Code Enforcement

The City's Planning Division has full-time staff dedicated to maintaining the community's health, welfare, and public safety. The City staff takes all reasonable measures within its jurisdiction to prevent the establishment of activities that create or allow a condition that unreasonably annoys, injures, or endangers the health, morals, decency, safety, or public peace so that such activities do not affect the comfortable enjoyment of life or property.

If you have a concern about a property in Ramsey, please feel free to email the Zoning Code Enforcement Officer or contact Craig Swalchick at 763-433-9840.

If you are still determining which department to contact concerning a violation, please refer to some examples of typical cases handled by each department. 

Code Enforcement Officer (Community Development Department)

• Nuisance Violations (Ramsey City Code Chapter 30) - Blight
  • Accumulation of garbage (not in a closed container)
  • Appliances, plumbing fixtures, furniture, equipment, scrap wood, unused construction materials, stockpiles of rocks or dirt, or any other items that could not be put to use in the manner they were intended
  • Exposed decaying food/vegetable matter
• Nuisances relating to Property Conditions - Long Grass / Weeds (Section 30-3)
  • Growth exceeding 8 inches
  • Excludes acceptable prairie restoration plants
• Nuisances relating to Property Conditions - Vehicles (Section 30-3)
  • Outdoor or outside storage of abandoned or inoperable vehicles
  • Parking on landscape
  • Salvage vehicles, parts, or machinery
• Zoning Enforcement (Section 106-130) and Nuisance Violations, when in tandem with Zoning Violations
  • Sheds used as a dwelling unit

Planning Staff (Community Development Department)

• Interpretation of City Code 
  • Clarification of permits needed for a project
• Cases requiring permits (e.g., building permit, demolition permit, home occupation permit)
  • Work done on a property with a permit issued
  • Home businesses incompatible with a residential district

Community Service Officers (Police Department)

• Animals

  • Animal carcasses
  • Diseased animals running at large
  • Farm Animals without adequate acreage
  • Manure, refuse or debris (if stable or barn area, must be removed every 2 weeks)
  • Ordinances: Keeping of Animals (Chapter 10), Public Nuisance (Chapter 30)

• Noise complaints

Please contact the non-emergency Police Dispatch Phone (24/7) at 763-427-1212.