The City provides live streaming of the City Council meetings via our website.  Archived recordings of City Council meetings are also available.  

Contact your Councilor or the City Administrator. The City has several Boards and Commissions available to the public and from time to time special committees are formed to work on specific issues. If interested in serving on a Board/Commission, applications can be completed and submitted for consideration.

The Administration department coordinates and staffs national, state, and local office elections at its six precincts. Five Councilors are elected by ward with the Mayor and one additional Councilor being elected “At Large.”

The City Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month for regular meetings at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, 101 14th Street.   

The City completed the installation of new radio read water meters in all customers homes or business. This allows for actual readings each month.

City Hall hours are 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Summer hours are 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m. Fridays.  Summer hours are in effect from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Regularly scheduled meetings are held at the City Hall Council Chambers, 101 14th Street, beginning at 6:00 p.m.   

Questions concerning special assessment status can be directed to the City at (218) 879-3347.

Administration processes applications for liquor, therapeutic massage, tobacco, refuse haulers, kennels, solicitors and other related activities under City Code.  Call (218) 879-3347 with licensing questions.

No. Owners of all dogs and cats within the City limits of Cloquet are required to keep animals from running at large, this includes all City parks, per City Code Chapter 8.

Per City Code Section 8.2.03, it is unlawful for a person to keep, harbor, or have custody of more than three (3) dogs or three (3) cats or a combination of (3) over the age of 6 months at one time.

Section 8.2.05 of the Municipal Code states in relevant parts that: “The owner of any dog shall prevent the dog from committing any act in the City of Cloquet which constitutes a nuisance.” In the case of barking this is defined as disturbing the peace by excessively, habitually, or frequently barking, yelping, howling, or crying.

If a neighbor’s dog is continually barking, the first action you should take is to discuss the pet’s unacceptable behavior with the owner of the pet. If the pet’s behavior is not modified, please contact the Police Department non-emergency number 218-384-4185.

Yes.

Only if the fence is 2.5 feet and more in height (above grade.)

Yes. A permit is also required to replace windows. This includes repairs resulting from storm damage that involves replacing roofing, siding and/or windows

Call the Community Development Department to schedule an inspection. Inspections are required for the footings (or post holes), framing, and a final when the job is completed.

Permit fees are based on the total value of the work. This should include the cost of materials plus labor. If doing your own work, a labor cost estimate can be used which is at least equal to the cost of material.

An application form, which is available at City Hall, is generally all that is required. The application process requires the parcel code number of the property where construction is being done and a drawing of the property showing the deck location (site plan). In some cases, a more elaborate deck design will require more detailed construction plans. Handouts are available at City Hall.

• HUD.gov - Tenant Rights, Laws and Protections: Minnesota
• Minnesota Attorney General - Housing

Building permits are required for any work performed in the City that involves structural changes, changes in use of the structure, additional square footage, building alterations (siding, windows and roofing), etc., and new buildings over 120 square feet in area. Permits are also required for certain non-building work, such as fences that are 2.5 feet and more in height and retaining walls over 4 feet in height.

The City of Cloquet is here to assist you in obtaining a building permit. Matt Munter, Building Official, can hep you with questions regarding building, plumbing, water, sewer, or mechanical permits. If you have any questions regarding plumbing permits, contact the State Plumbing Inspector, Brad Jensen at (218) 733-7839, or the State Plumbing Office at (651) 284-5067. If you have questions regarding electrical permits, contact the State Electrical Inspector James Bjorklund at (218) 590-0861, or the MN Department of Labor & Industry at (651) 284-5064.

Recreational fires of 3' x 3' are allowed within the City limits. You can access the Districts website for additional requirements under the Minnesota Uniform Fire Code.

Both of these activities are against the law. They violate the State Fire Code as well as Minnesota Pollution Control Rules and Regulations.

The Advanced Life Support Ambulances are operated by the Fire District. All costs from providing this service must come from the fees charged. Our personnel have been trained to provide advanced life support and we cannot refuse to provide service based on the ability to pay. The State of Minnesota Emergency Services Regulatory Board has mandated we provide service to a Primary Service Area and we receive minimal support to provide this service. Without fees this service could not be provided.

What is arson?

Please call the CAFD at (218) 879-6514 or access the CAFD website at www.cloquetareafiredistrict.com.

All burning permits within the Cloquet Area Fire District, that are not under Fond du Lac Reservation jurisdiction, can be obtained at Minnesota DNR Forestry Offices (218) 499-4258.

The Planning Commission consists of seven (7) citizen volunteers who are annually appointed by the City Council. The Planning Commission meets twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. The Commission considers proposals to the City for amendments to the comprehensive plan, site plans, zoning ordinance changes, zoning map changes, special use permits, and subdivisions. The Planning Commission conducts public hearings on these requests as required, reviews these requests, and then makes recommendations to the City Council. The Planning Commission also considers all requests for variances from the zoning ordinance and appeals of Zoning Administrator decisions. The Planning Commission has final say on all variances and appeals unless appealed to District Court.

The Comprehensive Plan is a compilation of policy statements, goals, standards, and maps for guiding the physical, social and economic development, both private and public, of the City. The City’s initial Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 1955. A sketch development plan was adopted in 1975 after the consolidation of Cloquet and Knife Falls Township. An update of the full Comprehensive Land Use Plan was adopted in 1994. A Revitalization Master Plan, which guides future commercial and industrial development, was completed in 1998. The latest update of the Comprehensive Plan was completed and adopted in 2007.

Your library card is good throughout the State of Minnesota and City of Superior.

Yes, the Cloquet Public Library offers Children and Teen programs year round. For more information, please click here to view their website.

There are several computers with Internet access. Some computers also have Microsoft Office installed including Word, PowerPoint, and Publisher. Wi-Fi access is available for people who want to bring in their own laptop computers.

The library loans out books, books on tape and cd, music cd’s, dvds, videos, and toys. There is no charge as long as the materials are returned on time. Materials returned after their due date will receive a small late fee penalty.

Yes. Internet service and online catalog are shared with the Arrowhead Library System. Library materials may be loaned from libraries throughout Minnesota. The library’s catalog and catalogs of other libraries may be found at the library’s web site: www.cloquetlibrary.org. Also available through the website are e-books, downloadable audio books, full text magazine articles and other research resources.

Monday thru Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday:9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, Closed

Alcoholic beverages are not allowed in any of the City Park areas. No person shall transport, possess, offer for sale, consume, or be under the influence of any alcohol or intoxicating beverages while in a City Park.

Picnic shelters at Pinehurst Park, Sunnyside Park and Pine Valley may be reserved for a nominal fee. Please contact Community Education at (218) 879-1261 to reserve a shelter.

Fields at Sunnyside Park, Athletic Park, Pinehurst Park and Hilltop parks may be reserved for a nominal fee. Please contact Community Education at (218) 879-1261 to reserve a field.

Certain park facilities can be reserved by contacting Community Education at 218-879-1261. Groups must allow a minimum of 14 days for processing requests.

No. City ordinances do not allow the use of ATV’s, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, etc. in City parks. Those ticketed for violating this ordinance are subject to fines, the repair of all damage, and community service.

Yes. Dogs may be walked or run in City parks and open spaces if they are leashed. Dogs should not be in picnic areas, athletic fields, or other improved park areas. Dog owners are responsible for picking up any animal waste that is deposited in any park by the dog and have it disposed of in an appropriate location.

You can make a contribution in several ways. Donations are accepted for a specific program or event, tree purchase, memorial bench, brick pavers or if you have another way in which you would like to contribute, the Parks Department will work with your needs.

If you see a possibly dangerous issue in a park, please contact the Parks Department immediately at (218) 879-7762 or (218) 879-6758. Vandalism or other unsafe acts may be reported directly to the Cloquet Police Department by calling "911."

Parks are open to the general public from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. each day. By City Code, all parks are closed from 12:00 midnight to 6:00 a.m.

There are three outdoor hockey rinks located at Sunnyside Park, Pinehurst Park and Pine Valley.  Outdoor pleasure skating rinks are located at Athletic Park and the Dunlap Skating Ribbon.

Yes. Snowmobiles and ATV’s are allowed within the City limits, however these vehicles are not allowed to operate on County Aid, State Aid, or State Highways. Municipal Code strictly prohibits the use of such vehicles in City parks. City Code requires ATVs to be registered through the Police Department.

The discharge of a weapon is prohibited in all platted subdivisions of the City of Cloquet EXCEPT per City Code 6.15: Hunting Deer by Bow and Arrow in the Cloquet City Limits. Hunting continues to be allowed in other areas as long as it is not in violation of state game laws or in proximity to residential homes.

Yes. Chapter 7 of the Municipal Code defines this situation as a public nuisance. The City would encourage neighbors to talk to the property owner about the health and welfare concerns of such condition being present. If the situation is not resolved, please contact the Cloquet Police Department by calling the non-emergency phone number 218-384-4185. All complainants’ names are left confidential.

Yes. Under Section 7.5 of the Municipal Code, the City has established a curfew for all persons under the age of 18. In general, the curfew hours are 11:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. on weekdays and 12:00 midnight on Saturday or Sunday.

No. The City does not license bicycles. For anyone interested in licensing a bicycle, licenses may be purchased at any state vehicle license office.

If you are a resident of Cloquet, these applications can be picked up at the Cloquet Police Department. After being filled out you may return them to the Police Department; we will also need a copy of your driver’s license. It will then take 6 – 10 days to process and we will mail you the permit.

You may also download the application: Minnesota Uniform Firearm Application/Receipt Permit to Purchase/Transfer

Several keys have been turned in at the Cloquet Police Department and go unclaimed. If you have lost or misplaced your keys, please call the Cloquet Police Department at (218) 879-1247 to check if someone found them.

Smoking is prohibited in all indoor areas of any public building. To ensure that smoke does not enter public buildings, smoking is prohibited within 25 feet of any entrance, exit, open window or ventilation intake.

Section 5.4.05 of the Municipal Code states that no person shall park on any City street, alley, boulevard, sidewalk, or public grounds from midnight - 6:00 a.m. from November 1st to March 31st of each year. Vehicles found parked on the street during this time will be tagged and towed.  City Code chapter 5.4.05.

Signs cannot be nailed, pasted, glued or affixed to any lamp post, mast, electrical wire post, telephone pole or any pole or post in any street boulevard or public alley of the City of Cloquet. It is also unlawful to place any type of sign on any fence, building or structure not owned or controlled by the person without first obtaining the permission of the owner.

Several bicycles are left unclaimed at the Cloquet Police Department. If your bicycle has been lost or stolen, please call the Cloquet Police Department at (218) 879-1247 to check if it has been found or recovered.

The city clears a number of high priority routes as authorized by City Council in the Snow and Ice Removal Policy.  Homeowners are encouraged to clear walks not on this list. 

If you would like the City of Cloquet to consider installing additional signage on a particular street, please submit a Sign Request Form or fill out our online Sign Request form.

Yes. Sump pumps are installed to collect groundwater from the drain tile around the outside of your basement foundation walls in order to keep your basement dry. Many older homes may have a small manhole or gravity catch basin in the basement floor, which collects the drain tile water but then pipes it directly to your sewer system. It is a violation of both State and City law to discharge uncontaminated sump pump or drain tile water to a sanitary sewer system. These types of connections can cause an overloading of the sewer system and, particularly during heavy rain storms, result in the overflowing of untreated wastewater to the St. Louis River and Lake Superior. This type of pollution is a major problem for WLSSD and every community within the Sanitary District. For more information and help on this particular subject, the City Engineers Office has a number of free pamphlets available and also staff who are willing to work with you.

If a plow truck actually strikes a mailbox, the City will repair or replace it. However, if the mailbox simply falls over or comes off the post as a result of snow coming off the plow, it is the homeowners responsibility.

A common neighborhood request concerns the posting of “CHILDREN AT PLAY” or other similar warning signs. Parental concern for the safety of children and a misplaced but widespread public faith in traffic signs often prompt these requests.

Although some states have posted such signs in residential areas, no factual evidence has been presented to document their success in reducing pedestrian accidents, operating speeds or legal liability. Studies have shown that many types of signs attempting to warn of normal conditions in residential areas have failed to achieve the desired safety benefits. If signs encourage parents and children to believe they have an added degree of protection, a great disservice results.

Because of these serious considerations, Minnesota law does not recognize, and Federal Standards discourage, the use of “Children at Play” signs. The City does, however, provide such signs in the vicinity of schools, playgrounds, parks and other recreational facilities.

The paved portion of a typical residential street in Cloquet is 32 feet wide. The actual amount of property or “right-of-way” owned by the City for most streets ranges between 50 and 66 feet. This means even though the pavement may only be 32 feet wide, another 9 to 17 feet behind the curb is the property of the City. The purpose of this extra property is for snow storage, sidewalks, and for the construction of various utilities such as sewer, water, telephone, natural gas, and electric. For these reasons it is a violation of State law to construct any permanent structures within this area, except for mailboxes. Certain exceptions may be granted, however, they require a Right-of-Way Occupation Permit, which may be granted by the City Engineer’s Office.

The Public Works Department normally plows snow after three or more inches of accumulation.  Lesser amounts are usually sanded and salted. Because of conflicts with traffic and parked vehicles, most major plowing operations begin between 3:00 and 4:00 a.m.

Snow Plowing Policy 

Each year the City updates its five-year permanent improvement plan, which addresses not only the reconstruction of existing streets but also its sanitary sewer and water systems. Each year’s reconstruction program is then developed based upon critical need and available funding. In some cases, the property owners must petition the City Council to initiate these improvements. In almost all cases, a portion of the reconstruction costs is assessed or billed back to the property owners along the project route and can be paid for over a number of years. For more information on the costs involved, please contact the City Engineers Office at 218-879-6758.

A common belief is that posting a speed limit will influence drivers to drive at that speed. The facts indicate otherwise. Research conducted in many parts of this country over a span of several decades has shown that drivers are influenced more by the appearance of the roadway itself and the prevailing traffic conditions rather than posted speed limits.

Many people may not know that the authority to set speed limits on all Minnesota public roadways resides with the State Commissioner of Transportation. This includes our City streets. Urban residential streets have a statutory speed limit of 30 miles per hour (mph) and generally the speed limit can only be modified by the Commissioner based upon an engineering and traffic investigation that warrants a speed reduction. Such an investigation includes an analysis of roadway conditions, accident records and the prevailing speed of prudent drivers. One exception to the 30 mph speed limit on urban streets is in the area of School Zones when children are present. In these cases the limit may be reduced to 20 mph.

The Cloquet Water Utility obtains its drinking water from four groundwater wells, which on average produce 1.2 million gallons per day. To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Minnesota Department of Health regulates and monitors all public water supplies. Cloquet’s water has been tested for some 80 regulated contaminants in addition to dozens of unregulated ones. No substances have ever been detected that exceed limits set by the state or federal government. In addition to its well water supply, Cloquet also owns and operates a pipeline from Lake Superior to the Sappi Paper Mill. The Lake Superior Waterline, however, is not used to provide Cloquet drinking water.

Cloquet is a member of the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) and all sanitary wastewater flows from the area get pumped to Duluth for processing at the WLSSD wastewater treatment plant.

If you have an emergency, which requires immediate assistance from the Sewer, Water or Street Departments, you can call (218) 879-6758 during normal working hours. After normal working hours, and on weekends, the Public Works Department has an emergency dispatcher who can be reached at (218) 624-0391.

A stop sign is one of our most valuable and effective control devices when used at the right place and under the right conditions. It is intended to help drivers and pedestrians at an intersection decide who has the right-of-way.

A common misuse of stop signs is to arbitrarily interrupt through traffic, either by causing it to stop or by causing such an inconvenience as to force the traffic to use other routes. Where stop signs are installed as “nuisances” or “speed breakers,” there is a high incidence of intentional violation. In those locations where vehicles do stop, the speed reduction is effective only in the immediate vicinity of the stop sign, and frequently speeds are actually higher between intersections. For these reasons, it should not be used as a speed control device.

Most drivers are reasonable and prudent with no intention of maliciously violating traffic regulations; however, when an unreasonable restriction is imposed, it may result in flagrant violations. In such cases, the stop sign can create a false sense of security for a pedestrian and an attitude of contempt in a motorist. These two attitudes can and often do conflict with tragic results.

Well-developed, nationally recognized guidelines help to indicate when such controls become necessary. These guidelines take into consideration, among other things, the probability of vehicles arriving at an intersection at the same time, the length of time traffic must wait to enter, and the availability of safe crossing opportunities.