The projected cost of street maintenance in Prior Lake is estimated to be approximately $95 million over the next 20 years or $5 million annually. Prior Lake property owners currently pay a total franchise fee of $10.00 per month ($5.00 on gas bills and $5.00 on electric bills).. Commercial and industrial businesses pay a higher rate based on their usage and meter sizes. The franchise fee amount was established in 2006 and was adjusted in 2021.

While not technically considered a “tax”, this is a new dedicated revenue source for the city which would be collected from utility users in Prior Lake; it will have the same effect as a tax. However, it is not levied in the way a property tax is levied, given that franchise fees are not tied to the value of a property. Thus, all single-family homes would pay the same amount assuming they have both gas and electric services.  This essentially serves as a road user fee.  Specifically, franchise fees are a method of collecting funds from utility companies who use city rights-of-way. These funds are typically collected directly from commercial businesses, tax-exempt properties, and residents that use the street systems. The funds are then passed through to the city to maintain city streets.

No. Burn permits are not required for recreational fires that are 3’x3’ or less in diameter. The only materials permitted in a recreational fire is wood from trees, small branches, or charcoal.

Yard waste such as leaves and grass cannot be burned in recreational fires.

Recreational fires must be at least 25 feet away from structures or other combustible material and should be in an approved fire ring or outdoor fireplace. An approved fire extinguisher or garden hose must always be available, and fires are required to be fully extinguished when not attended. Recreational fires during windy or dry conditions or during state mandated burning bans are not permitted. Burn permits are required for any open burning larger than 3’x3’ in diameter.

• NEW IN 2024: All food trucks serving in Prior Lake must register with the City. Trucks will need to provide the City with their current license to serve and insurance information. Please contact the City Clerk for more information, hsimon@priorlakemn.gov
• Must know and abide by all State statues, ordinances, rules, and regulations pertaining to food service.
• Must provide own generator to power their truck and water supply.
• Must be parked in a parking lot stall, that is not a handicap stall, and not on any trails/sidewalks, grassy areas in the park and not blocking any parking lot or park entrances.
• Must remove all food packaging related trash from the park.
• If a food truck intends to sell alcohol, they must contact the City Clerk for permit at least 30 days before the event. City Clerk, 952-447-9805.

Yes. Join us for an upcoming Rental Open House, please RSVP and browse dates on SignUpGenius.

This is a great opportunity to visit the space, take photos, measurements and ask question to help with your event planning. 

A carbon monoxide (CO) is colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that is rarely noticed and can be fatal. A CO detector is a device that detects the presence of carbon monoxide and sounds an alarm when dangerous CO levels develop. Install CO alarms on every level of the home and outside every bedroom to prevent being overcome by poisoning while sleeping.

CO detectors should be replaced every 5-7 years from the date of manufacture, which can usually be located on the back of your CO detector. Replace the batteries in your CO detector every six months when you change your smoke detector batteries. If the alarm “chirps" to warn the batteries are low, replace the batteries immediately.

Symptoms of CO poisoning can range from headache, nausea and ringing in ears to lethargy or losing consciousness, as well as eye and skin irritation. If you experience these symptoms consistently, immediately seek medical help.

Financial aid is available for qualifying applicants with financial limitations. Complete a financial aid application and send it to us at recreation@priorlakemn.gov. Include the programs desired and amount you can afford. Once your application is received by staff, you will be contacted within 72 hours.

Financial aid for recreation programs is made possible by the generosity of the Prior Lake - Savage Optimist Club.

The facility does have WiFi, the password is posted in the kitchen.  

The pavilion has a smart tv with HDMI cables in the main gathering space. Sound is projected from the tv. 

It is strongly recommended to avoid planting trees within the public right-of-way (generally 30 feet in each direction from the center of the street).  Trees planted in the right-of-way cause numerous problems such as:

• reduced visibility for motorists and pedestrians 
• structural damage to streets, sidewalks, bike paths, and underground utilities 
• excessive leaf shedding in the fall, creating hazardous slippery conditions

The City reserves the right to trim or remove trees in the right-of-way that are obstructing signs or causing hazardous conditions for pedestrians or vehicles.  As a general rule, trees should not be planted within 20 feet of the back of the curb, or within 5 feet of the side/rear property lines, or within any other easement that may exist on the property. In addition, care should be taken to plant at least 15 feet from any existing structure (sidewalk, driveway, house, hydrant, power lines, water shut-off valve, etc.) in order to avoid costly damage from heaving roots. These distances are minimums; the more clearance provided, the less likely it is that future problems or conflicts will develop.

As always, contact Gopher State One Call before you dig so utilities can be properly located.  Dial 811 or visit http://www.gopherstateonecall.org/

Yes, you do need a permit if you are making any changes to your driveway. Click here for the permit application.

Before you dig, call Gopher State One Call at (651) 454-0002 or visit their website at gopherstateonecall.info. They will arrange for utility companies to mark the buried utility lines in your yard. It’s a free call, and it could save your life. Please call 48 hours in advance of digging. Also, you should review your property survey to determine the location of easements on your property. Depending on the type of easement, there may be restrictions on improvements that can be made in the easement.

Selecting a contractor can be challenging and overwhelming. Below are suggestions on how to research prospective contractors:
 - Request referrals from trusted friends, neighbors, local lumberyards and building centers or local builder associations.
 - Contact the Better Business Bureau or call (651) 699-1111 to verify if complaints have been filed against the contractor.
 - Request references from the contractors and then confirm their validity by contacting those for whom the contractor has performed construction work.
 - Confirm the prospective contractor is licensed by the State of MN, has insurance coverage and is bonded. To verify licensing, visit MN Department of Labor and Industry Licensing Division or call
   (651) 284-5005.  

Possible code enforcement violations may be submitted for investigation by a member of city staff, citizens or business owners. Potential violations may be submitted directly to the Code Enforcement Officer via the "Report a Code Violation" button on this page, by submitting a complaint in person at City Hall, or by phone.

The reporting party shall provide their name, address, and contact information in order to property process and investigate the complaint. Reporting parties will be notified of the outcome of the complaint, if requested.

The City of Prior Lake has limited capacity to investigate Code Enforcement complaints. City staff strives to inspect every complaint received; however, due to limited staffing and to promote responsible use of government resources and staff time, City staff reserves the right and, in most cases, will not inspect or address vague complaints, retaliatory complaints, excessive complaints from one individual, or multiple property complaints from anonymous sources.

8 round tables with 5 chairs at each table will be set up upon your arrival. You will find additional round tables and chairs in the mechanical room and banquet tables can be found in the kitchen room.

Total tables and chairs:

10 round tables, 60"

4 banquet tables, 8' long

60 chairs (for indoor use only)

12 square 46" picnic tables under the covered outdoor patio.

Firefighters are selected through a competitive application process. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, possess a high school diploma or GED, have a valid driver license, reside within the Prior Lake Fire Department service area and live within a reasonable distance of Fire Station 1 or 2. All applicants must pass an interview process, a physical ability test, a criminal/DL background check, a pre-employment drug test, and an occupational physical.

Check the City’s Employment Opportunities to determine if the City is currently seeking firefighter applications.

Yes, the fees are charged by electric and gas meters and you will pay the standard residential fee. The fee pays for your use and maintenance of the public city streets.

You name, address, email and phone number are classified as confidential data by MN State Law. If the case proceeds to court, the data may be discoverable upon a judge's ruling to release the data.

The data you supply for this complaint will be used for substantiating the complaint, purposes of investigation and if necessary, to pursue legal action.

These areas around storm water ponds are intended to have a natural landscape that serves several important purposes. For the following reasons, property owners are encouraged to leave the buffers around storm ponds in their natural state:

• The vegetation provides a layer of protection for the water, consuming harmful nutrients (such as fertilizer runoff) before they reach the water surface and contribute to algae formation.
• The vegetation prevents erosion from compromising the slopes of the pond.
• The vegetation creates a uniform landscape along the sides of the pond, providing an aesthetic amenity for the neighborhood.
• The vegetation provides a natural habitat shelter for waterfowl.

Stormwater runoff occurs when rain or snowmelt flows over the ground. Impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks and streets prevent stormwater from naturally infiltrating into the ground. Runoff can pick up debris, chemicals, dirt and other pollutants during a rainfall or snowmelt event. This polluted runoff can flow into a storm sewer or directly to a lake, stream, river or wetland. Anything that enters a storm sewer system is discharged into nearby surface waters.

Polluted stormwater runoff can have many adverse effects on plants, fish, animals and people. Sediment can cloud the water and make it difficult for aquatic plants and habitat to survive. Excess nutrients can cause algae blooms. When algae die, they sink to the bottom and decompose in a process that removes oxygen from the water. Fish and other aquatic organisms cannot exist in water with low dissolved oxygen levels.

Household hazardous wastes like insecticides, pesticides, paint, solvents, used motor oil and automotive fluids can poison aquatic life. Surface water pollution in these forms can pose a health hazard to animals and people.

Polluted stormwater can also affect drinking water sources such as ground water or other surface water features from which the potable supply is drawn. This, in turn, can affect human health and increase drinking water treatment costs.

The Prior Lake Post Office services properties within the municipal boundaries of Prior Lake (including Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community) as well as properties in Credit River Township, Spring Lake Township and portions of Cedar Lake Township, Savage and Shakopee. The nine digit Property Identification Number (PID) found on your tax statement or Scott County GIS is your best resource to determine where to go for zoning information and permits!

The first two numbers of your PID reference who would provide zoning and permitting information for your property. 

^{*Properties located on SMSC property will list the Taxpayer as "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN TRUST FOR THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX". Permits for those properties are handled by the SMSC.}

Damaged sod will be repaired by the City as soon as time and weather permit. The City is not responsible for damage to irrigation systems, landscaping, or other items located within the City right-of-way. Please call the Public Works Department at 952-447-9896 or use this form to report sod damage. 

Mailboxes that have been directly hit by a snowplow will be repaired at the City’s expense as soon as time and weather permit. In certain cases, temporary repairs will be made to avoid disruption in your mail delivery. Please call the Public Works Department at 952-447-9896 or use this form to report a damaged mailbox. Please note, the City is not responsible for mailboxes knocked over by the weight of the snow rolling off the plows. To avoid potential damage to your mailbox, please make sure it is installed according to these specifications.

The Public Works Department is responsible for clearing snow and ice from certain sidewalks and trails after a snowfall exceeding two inches. The Winter Maintenance Policy includes a map of all sidewalks and trails that will be cleared by City staff. Sidewalks and trails not shown on this map are the responsibility of the homeowner and should be cleared of snow and ice within 48 hours of the end of the snowfall event. Visit our Map Dashboard to view the trail and sidewalk plowing map and other City maps.

Certain roads in our community fall under County, State, SMSC or Private jurisdiction and are not plowed by the City.  View this map to see which entities are responsible for plowing which streets.

County and State roads that are not plowed by the City include:

• Hwy 13
• County Road 17 (Marschall Road)
• County Road 18 (Crest Ave NE)
• County Road 21 (Eagle Creek Ave SE)
• County Road 42 (140^th Street NE)
• County Road 82 (154^th Street NW)
• County Road 83 (Mystic Lake Dr NW)
    

Streets that are plowed by the City (as indicated on this map) are plowed according to the following priorities:

1. Main thoroughfares
2. Streets providing access to schools and commercial businesses
3. Low volume residential streets
4. City parking lots and ice rinks, and certain sidewalks and trails

Per our Winter Maintenance Policy, plowing will generally commence after snowfall exceeds two inches and will continue until all streets are cleared of snow and ice. Generally, for snowfall events that begin after 6 p.m., plowing will begin the following morning at 2 a.m.

Visit the Map Dashboard to view the plowing jurisdiction map, the trail and sidewalk plowing map, and other City maps.

Smoke detectors should be tested monthly by pushing the test button. Change the batteries in your smoke detector every six months (when you change your clocks). If an alarm “chirps" to warn the batteries are low, replace the batteries immediately. Smoke detector should be replaced every 5-7 years from date of manufacture.

Equipment and construction activity hours on public and private property are 7:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M., Mondays through Saturdays, and between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. on Sundays and legal holidays. This includes, but is not limited to: noise from power tools, equipment, vehicles and other construction activities.

A reduction in water pressure may be the result of your water softener not working properly. To check your softener, adjust the manual bypass valve so the water will not flow through the softener. If your pressure improves, your softener probably needs to be cleaned or serviced. If your water pressure does not improve, check the valves on the water line coming into your home (located just before and after the meter) to make sure they are open all the way. If pressure is still low, you may contact the Public Works department at 952-447-9896.

Total hardness:  19.3 grains per gallon (330 ppm)
Calcium:  12.3 grains per gallon (150 ppm)
Magnesium:  7.0 grains per gallon (120 ppm)
pH: 7.2

Learn more about the water treatment process on our Water Treatment Facility page.

The Public Works Department will repair water meters and can shut off service at the curb if a plumber requires it for other plumbing repairs. There is no charge for meter repair visits by City employees during normal business hours. Fees may be charged for other services. To request service, please contact Utility Billing at 952-447-9843 or 952-447-9844 or utilitybilling@PriorLakeMN.gov.

All hydrants are flushed in the spring to ensure that water lines and hydrants are working properly.  Occasionally this process can stir up deposits in the system, causing a slight discoloration in your tap water.  If this occurs, run all the cold water taps in your home until the water runs clear again (usually about 3-5 minutes).  If the discoloration doesn't clear after several minutes, please call the Public Works Department at 952-447-9896. 

Iron and manganese, harmless minerals that occur naturally in well water, can cause discoloration. Most of the Iron and Manganese in Prior Lake is removed in the treatment process at the Water Treatment Facility. A malfunctioning water softener may also cause discoloration. In the spring, routine hydrant flushing may stir up deposits within the pipes, resulting in rusty/discolored water. Usually, discolored water can be cleared up by turning on all the cold water faucets (including bath and shower) at the same time and letting them run for a few minutes to clear the lines.

The most common reason for the odor is stagnant water in your plumbing system, particularly within the hot water heater. The best way to eliminate the odor is to turn on the hot water at all faucets in your home, including bath and shower faucets. When the hot water has completely drained and fresh water is entering your home from the water main, the odor should dissipate. This process may take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes and use between 40 to 150 gallons of water, depending on the size of your hot water heater.

The use of power lawn or landscape maintenance equipment including, but not limited to: lawn mowers, hedge clippers, grass/weed trimmers, garden tillers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, or wood chippers by individual homeowners or occupants is permitted between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 9:00 P.M., Mondays through Saturdays, and between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. on Sundays and legal holidays. 

Cities charge utility companies (electric and natural gas) a “franchise fee” for the use of city-owned, public right-of-way. This fee is then passed on to utility customers. Many cities across Minnesota use franchise fees to offset city expenses for street maintenance that would otherwise go to the property tax levy.

The City of Prior Lake maintains 110 miles of city streets. Scheduled maintenance is critical for extending the usable life of city streets to between 40 and 60 years before full reconstruction is necessary. Regular maintenance includes crack sealing, seal coating, and mill and overlays.

Every mile of street is inspected every three years. Distresses such as potholes, cracking, and rutting are inventoried and entered into a computerized program to calculate a pavement condition known as the Overall Condition Index (OCI). Streets that are new and have no distresses have an OCI value of 100, while streets that have completely deteriorated have an OCI value of 0. The city’s current overall average OCI is 71. The city’s goal is to maintain an overall average OCI between 70 and 75 for city streets. This goal is consistent with pavement management programs of other metro communities and optimizes the required funding with the overall serviceability of the street network system. The goal of the program is to “do the right maintenance at the right time” to extend the overall life of the road system to 40 to 60 years.

A recently completed Pavement Management Plan identified that an increase in annual funding is necessary to maintain an overall network OCI between 70 and 75 over the next 20 years. Without an increase in annual funding, the city’s road conditions are projected to deteriorate to levels that are unacceptable and would require an even higher increase in funding to return the system to current levels.

Plants, materials, equipment, structures, vehicles, etc. may not block the use of any public street, trail, alleyway or sidewalk. This includes basketball standards, skateboard ramps, etc. Trees/bushes must be maintained twelve (12') feet above a public street, trail, alleyway or above the sidewalk. Other plant materials should not block or obstruct any portion of the public sidewalk.

The property owner also is responsible to ensure that any street signs, street lights, traffic control or directional sign that abuts their property is not obstructed from view by any plant, material, equipment, structure, vehicle, etc.

Minnesota State Statutes allow for a city to impose a fee on a utility company for its use of publicly owned right-of-way (MN State Statute 216.36). Many cities throughout the state have adopted franchise fee ordinances to help pay for roadways.

When a code violation is reported, the Code Enforcement Officer opens a complaint and works towards verifying and resolving the violation through a process of education, inspection and notices. On average, 99% of code violations are resolved voluntarily through the notice process. Continued violations are followed by progressive enforcement.

Each violation has its own set of enforcement procedures; however, the process generally follows this sequence:

1. Complaint received
2. Inspection conducted
3. Notice left at residence or sent to violator allowing time for correction
4. Re-inspections conducted
5. Citations issued if violation is not corrected
6. Abate (violation removed by City contractor) and lien

Refunds
If a registration is canceled by the participant 7 days or more before a program begins, the registration fee is refunded minus a $5 processing fee per person per program. NO REFUNDS are given if a cancelation is requested less than 7 days before a program begins or when the registration fee is $5 or less. Refunds will not be given for days missed. 

Weather Cancelations
When a program is canceled due to inclement weather, no refund is issued. Please call our hotline for up-to-date information at 952-447-9825. If a program is canceled BEFORE the program START
time, participants will receive an e-mail. If a program is canceled DURING the program time, participants will receive a phone call.

The franchise fees would be set aside in a dedicated fund and will be used solely for expenditures related to street improvement projects such as street overlays and reconstruction.

An owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any gas, mechanical, electrical, plumbing system, or other equipment, the installation of which is regulated by the code; or cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.

Email Staff at permits@PriorLakeMN.gov to determine if your project requires a permit. Please include the site address and brief summary of your plans in the email. If a permit is not needed, the Building Department will answer your construction questions and can provide valuable advice.

Vendor Camp Waivers 

• EcoElsa Waiver

Field Trip Waivers

• GrandSlam (Daytrippers Camp)
• Ninja Anywhere Waiver (Muddy Buddy Run) 
• Urban Air (Daytrippers Camp)

For more information about the franchise fee, please call the City’s Public Works Department at 952-447-9896 or email at pwadmin@PriorLakeMN.gov.

Only currently licensed, registered, or operable vehicles can be parked on an approved driveway. All other vehicles on the property are required to be housed within a lawfully erected building.

An approved driveway shall be surfaced with bituminous, pavers or concrete. No vehicle shall be stored, displayed, parked or allowed in any of the required yard, stone class 5, or landscaped areas.

Yes, per the current City assessment policy.