Owner's manual

Site Plan Review
Survey Results
55
Minnesota
Site Plan Review:
Readers will notice an added column labeled “Escrow.” Several Minnesota communities subscribe to a
full cost accounting method regarding fees. As such, the report is associating the range of deposits
required by those communities that follow a time and materials method.
Population
Fee Range
Median Low High
Escrow
Low High
10,000 - 30,000 $400 $0 $1,000 $600 $5,000
30,001 - 50,000 N/A N/A $850 $1,500 $2,000
50,001 - 70,000 $525 $100 $900 $1,000 $3,500
130,001 - 150,000 (1) N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
$1,000
Variations on these flat fees include:
 For communities with populations between 10,000 and 30,000:
o Base fee of $350 plus $2,500 escrowed for 0 to 5 acre site; $3,500 for a 6 to 20 acre
site; and $4,500 for 20 + acre projects;
o Base fee $450 plus an escrow deposit ranging from $1,500 to $5,000;
o Base fee $250 plus $600 in escrow;
o $5,000 in escrow billed on an hourly basis. Respondent did not provide information on
the community’s billing rate schedule;
o Filing fee $275 plus $1,100 in escrow;
o Basic fee $350 plus a zoning deposit of $350;
o Fees vary but respondent did not provide a schedule of rates.
 For communities with populations between 30,001 and 50,000:
o Escrow $1,500 for construction projects less than 5,000 sq. ft.; $2,000 for construction
projects between 5,000 and 10,000 sq. ft.; and $2,500 for larger construction projects.
 For communities with populations between 50,001 and 70,000:
o Base fee $550 plus $3,500 to cover staff and consultant review;
o $900 fee - $500 of this fee is credited to the issuance of a building permit;
o $100 application fee plus $1,000 escrowed for legal notices, planning, engineering, and
legal services provided by staff and/or consultants.
 For communities with populations between 70,001 and 90,000:
o Base fee of $200 plus $3,000 in escrow.