2003 Minnesota Statutes

     394.21 Authority to carry on county planning and zoning. 

    Subdivision 1.    Except most populous counties.  For 
 the purpose of promoting the health, safety, morals, and general 
 welfare of the community any county in the state having less 
 than 300,000 population according to the 1950 federal census is 
 authorized to carry on county planning and zoning activities.  

    Subd. 1a.    Amortization prohibited.  Except as 
 otherwise provided in this subdivision, a county, regardless of 
 population, under this chapter or under a special or local law, 
 must not enact, amend, or enforce an ordinance providing for the 
 elimination or termination of a use by amortization which use 
 was lawful at the time of its inception.  This subdivision does 
 not apply to adults-only bookstores, adults-only theaters, or 
 similar adults-only businesses, as defined by ordinance. 

    Subd. 2.  Repealed, 1974 c 571 s 51 

    Subd. 3.    Nuisance.  Subdivision 1a does not prohibit 
 a county from enforcing an ordinance providing for the 
 prevention or abatement of nuisances, as defined in section 
 561.01, or eliminating a use determined to be a public nuisance, 
 as defined in section 617.81, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), 
 clauses (1) to (9), without payment of compensation. 

    HIST: 1959 c 559 s 1; 1999 c 96 s 1,2