intended to be used for the burial of the dead and dedicated for cemetery
purposes and including, but not limited to, columbariums, mausoleums and chapels when operated in
conjunction with and within the boundaries of such cemetery.
35. Certificate of Occupancy: A certificate issued by the building official authorizing the use or
occupancy of a building or structure.
36. Club or Lodge: A non-profit association of persons who are members paying annual dues, use of
premises being restricted to members and their guests. It shall be permissible to serve food and meals
on such premises providing there is adequate dining room for the purpose of serving food and meals
and providing further that such serving of alcoholic beverages is in compliance with the applicable
federal, state and local laws.
37. Colony: An aggregate of bees consisting principally of workers, but having, when perfect, one queen
and at times drones, brood, combs, and honey.
38. Columbarium: A structure, room, or other space in a building or structure containing niches for
internment of cremated remains in a place used, or intended to be used, and dedicated for cemetery
purposes.
39. Commercial Food Producing Farm Operations: See “Farm” definition.
40. Commercial Recreation: All uses such as tennis, racquet ball clubs, amusement centers, bowling
alleys, golf driving ranges, miniature golf, movie theaters that are privately owned and operated with
the intention of earning a profit by providing entertainment to the public.
41. Conditional Use: A specific type of structure or land use listed in the official control that may be
allowed but only after an in-depth review procedure and with appropriate conditions or restrictions as
provided in the UDC, and upon a finding that certain conditions as detailed in the zoning ordinance
exist and that the structure and/or land use conform to the comprehensive land use plan and are
compatible with the existing neighborhood. See Chapter One, Section 8.
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-11
42. Condominium: An estate in real property consisting of an undivided interest in common with other
purchasers in a portion of a parcel of real property, together with a separate interest in space in a
residential building.
43. Conference Center: A hall or other building which is designed to hold meetings, public and private
business and social events or conferences. May be included as part of a resort.
44. Conservation Use: Environmentally sensitive and valuable lands protected from any activity that
would significantly alter their ecological integrity, balance or character. Conservation uses include lands
containing wetlands, hydric soils, woodlands, floodplain, native prairie, wildlife corridors, shorelands,
steep slopes and their accessory uses such as interpretive centers, trails and management facilities.
45. Construction Activity: Disturbance to the land that results in a change in the topography, existing
soil cover (both vegetative and non-vegetative), or the existing soil topography that may result in
accelerated stormwater runoff and lead to soil erosion and movement of sediment into surface waters
or drainage systems. Examples of construction activity may include clearing, grading, filling excavating,
building construction and landscaping.
46. Conveyance: Conveyances shall have the meaning specified in Minnesota Statute 272.12.
47. Cost of Renovation, Repair or Replacement: The fair market value of the materials and services
necessary to accomplish such renovation, repair or replacement.
48. Crematorium or Crematory: A place where bodies are consumed by incineration and the ashes of
the deceased are collected for permanent burial or storage in urns.
49. Cultural Resource: The historic and archeological characteristics of the land, including buildings and
landscapes, which provide information regarding the history of the area and its people.
50. Cutoff: The point at which all light rays emitted by a lamp, light source or luminaire are completely
eliminated at a specific angle above the ground.
51. Cutoff Angle: The angle formed by a line drawn from the direction of light rays at the light source
and a line perpendicular to the ground from the light source above which no light is emitted.
52. Cutoff Type Luminaire: A luminaire with elements such as shields, reflectors, or refractor panels
which direct and cut off the light at a cutoff angle that is less than 90 degrees.
53. Decibel: The unit of sound measured on the “A” weighing scale of a sound level meter, set on slow
response, the weighing characteristics of which are specified in the a “Standards on Sound Level
Meters of the USA Standards Institute”.
54. Delicatessen/Coffee House: A shop where ready to serve food, such as cooked meats, salads,
sandwiches, etc. which are prepared in advance, and coffee, tea or other non-alcoholic beverages are
sold.
55. Disposal Area, On-Site Sewage Treatment: See Washington County Subsurface Sewage Treatment
Regulations.
56. Distillery, Craft: A distillery producing premium, distilled spirits not exceeding 40,000 proof gallons
in a calendar year.
57. Drainageway: A channel that provides for the drainage of stormwater runoff from a watershed or
subwatershed area.
58. Dredging: The process by which soils or other surface materials, normally transported by surface
water erosion into a body of water, are removed for the purpose of deepening the body of water.
59. Drive-In: Any use where products and/or services are provided to the customer under conditions
where the customer does not have to leave the car or where service to the automobile occupants is
offered regardless of whether service is also provided within a building.
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-12
60. Drive-through: Any use where products and/or services are provided to the customer under
conditions where the customer does not have to leave the car.
61. Driveway Access Permit: A permit required from the responsible governmental agency that allows
access onto a public road. Such permit must be acquired prior to the issuance of a building permit.
62. Dwelling: A building or 1 or more portions thereof occupied exclusively for human habitation, but
not including rooms in hotels, motels, nursing homes. (Also see Dwelling Unit.)
63. Dwelling, Duplex or Two Family: A residential building containing 2 complete dwelling units.
64. Dwelling, Multiple Family: A residential building, or portion of a building, containing 2 or more
dwelling units.
65. Dwelling, Seasonal: A residential building not capable of year-round occupancy due to non-
winterized construction or inadequate non-conforming year-round on-site sewage treatment systems.
66. Dwelling, Single: A residential building containing 1 detached dwelling unit.
67. Dwelling Unit: A residential accommodation including complete kitchen and bathroom facilities,
permanently installed, which is arranged, designed, used or intended for use exclusively as living
quarters for 1 family.
68. Environmental Assessment Worksheet or Environmental Impact Statement: That document
that might be required under Minnesota Statute Chapter 116C and D. See Chapter One, Section 12.0.
69. Equestrian Uses: Those uses commonly associated with the raising, maintaining and training of
horses for riding, racing or breeding.
70. Erosion: The wearing away of the ground surface as a result of the movement of wind, water and/or
ice.
71. Erosion Control: Methods employed to prevent erosion, such as soil stabilization practices,
horizontal slope grading, temporary or permanent cover, and construction phasing.
72. Essential Services: Underground or overhead telephone, gas, electrical, steam, waste, or water
transmission services, including necessary structures and accessories such as poles, wires, mains,
drains, sewers, pipes, conduits, cables, fire alarm boxes, police call boxes, traffic signals, hydrants and
other similar equipment. Essential Services shall not include Wireless Communication Antennas or
Wind Energy Conversion Systems.
73. Essential Services—Transmission Facilities: A facility that transforms, converts, or switches
telephone, gas, electrical, steam, waste, or water transmission services, such as electrical power lines
with a voltage of 35 kv or greater; utility substations; bulk gas or fuel being transferred from station to
station and not intended for en route consumption ; or other similar equipment, related buildings,
storage and accessories, including necessary structures and accessories for electric substations, gas
substations, and telephone switching and relay facilities.
74. Exterior Storage: The storage of goods, materials, equipment, manufactured products and similar
items not fully enclosed by a building.
75. Family: An individual, or 2 or more persons each related by blood, marriage, adoption, or foster care
arrangement, living together as a single housekeeping unit, or a group of not more than 6 persons not
related, maintaining a common household, exclusive of servants.
76. Farm: Land whose use is primarily devoted to agricultural uses or the raising and/or breeding of
livestock.
77. Farmers’ Market: Three or more vendors coordinated by a single organization for the purpose of
outdoor display and direct sale of Christmas trees, and nursery and horticultural products (fruits,
vegetables, flowers, shrubs, and the like) to consumers.
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-13
78. Feed and Seed Sales: A retail establishment which offers for sale bulk packages or quantities of feed
for farm animals and/or seeds used in agricultural production.
79. Feedlot: A lot or building or combination of lots and buildings intended for the confined feeding,
breeding, raising, or holding of animals and specifically designed as a confinement area in which
manure may accumulate, or where the concentration of animals is such that a vegetative cover cannot
be maintained within the enclosure. Open lots used for the feeding and rearing of poultry (poultry
ranges) shall be considered to be animal feedlots. Pastures shall not be considered animal feedlots.
80. Fence: A partition, structure, wall or gate erected as a dividing marker, visual or physical barrier, or
enclosure.
81. Fill: Any act by which soil, earth, sand, gravel, rock or any similar material is deposited, placed, pushed
or transported and shall include the conditions resulting there from.
82. Flashing Light: A light source that is not constant in intensity or color at all times while in use.
83. Flood: A temporary increase in the flow or stage of a stream or in the stage of a wetland or lake that
results in the inundation of normally dry areas.
84. Flood Frequency: The frequency for which it is expected that a specific flood stage or discharge may
be equaled or exceeded.
85. Flood Fringe: That portion of the flood plain outside of the floodway. Flood fringe is synonymous
with the term “floodway fringe” used in the Flood Insurance Study for Washington County.
86. Flood Plain: The beds proper and the areas adjoining a wetland, lake or watercourse which have been
or hereafter may be covered by the regional flood.
87. Flood Proofing. A combination of structural provisions, changes, or adjustments to properties and
structures subject to flooding, primarily for the reduction or elimination of flood damages.
88. Floodway: The bed of a wetland or lake and the channel of a watercourse and those portions of the
adjoining flood plain which are reasonably required to carry or store the regional flood discharge.
89. Flower Shop: A building or premises used primarily for the retail sale of potted or cut flowering
plants, vegetable and herb plants, flower care and handling, floral design or flower arranging,
merchandising, and display and flower delivery and related products and services to consumers.
90. Food and Beverage Processing: The manufacture or packaging of food and beverage products
primarily from raw materials, or bulk storage and handling of the products and materials, but not
including meat processing.
91. Foot-candle: A unit of illumination produced on a surface, all points of which are one foot from a
uniform point source of one candle.
92. Funeral Home: A building or part thereof used for funeral services. Such buildings may contain
space and facilities for a) embalming and the performance of other services used in preparation of the
dead for burial; b) the storage of caskets, urns, and other related funeral supplies; and c) the storage of
funeral vehicles. Where a funeral home is permitted, a funeral chapel shall also be permitted. This
definition shall NOT include facilities for cremation.
93. Garage, Private: A detached one-story accessory building, or portion of the principal building,
including a carport, which is used primarily for the storing of passenger vehicles, trailers or farm
trucks.
94. Garage, Storage: Any premises, except those described as a private or public garage used exclusively
for the storage of power-driven vehicles.
95. Garden Supply Store: A place of business where retail and wholesale gardening, landscaping, or
farming products are sold to the retail customer. These centers import the majority of the items sold.
These items may include plants, nursery products and stock, fertilizers, potting soil, hardware, power
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-14
equipment and machinery, hose, rakes, shovels, decorative rock, stone, gravel, mulch, and other
similar materials and tools.
96. General Store: A retail store for the sale of more than one type of general merchandise or food.
Typical general merchandise includes clothing and other apparel, equipment for hobbies and sports,
gifts, flowers and household plants, dry goods, toys, furniture, antiques, books and stationery, pets,
drugs, auto parts and accessories and similar consumer goods.
97. Golf Course: An area of land laid out for golf with a minimum series of 9 holes each including a tee,
fairway, and putting green and often one or more natural or artificial hazards.
98. Government Uses, Buildings and Storage: An area of land or structures owned or leased by the
U.S. federal government, State of Minnesota, Metropolitan Council, Washington County, or City of
Scandia for purposes of carrying out governmental duties. This use includes, but is not limited to,
public purposes, storage, or maintenance. Publicly or privately operated school facilities are not
considered part of this land use.
99. Grocery Store: A retail establishment which offers for sale food products, household items and other
goods associated with the same.
100. Hazardous Material: Hazardous material means a chemical or substance, or a mixture of chemicals
or substances, which:
is regulated by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration under Code of
Federal Regulations, title 29, part 1910, subpart Z; or
is either toxic or high toxic, an irritant, corrosive, a strong oxidizer, a strong sensitizer,
combustible, either flammable or extremely flammable, dangerously reactive, pyrophoric,
pressure-generating, a compressed gas, a carcinogen, a teratogen, a mutagen, a reproductive
toxic agent, or that otherwise, according to generally accepted documented medical or scientific
evidence, may cause substantial acute or chronic personal injury or illness during or as a direct
result of any customary or reasonably foreseeable accidental or intentional exposure to the
chemical or substance.
101. Health/Recreation Facility: An indoor facility including uses such as game courts, exercise areas
and equipment, locker rooms, Jacuzzi, and/or sauna and pro shop.
102. High Power Transmission Line: A 69 KV or greater electric transmission line with towers a
minimum of 75 feet in height.
103. Historic Building or Structure: A building or structure which has been identified by the Washington
County Historical Society or the State Historic Preservation Office as a historic building or structure,
or other undesignated structures such as residences and barns having public value due to its notable
architectural or historical features relating to the cultural heritage of the community.
104. Home Occupation: A use of a residential or agricultural property for gainful employment which is
clearly incidental and subordinate to the use of the property as residential or agricultural and in
compliance with all performance standards of the Scandia UDC.
105. Homeowners Association (HOA): A formally constituted non-profit association or corporation
made up of the property owners and/or residents of the development for the purpose of owning,
operating and maintaining the common open space and facilities.
106. Homesteaded Dwelling: A dwelling that is occupied and used for the purposes of a homestead by
its owner pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 273.124.
107. Horse Show: An event where horses not boarded on the subject property are shown to the general
public and guests.
108. Horse Training Facility, Commercial: The use of an accessory building in which horses not owned
by the property owner are kept for commercial use including boarding, breeding, hire, sale, show, and
training.
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-15
109. Horse Training Facility, Private: The use of an accessory building incidental to the existing
residential, principal use in which horses owned by the property owner are kept for private use and
training.
110. Hotel: Any building or portion thereof occupied as the more or less temporary abiding place of
individuals and containing 3 or more guest rooms, used, designated, or intended to be used, let or
hired out to be occupied, or which are occupied by 3 or more individuals for compensation, whether
the compensation be paid directly or indirectly.
111. Illicit Connection: Any drain or conveyance, whether on the surface or subsurface, which allows an
illegal discharge to enter the storm drain system, including any non-stormwater discharge such as
sewage, process wastewater, wash water and any connections to the storm drain system from indoor
drains and sinks, regardless of whether said drain or connection had been previously allowed,
permitted or approved by an authorized enforcement agency.
112. Illicit Discharge: Any direct or indirect non-stormwater discharge to the storm sewer system, except
as exempted in this code.
113. Infiltration: The passage or movement of water into the soil surface.
114. Institutional Use: Institutional uses include governmental offices and facilities, houses of worship,
museums, cemeteries, and parks and trailheads open to the public.
115. Instrumental activities of daily living: Has the meaning given in Minnesota Statutes 256B.0659,
subdivision 1, paragraph (i) or its successor statutes.
116. Interim Use: See Chapter One, Section 9.
117. Kennel, Commercial: Any place where 4 or more dogs over 6 months of age are boarded, bred,
trained or offered for sale. This term does not include pet shops or veterinary establishments.
118. Kennel, Private: Any place where 4 or more dogs over 6 months of age are owned by any member of
the household.
119. Land Alteration: The reclaiming of land by depositing or moving material so as to alter the grade or
topography.
120. Land Clearing: The removal of a contiguous group of trees and other woody plants in an area of
20,000 square feet or more within any 12 month period.
121. Land Spreading/Land Application: The placement of waste or waste by-products on or
incorporated into the soil surface.
122. Land Spreading/Land Application Site: Any land used for the purpose of land spreading or the
land application of waste or waste by-products.
123. Landscaping: Planting trees, shrubs and turf covers such as grasses and shrubs.
124. Light Fixture, Outdoor: Outdoor electrically powered illuminating devices, outdoor lighting or
reflective surfaces, lamps and similar devices, permanently installed or portable, used for illumination
or advertisement. The fixture includes the hardware that houses the illumination source and to which
the illumination source is attached including, but not limited to, the hardware casing. Such devices
shall include, but are not limited to, search, spot and flood lights for a) buildings and structures, b)
recreational areas, c) parking lot lighting, d) landscape lighting, e) billboards and other signs, f) street
lighting, g) product display area lighting, and h) building overhangs and open canopies.
125. Light Manufacturing: A use engaged in the manufacture, predominantly from previously prepared
materials, of finished products or parts, including processing, fabrication, assembly, treatment,
packaging, incidental storage, sales, and distribution of such products. Such uses include, but are not
limited to, the following lumber yard, machine shops, products assembly, sheet metal shops, plastics,
electronics, motor vehicle repair, body work and painting, contractor shops and storage yards, food
and nonalcoholic beverages, signs and displays, printing, clothing, textiles and used auto parts.
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-16
126. Light Source: A single artificial point source of luminescence that emits measurable radiant energy in
or near the visible spectrum.
127. Lighting, Outdoor: Any light source or collection of light sources, located outside a building,
including but not limited to, light sources attached to any part of a structure, located on the surface of
the ground or located on free standing poles.
128. Livestock: Cattle, hogs, bees, sheep, goats, llamas, chickens, turkeys, bison, horses (including
miniatures) and other animals generally kept for commercial food or fiber production purposes and
commonly accepted as farm animals in the State of Minnesota. No livestock, with the exception of
fowl, may be kept on any site of less than 5 acres.
129. Livestock Operations: A lot or structure or combination of lots and structures intended for the
breeding, raising or holding of 11 or more animal units.
130. Loading Space: A space, accessible from a street, alley or way, in or outside of a building, for the use
of trucks while loading and unloading merchandise or materials.
131. Lodging Room: A room rented as sleeping and living quarters, but without cooking facilities. In a
suite of rooms without cooking facilities, each room that provides sleeping accommodations shall be
counted as 1 lodging room.
132. Luminaire: A complete lighting unit consisting of a light source and all necessary mechanical,
electrical and decorative parts.
133. Manufactured Home: A structure, transportable in one or more sections, which in the traveling
mode is 8 body feet or more in width or 40 body feet or more in length, or, when erected on site, is
320 or more square feet, and which is built on a permanent chassis and designed to be used as a
dwelling with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities, and
includes the plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical systems contained therein; except that
the term includes any structure which meets all the requirements and with respect to which the
manufacturer voluntarily files a certification required by the Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development and complies with the standards established under Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 327.
134. Manure: Any solid or liquid containing animal excreta.
135. Mausoleum: A structure for the entombment of the dead in crypts or vaults in a placed used, or
intended to be used, for cemetery purposes.
136. Meat Processing: The processing of a product usable as human or animal food and made wholly or
in part from meat or a portion of the carcass of animals.
137. Medical Uses: Those uses concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and care of human beings. These
include hospitals, dental services, medical services or clinics, nursing or convalescent home, orphan's
home, rest home and sanitarium.
138. Mentally or physically-impaired person: A person who is a resident of the State of Minnesota who
requires assistance with two or more instrumental activities of daily living as certified in writing by a
physician or physician assistant licensed to practice in Minnesota, or a certified nurse practitioner.
139. Motor Vehicle: Any self-propelled vehicle not operated exclusively on railroad tracks, and any vehicle
propelled or drawn by a self-propelled vehicle, including but not limited to cars, trucks, buses,
motorcycles, campers, recreational vehicles, and trailers.
140. Motor Vehicle, Abandoned, Unlicensed, Inoperable, Discarded, or Junked: Any motor vehicle
that is one or more of the following:
Without a current license;
Being held or used for the purpose of resale of used parts therefrom or for the purpose of
reclaiming the use of some of the materials therein for the purpose of disposing of the same;
Wrecked, discarded or dismantled;
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-17
Incapable of movement under its own power;
Left unattended for more than 48 hours on the property of another, if left without the
permission of the property owner.
141. Mining: The excavation, removal, storage or processing of sand, gravel, rock, soil, clay, or other
deposits. For the purposes of this UDC, mining shall not include the excavation, removal, or storage
of rock, sand, dirt, gravel, clay, or other material for the following purposes:
(A) Excavation for the foundation, cellar, or basement of some pending structure for which a permit
has been issued and which is to be erected immediately following the excavation, removal or
storage.
(B) On-site construction of approved roads, sewer lines, storm sewers, water mains, surface water
drainage approved by the local unit of government, agriculture or conservation purposes, sod
removal, or other public utilities.
(C) Landscaping purposes on a lot used or to be used as a building site.
(D) Grading/excavation of less than one acre of land in conjunction with improvement of a site for
lot development, providing activities will be completed in 1 year.
(E) The removal of excess materials in accordance with approved plats or highway construction.
142. Motel: A building or group of detached, semi-detached or attached buildings containing three (3) or
more guest rooms or units, each of which has a separate entrance directly from the outside of the
building, or corridor, with garage or parking space conveniently located to each unit, and which is
designed, used or intended to be used primarily for the accommodation of transient guests traveling by
automobile.
143. Motor Freight Terminal: A building or area in which freight brought by motor truck is transferred
and/or stored for movement by motor truck.
144. Motor Vehicle, Recreational Vehicle, or Boat Sales: Any place where motor vehicles, recreational
vehicles, or boats and boat trailers or other marine related products, are sold to the general public.
Business activities accessory to this use include motor vehicle repair, car wash, fuel dispensing, and the
rental of vehicles.
145. Motor Vehicle Repair, Major: General repair, rebuilding or reconditioning of engines, motor
vehicles or trailers; collision service including body, frame or fender straightening or repair; overall
painting and upholstering; vehicle steam cleaning.
146. Motor Vehicle Repair, Minor: Repairs, incidental body and fender work, replacement of parts and
motor services to passenger automobiles and trucks not exceeding 12,000 pounds gross weight, but
not to include any operation specified under "Motor Vehicle Repair, Major".
147. Motor Vehicle Service Station: A place for the dispensing, sale or offering for sale of motor fuel
directly to users of motor vehicles, together with the sale of minor accessories and the servicing of,
and minor repair of, motor vehicles.
148. Motorized Track Inspection Vehicle: A wheeled vehicle used for track maintenance that is powered
by a motor sized to propel the vehicle only and which is not designed to pull other rolling stock.
149. Moving Permit: A permit required from the responsible governmental agency prior to the moving of
any partially or wholly erected structure from one location to another.
150. Natural Drainageway: A depression in the earth’s surface, such as ravines, draws and hollows, that
has definable beds and banks capable or conducting surface water runoff from adjacent lands.
151. Natural Resources: The physical values of the land supplied by nature including, but not limited to,
animal life, plant life, soil, rock, minerals and water.
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-18
152. Noise, Ambient: The all-encompassing noise associated with a given environment, being either a
composite of sounds transmitted by any means from many sources near and far or a single
predominate source.
153. Nonconforming Use: Any legal or lawful use of land or any legal or lawful use of a structure existing
on the effective date of this UDC, or any amendments thereto, which does not conform to the
regulations for the district in which it is located after the effective date of this UDC or such
amendment.
154. Noxious Matter: Material which is capable of causing injury or is in any way harmful to living
organisms or is capable of causing detrimental effect upon the physical or mental health of human
beings.
155. Nursery, Day: A use where care is provided for 3 or more children under kindergarten age for
periods of 4 hours or more per day for pay.
156. Nursing Home: A building with facilities for the care of children, the aged, infirm, or place of rest
for those suffering bodily disorder.
157. Office: Those commercial activities that take place in office buildings, where goods are not produced,
sold or repaired. Such activities include, but are not limited to banks, professional offices,
governmental offices, insurance offices, real estate offices, telephone exchanges, utility offices, radio
broadcasting and similar uses.
158. Open Sales Lot: Lands devoted to the display of goods for sale, rent, lease or trade where such goods
are not enclosed within a building.
159. Open Space: Land used for agriculture, natural habitat pedestrian corridors and/or recreational
purposes that is undivided and permanently protected from future development.
160. Open Storage: Storage of any material outside of a building.
161. Outdoor Temporary Seasonal Sales: A temporary outdoor display and/or sale of the following:
Christmas trees, nursery products, and horticultural products (fruits, vegetables, flowers, shrubs, and
the like).
162. Parking Space: A suitably surfaced and permanently maintained area on privately owned property
either within or outside of a building of sufficient size to store 1 standard automobile.
163. Pasture: Areas where grass or other plants are grown for grazing and where the concentration of
animals is managed so that a vegetation cover is maintained during the growing season.
164. Pedestrian Way: A public or private right-of-way across or within a block or tract, to be used by
pedestrians.
165. Pennant: Any lightweight plastic, fabric or other material designed to move in the wind, whether
containing a message or not.
166. Performance Standards: The minimum development standards as adopted by the governing body
and included in this Code and file in the office of the zoning administrator.
167. Place of Worship: A building, together with its accessory buildings and uses, where persons regularly
assemble for religious worship and which building, together with its accessory buildings and uses is
maintained and controlled by a religious body organized to sustain public worship.
168. Plant Community: A grouping of plants with common environmental requirements living in a
common geographic area, i.e., wetlands, grasslands, boreal forests.
169. Plant Nursery: A building or premises used for the retail sale of trees, shrubs, flowers or other plants.
The use may include the sale of accessory products, including products that are used in the culture,
display and decoration of lawns, garden, farms and indoor plants; but does not include the sale of
power tools, tractors and other vehicles, decorative rock, stone, gravel, retaining walls and similar
materials, except as an incidental use.
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-19
170. Prime Farmland: Land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for
producing food, feed, forage, fiber and oilseed crops. It has the soil quality, growing season, and
moisture supply needed to economically produce sustained high yields of crops when treated and
managed, including water management, according to acceptable farming methods.
171. Pollutant: Any substance which, when discharged, has potential to or does interfere with state-
designated water uses; obstruct or cause damage to surface waters; change water color, odor or
usability as a drinking water source through causes not attributable to natural processes; add an
unnatural surface film on the water; adversely change other chemical, biological, thermal or physical
conditions in any surface water; degrade the quality of groundwater; or harm human life, aquatic life,
or terrestrial plants and wildlife.
172. Principal Structure or Use: All uses or structures that are not accessory uses or structure.
173. Private Recreational Area: A recreation use particularly oriented to utilizing the outdoor character of
an area including hiking and riding trails, interpretative areas and other passive forms of recreation and
not open to the general public.
174. Protective or Restrictive Covenant: A contract entered into between private a party that constitutes
a restriction of the use of a particular parcel of property.
175. Public Land: Land owned and/or operated by a governmental unit, including school districts.
176. Public Recreation Facility: An outdoor recreation facility owned or operated by a governmental or
non-profit organization in which athletic activities are permitted to be played by the general public.
Examples of such a facility would be a softball complex, soccer fields, etc.
177. Public Waters: Any water as defined in Minnesota Statutes, Section 103.G.005 (15.)
178. Recreation Equipment: Personal property (non-vehicular) used primarily for recreation and leisure
time activities and purposes, including sports equipment, picnic tables, barbecue grills, bird feeders,
patio furniture, and the like.
179. Recreation Facilities: Accessory structures and/or uses that are customary and incidental to the
principal use of the site, including swing sets, play structures, sand boxes, skate board ramps, tennis
courts, sport courts, swimming pools and their related aprons, and the like, intended for the
enjoyment and convenience of the residents of the principal use and their occasional guests.
180. Recreation, Indoor Commercial: A privately-owned business directed toward the general public that
offers recreational entertainment within buildings, such as bowling alleys, billiard halls, and roller
skating, operated with the intention of earning a profit.
181. Recreation, Outdoor Commercial: A privately-owned business directed toward the general public
that offers non-motorized recreational activities in outdoor areas, such as waterslides, golf, miniature
golf, driving ranges, and skiing and operated with the intention of earning a profit. Campgrounds or
overnight camping shall not be considered a Recreation, Outdoor Commercial use.
182. Recreation Vehicle, Camping: Any vehicle or structure which meets the following qualifications:
Any vehicular, portable structure mounted on wheels to be towed by a self-propelled vehicle,
and designed to be used as temporary living quarters for travel, vacation uses or for recreational
uses. Such structures include travel trailers, pop-up (including folding and retractable) campers,
ice-fishing houses, and the like.
Any vehicular, portable structure designed to be mounted on a truck upon a self-propelled
vehicle for use as temporary living quarters for travel, recreation, or vacation uses. Such
structures include, but are not limited to, pick-up campers.
Any vehicular, portable structure mounted on wheels, designed to be used as temporary living
quarters for travel, recreation, or vacation uses, and which is constructed as an integral part of a
self-propelled vehicle. Such vehicles include motorhomes, mini-motorhomes, buses converted
into campers, and the like.
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-20
183. Recreation Vehicle, Large (LRV): Recreational vehicles that are operable and licensed (if required)
including but not limited to: travel trailers, chassis-mounted campers, motor homes, tent trailers, slide-
in campers, airplanes, converted buses, snowmobiles and trailers, boats/watercraft and trailers, ice fish
houses and trailers, all-terrain vehicles, and utility trailers.
184. Recyclable Materials: Materials that are separated from mixed municipal solid waste for the purpose
of recycling. For the purpose of this UDC, these materials are limited to paper, glass, plastics and
metals. Refuse derived fuel (RDF) is not a recyclable material under the provisions of this UDC.
185. Recycling: The process of collecting and preparing recyclable materials and reusing the materials in
their original form or using them in manufacturing processes that do not cause the destruction of
recyclable materials in a manner that precludes further use.
186. Recycling Center: A facility where recyclable materials are collected, stored, flattened, crushed, or
bundled prior to shipment to others who will use those materials to manufacture new products.
187. Refuse: Putrescible and nonputrescible solid wastes, including garbage, rubbish, ashes, incinerator ash,
incinerator residue, street cleanings, and market and industrial solid wastes, and including municipal
treatment wastes which do not contain free moisture.
188. Regional Flood: A flood which is representative of large floods known to have occurred generally in
Minnesota and reasonably characteristic of what can be expected to occur on an average frequency in
the magnitude of the 100-year recurrence interval. Regional flood is synonymous with the term "base
flood" used in a flood insurance study.
189. Relative: A spouse, parent, child, grandchild, sibling, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece of the mentally or
physically-impaired person. Relative includes half, step, and in-law relationships.
190. Research: Medical, chemical, electrical, metallurgical or other scientific research and quality control,
conducted in accordance with the provisions of this UDC.
191. Residence, Assisted-living: Housing establishment with services that is registered with the State of
Minnesota and provides sleeping accommodations to more than 12 adult residents, at least 80% of
whom are 55 years of age or older, and at a minimum provides or makes available health-related
services under a class A or class F home care license issued by the State of Minnesota, whether offered
or provided directly by the establishment or another entity.
192. Residential facility: Any facility, public or private, which for gain or otherwise regularly provides one
or more persons with a 24-hour per day substitute for care, food, lodging, training, education,
supervision, habitation, rehabilitation, and treatment they need, but which for any reason cannot be
furnished in the person’s own home. Residential facilities include, but are not limited to, state
institutions under the control of the commissioner of public welfare, foster homes, residential
treatment centers, maternity shelters, group homes, residential programs, or schools for handicapped
children.
193. Resort: Any structure or group of structures containing more than 2 dwelling units or separate living
quarters designed or intended to serve as seasonal or temporary dwellings on a rental or lease basis for
profit with the primary purpose of said structure or structures being recreational in nature. Uses may
include a grocery for guests only, fish cleaning house, marine service, boat landing and rental,
recreational area and equipment and similar uses normally associated with a resort operation.
194. Resource Inventory: A survey of the land’s features including its natural resources, cultural resources,
scenic views and viewsheds, and physical characteristics.
195. Restaurant: A business establishment whose principal business is the preparing and selling of
unpackaged food to the customer in a ready-to-consume state.
196. Retail Sales and Services: Stores and shops selling personal services or goods over a counter.
197. Road, Private: A road that is owned and maintained by a private landowner, group of landowners, or
association.
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-21
198. Road, Public: A road owned and maintained by a government jurisdiction.
199. Rural Event Activity Area: the specific area within a property that operates as a Rural Event Facility
on which any of the activities associated with the facility area likely to occur, including parking areas.
200. Rural Event Facility: A facility that operates on a for-profit or nonprofit basis to host outdoor or
indoor gatherings that do not exceed twelve (12) hours in duration. The gatherings may include, but
are not limited to, events such as weddings or other ceremonies, dances, festivals, picnics or any other
gathering of a similar nature that the City determines to be consistent with and supportive of the rural
and historic character of the community. Gatherings may not include activities that include the
discharge of firearms, competitions among motorized vehicles, or other events that the City
determines to be incompatible with the community’s character or intent of this chapter.
201. Scenic Canvas: A scenic canvas shall be a perforated banner that provides immediate screening of a
Distribution SES. The scenic canvas shall be made from materials that are designed to endure in
exterior weather conditions. The perforated banner shall be attached to fencing, and shall have a
natural vegetation or scenic views printed on the entire outward facing portion of the canvas to match
the existing surroundings and vegetative screening of the Distribution SES.
202. Scenic Resources: That part of the landscape that provides a picturesque view and may contain
outstanding recreational, natural, historic, scientific and manmade values.
203. School: A facility that provides a curriculum of pre-school, elementary, secondary, post-secondary and
other instruction including, but not limited to, child day care centers, kindergartens, elementary, junior
high, high schools and technical or college instruction.
204. Screening: Screening includes earth mounds, berms or ground forms; fences and walls; landscaping
(plant materials) or landscaped fixtures (such as timbers); used in combination or singularly, so as to
block direct visual access to an object throughout the year.
205. Security Lighting: Outdoor lighting fixtures installed exclusively as a measure to reduce the possible
occurrence of a crime on the property.
206. Sediment: The product of an erosion process; solid material both mineral and organic, that is in
suspension, is being transported, or has been moved by water, wind or ice, and has come to rest on
the earth’s surface either above or below water level.
207. Sediment Control: The methods employed to prevent sediment from leaving a site. Sediment control
practices include silt fences, sediment traps, earth dikes, drainage swales, check dams, subsurface
drains, pipe slope drains, storm drain inlet protection, and temporary or permanent sedimentation
basins.
208. Self-Service Storage: A structure or structures containing separate storage spaces of varying sizes
which are leased or rented individually.
209. Septic Permit: A permit required from Washington County Environmental Services for the
installation of any new or replacement on-site sewage disposal system.
210. Sewage: Any water-carried domestic waste, exclusive of footing and roof drainage of any residence,
industry, agricultural or commercial establishment whether treated or untreated.
211. Shielding: A technique or method of construction permanently covering the top and sides of a light
source by a material which restricts the light emitted to be projected below an imaginary horizontal
plane passing through the light fixture.
212. Shipping Container: A reusable transport and storage unit for moving products and raw materials
between locations or countries. A typical container has doors fitted at one end and is constructed of
corrugated weathering steel or steel panels. Includes “intermodal shipping container” or “freight
container.”
213. Shopping Center: Any grouping of 2 or more principal retail uses whether on a single lot or on
abutting lots under multiple or single ownership.
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-22
214. Sign: Any letter, word or symbol, poster, picture, statuary, reading matter or representation in the
nature of advertisement, announcement, message or visual communication, whether painted, posted,
printed, affixed or constructed, including all associated brackets, braces, supports, wires and structures,
which is displayed for informational or communicative purposes.
215. Sign, Advertising: A sign that directs attention to a business or profession or to a commodity, service
or entertainment not sold or offered upon the premises where such sign is located or to which it is
attached.
216. Sign, Animated (also called Dynamic Display signs): Any characteristics of a sign that appear to
have movement or that appear to change, caused by any method other than physically removing and
replacing the sign or its components, whether the apparent movement or change is in the display, the
sign structure itself, or any other component of the sign. This includes a display that incorporates a
technology or method allowing the sign fact to change the image without having to physically or
mechanically replace the sign face or its components. This also includes any rotating, revolving,
moving, flashing, blinking or animated display, and any display that incorporates rotating panels, LED
lights manipulated through digital input, “digital ink,” or any other method or technology that allows
the sign face to represent a series of images or displays.
217. Sign Area: The entire area within a continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of such sign.
Such perimeter shall not include any structural elements lying outside of such sign and not forming an
integral part or border of the sign.
218. Sign, Awning: A building sign or graphic printed on or in some fashion attached directly to the
awning material.
219. Sign, Back-lit or Illuminated: A sign which contains an element designed to emanate artificial light
internally or externally.
220. Sign, Business: A sign that directs attention to a business or profession or to the commodity, service,
or entertainment sold or offered upon the premises where such sign is located or to which it is
attached.
221. Sign, Development Identification: A sign that identifies the name of a residential, commercial or
industrial development at a street entrance to the development.
222. Sign, Flashing: An illuminated sign which has a light source not constant in intensity or color at all
times while such sign is in use or a sign containing an electric reading board.
223. Sign, Freestanding: A sign which has a supporting framework that is placed on, or anchored in, the
ground and which is independent from any building or other structure.
224. Sign, Identification: A sign that identifies the inhabitant of the dwelling.
225. Sign, Monument: Any freestanding sign with its sign face mounted on the ground or mounted on a
base at least as wide as the sign.
226. Sign, Motion: A sign that has revolving parts or signs that produce moving effects through the use of
illumination.
227. Sign, Nameplate: A sign that states the name and/or address of the business, industry or occupant
of the site and is attached to said building or site.
228. Sign, Off-Premises: A sign that directs attention to a use not located upon the premises where the
sign is located or to which it is attached.
229. Sign, Pedestal: A ground sign usually erected on 1 central shaft or post that is solidly affixed to the
ground.
230. Sign, Portable: A sign, with or without copy and/or graphics, that is constructed or placed upon a
chassis with wheels or skids in order to be movable from one location to another, such as may be
mounted on an automobile or trailer. This definition does not include permanent identification signs
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-23
painted directly on vehicles, principally used for transportation, but does include such signs if the
vehicles are not used for transportation purposes but are intended as a structure to support a sign.
231. Sign, Pylon/Pedestal: A permanent, freestanding sign mounted on one (1) central shaft or post that
is solidly affixed to the ground.
232. Sign, Real Estate: A sign offering property (land and/or buildings) for sale, lease or rent.
233. Sign, Roof: Any sign erected and construction wholly on and above the roof of a building, supported
by the roof structure, and extending vertically above the highest portion of the roof.
234. Sign, Sandwich-Board: A sign composed of two boards and being either carried by a person, with
one board in front and one behind, creating a "sandwich" effect; or set up in a triangle shape, hinged
along the top.
235. Sign, Shopping Center or Industrial Park: A business sign designating a group of shops or offices.
236. Sign, Temporary: A sign designed or intended to be displayed for a short period of time and that is
not permanently installed.
237. Sign, Wall: A Building sign attached parallel to, but within two (2) feet of a wall, painted on the wall
surface, or erected an confined within the limits of an outside wall of any building or structure, which
is supported by such wall or building, and which displays only one (1) sign surface.
238. Small Brewery or Winery as an Accessory Use to a Bar or Restaurant (Brew Pub): A craft
brewery or winery operated in conjunction with a bar or restaurant, provided the beer or wine is sold
for consumption on the premises and not sold to other bars, restaurants, or wholesalers; except that
an establishment licensed under Minnesota Statutes may sell “growlers” off-sale with an appropriate
City license.
239. Solar Collector: A device, structure or a part of a device or structure for which the primary purpose is
to capture sunlight and transform it into thermal, mechanical, chemical or electrical energy.
240. Solar Energy: Radiant energy received from the sun that can be collected in the form of heat or light
by a solar collector.
241. Solar Energy System (SES): A device or structural design feature, a substantial purpose of which is
to provide daylight for interior lighting or provide for the collection, storage and distribution of solar
energy for heating or cooling, electricity generation, or water heating. A Distribution Scale Solar
Energy System (Distribution SES) operates to distribute energy to predominantly off-site users. A
Local Service Solar Energy System (Local SES) operates to distribute energy predominantly to on-site
uses.
242. Solar Energy System, Building-Integrated: A solar energy system that is an integral part of a
principal or accessory building, replacing or substituting for an architectural or structural component
of the building. Building integrated systems include, but are not limited to, photovoltaic or hot water
solar energy systems that are contained within or substitute for roofing materials, windows, skylights,
awnings and shade devices.
243. Solar Energy System, Ground-Mounted: A freestanding solar system mounted directly to the
ground using a rack or pole rather than being mounted on a building.
244. Solar Energy System, Passive: A system that captures solar light or heat without transforming it to
another form of energy or transferring the energy via a heat exchanger.
245. Special Events: An outdoor gathering of at least 100 individuals whether on public or private
property, assembled with a common purpose for a period of one hour or longer but may not exceed
twelve hours in duration; except, that events held during the two-day Taco Daze community
celebration shall be considered one event. Special Events include, but are not limited to concerts,
theatrical productions, public dances, fairs, carnivals, circuses, parades, flea markets, auctions,
marathons, walkathons, festivals, races, bicycle events, celebrations, or any other gathering or events
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-24
of similar nature. Special Events do not include events that are not open to the public and held on
private property such as graduation parties or social parties.
246. Spillage, Light: Any reflection, glare or other artificial light emission onto any adjoining property or
right-of-way above a defined maximum illumination.
247. Sports and Fitness Clubs: a place which houses exercise or sports equipment and sponsors sports
and physical exercise activities.
248. Studio: An indoor space that has been built or equipped to accommodate learning, practicing or the
performance of activities such as arts, dance, health and fitness, decorating, music, photography and
similar uses.
249. Temporary Dwelling, Care Facility: A manufactured home which temporarily serves as a residence
for an infirm relative of the occupants residing in the primary single family residence on the property
where such relative requires care by the family.
250. Temporary Dwelling, During Construction: A Temporary Dwelling Unit is a manufactured home
that will be located temporarily on a parcel while a new home is being constructed; or while the
existing home is being reconstructed or altered; or in the event of an emergency where the existing
home is no longer habitable due to a natural disaster such as fire, flood, or other weather event.
251. Temporary Dwelling, Farm: A dwelling, manufactured home, or trailer certified for living which is
an accessory dwelling unit occupied by those engaged in farming on the premises, and members of
their family, and meeting other criteria specified in the UDC.
252. Temporary Outdoor Sales: Any sales conducted outside a building or structure for a limited period
of time. Such sale may include tent sales, sidewalk sales, produce stands and similar outdoor sales.
253. Theatre: A building for the presentation of films or the performing arts. Theatre facilities regulated
under Ordinance 88, regulating Adult-Oriented Uses, are excluded from this definition.
254. Tower: Any pole, spire, structure, or combination thereof, including supporting lines, cables, wires,
braces, and masts, intended primarily for the purpose of mounting an antenna, or to serve as an
antenna.
255. Tower Accessory Structure: A structure located at the base of the tower housing base
receiving/transmitting equipment.
256. Tower, Stealth: A communications tower that is disguised or camouflaged to blend into the
surrounding landscape. Examples include towers that are designed to appear as trees, church towers,
silos, historic windmills, flag poles or other structures that blend with the local landscape.
257. Transient Merchant: Any person, individual, co-partnership, incorporation, both as principal and
agent, who is engaged in, does, or transacts any temporary and transient business selling goods, wares,
and merchandise; and, who for the purpose of carrying on such business, has complied with the
administrative permit requirements of this Chapter, and hires, leases, occupies, or uses a site, parking
lot, vacant lot, motor vehicle, or trailer in a zoning district where it is allowed by this Chapter.
258. Transient Produce Merchant: Any person who engages in or transacts in a temporary and transient
business within the city, selling the products of the farm or garden occupied and cultivated by that
person; and, who for the purposes of carrying on such business, hires, leases, occupies, or uses, a site,
parking lot, vacant lot, motor vehicle, or trailer on a site other than the property on which the produce
is grown and cultivated in a zoning district where it is allowed by this Chapter.
259. Transportation/Motor Freight Terminal: A building or area in which freight brought by truck is
assembled and/or stored for routing or reshipment, or in which semi-trailers, including tractor or
trailer units and other trucks are parked or stored.
260. Transportation Terminal: Truck, taxi, air, bus, train and mass transit terminal and storage area,
including motor freight (solid and liquid) terminal.
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-25
261. Travel Trailer/RV Campground: An area or premises operated as commercial enterprise on a
seasonal basis and generally providing space for seasonal accommodations for transient occupancy or
use by transients occupying camping trailers, self-propelled campers and tents.
262. Tree and Woodland Preservation-Related Definitions:
Caliper Inch: The diameter of a tree measured at 54 inches above ground level.
Canopy: the upper layer of a woodland or forest formed by mature tree crowns.
Coniferous Trees: A wood plant which, at maturity, is at least 12 feet or more in height, is
cone-bearing and has thin needlelike leaves.
Construction Zone: Any area in which movement of earth, alteration in topography, soil
compaction, disruption of vegetation, change in soil chemistry, change in groundwater or
surface water hydrology, or other change in the natural character of the land occurs as a result
of the site preparation, grading, building construction, or any other construction activity.
Examples include road rights-of-way, house and driveway construction areas and drainfields,
ponding areas, etc.
Critical Root Zone (CRZ): An imaginary circle surrounding the tree trunk radius distance of 1
foot per 1 inch of tree diameter, (i.e., a 20 inch diameter tree has a CRZ with a radius of 20
feet).
Drip Line: The farthest distance away from the trunk that rain or dew will directly fall to the
ground from the leaves or branches of the tree.
Groundcover: the layer of plants that cover the ground surface and provide protection from
erosion and drought.
Invasive Tree Species: a tree species that is non-native to the ecosystem and whose
introduction causes economic or environmental harm. Invasive tree species are identified by
the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and include, but are not limited to Common
Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), Glossy Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula), Tartarian
Honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica), Amur Maple (Acer ginnala), and Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila).
Multi-trunk Tree: A multi-trunk tree is considered as one tree if the trunk forks at a height 54
inches above ground level. For multi-trunk trees that fork at or below 54 inches, each trunk is
considered a separate tree.
Ornamental Trees: Trees that are grown primarily for their display of flowers or other attractive
features such as fruit, scent or shape.
Overstory (Canopy) Trees: The tallest trees in the woodland or forest formed by the upper
layer of mature tree crowns.
Primary Deciduous Tree: Native deciduous trees.
Secondary Deciduous Tree: Native deciduous trees that are Quaking Aspen (Populus
tremuloides), Box Elder (Acer negundo), and Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides).
Significant Tree: A healthy tree measuring a minimum of 6 caliper inches in diameter or greater
(as measured 54 inches above the ground) for all primary deciduous trees, a minimum of 20
caliper inches in diameter or greater for all secondary deciduous trees, or a minimum of 12 feet
in height for all native coniferous trees.
Significant Woodland: a treed area of at least 15,000 square feet or more which includes
significant trees.
Understory: layer of the woodland or forest that grows at a height level below the canopy. It
includes a mixture of seedlings and saplings of canopy trees, shrubs, grasses and herbaceous
plants.
City of Scandia, MN
CHAPTER 153: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
SECTION 153.600 MASTER GLOSSARY 153.600
Adopted 09.20.2022, last amended 12.21.2023 (Ord No. 2023-17) page-26
Woodland: a treed area of at least 15,000 square feet.
263. Truck Stop: A motor fuel station devoted principally to the needs of tractor-trailer units and trucks,
and which may include eating and/or sleeping facilities.
264. Unified Development Code (UDC): The official controls adopted by the City of Scandia regulating
the physical development of land.
265. Use: The function for which property can be used.
266. Use, Accessory: A use subordinate to and serving the principal use or structure on the same lot and
customarily incidental to such principal use.
267. Use, Open Space: The use of land without a structure or including a structure incidental to the open
space use.
268. Variance: A modification of a specific permitted development standard required in an official control
to allow an alternative development standard not stated as acceptable in the official control, but only
as applied to a particular property for the purpose of alleviating a practical difficulty in complying with
the standard. See Chapter One, Section 6.
269. Vegetation, Natural: Plant life which is native to the location and which would normally grow if the
ground were left undisturbed.
270. Veterinary: Those uses concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and medical care of animals,
including animal or pet hospitals.
271. Warehousing: The storage, packing and crating of materials or equipment within an enclosed building
or structure.
272. Warehousing and Distribution: A use engaged in storage, wholesale, and distribution of
manufactured products, supplies, and equipment, but excluding bulk storage of materials that are
flammable or explosive or that create hazardous or commonly recognized offensive conditions.
273. Waterfront Uses, Residential: Boat docks and storage, fish house, fish cleaning, water recreation
equipment and other uses normally incidental to a lakeshore residence, provided such uses are for the
exclusive use of the occupants and nonpaying guests.
274. Watershed District or Water Management Organization: An entity established under Minnesota
Statutes, 03D within a specific drainage area and having the purposes described in Minnesota Statutes
103D.201.
275. Wetland: As defined in Minnesota Rules 7050.0130, subpart F, those areas that are inundated or
saturated by surface water or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that
under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in
saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas.
Constructed wetlands designed for wastewater treatment are not waters of the state. Wetlands must
have the following attributes: a. a predominance of hydric soils; b. inundated or saturated by surface
water or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support a prevalence of hydrophytic
vegetation typically adapted for life in a saturated soil condition; and c. under normal circumstances
support a prevalence of such vegetation.
276. Wholesaling: The selling of goods, equipment and materials by bulk to another person who in turn
sells the same to customers.
277. Winery or Cidery, Craft: A facility that manufactures wine or cider, as defined by Minnesota Statutes
§ 297G.01, with a capacity of seventy-five thousand (75,000) or fewer gallons per year.
278. Yard Waste Facility: Any site used for the processing or composting of garden waste, leaves, lawn
cuttings, weeds, shrub and tree waste and prunings generated off site. Yard wastes generated on site
and used on the same site are not included in this definition.