Custom Home Builder in Orono, MN
TC Homes builds custom homes across Orono, MN, on Lake Minnetonka lakeshore lots along Crystal, Maxwell, and North Arm bays and on two- and five-acre rural sites off Highway 12.
Orono's Trusted Custom Home Builder
TC Homes is a custom home builder in Orono, MN, the largest city by area on Lake Minnetonka and the one where lot rules shape a build more than almost anywhere else we work. Orono covers 23.98 square miles, and 8.07 of those are water, which leaves about 15.92 square miles of land for roughly 8,315 residents (2020 Census). That density, around 522 people per square mile, is why the city calls itself The Lakeshore City and why so much of it still reads as rural. If you are weighing Orono against a neighboring community, our Minnetonka and Long Lake pages cover how those markets differ.
Zoning is the first thing we look at here. Orono’s rural districts require 5 acres in RR-1A and 2 acres in RR-1B, and its lakeshore districts run from 2 acres in LR-1A down to a half acre in LR-1C (City of Orono zoning map). An RR-1A lot also carries a 300-foot minimum width and a 100-foot front setback, so the buildable envelope on a five-acre parcel is often smaller than owners expect. We walk that envelope with you before design starts. Our guide to buying land to build a house covers the same checks in more detail, and how to find land to build a house is worth reading if you have not bought yet.
The second thing we check is servicing. Orono’s sanitary sewer covers the Navarre area and the Highway 12 corridor, and the rest of the city runs on private septic (City of Orono). A well and septic system adds roughly $20,000 to $40,000 to a build, so two lots a mile apart can carry very different site budgets. As custom home builders on Lake Minnetonka, we price that difference up front rather than after the foundation is poured. See our Lake Minnetonka homes guide for how shoreline rules affect design, or talk to us about a specific parcel.
TC Homes Services in Orono, MN
Custom Home Construction
TC Homes handles new builds on Orono acreage, lakeshore construction on the bays, and full teardown-and-rebuild projects where an older home no longer fits the lot. You get a dedicated project manager from day one, so design, permitting, and construction run through one person instead of a rotating cast of subcontractors. See completed projects or read how we compare to a spec home.
Custom Floor Plans
Our plan library is a starting point, not a menu you have to accept as drawn. We adapt any layout to your lot’s grade, tree cover, and setback envelope, which matters on a 300-foot-wide RR-1A parcel as much as on a half-acre lakeshore lot. Browse our floor plans, and if your site slopes toward water, our walkout basement ideas are worth a look.
Selections & Interior Design
Selections derail more custom builds than framing ever does, usually because homeowners are asked to decide everything at once. We break them into a sequence you can manage, with our design team guiding each choice against your budget. See finished work in the gallery or meet the design team.
Lot & Site Consultation
Orono lots are rarely simple. Wetland edges carry a 25-foot setback for all structures and hardcover, properties inside the Stormwater Quality Overlay District (typically within 1,000 feet of a lake or 300 feet of certain creeks) fall under tiered hardcover limits, and the city will not issue a permit without Minnehaha Creek Watershed District documentation. Add well and septic siting on unsewered parcels. We flag all of it before design work starts. Start with our home building checklist.
Free Planning Resources
Not ready to build yet? Download our Free Home Planning Guide for timelines, budget structure, and how the custom process works. If you are early on cost, read the cost to build a house in Minnesota first.
How TC Homes Handles Your Orono Build
- Discovery and lot evaluation. We learn your goals, budget, and timeline, then walk your Orono lot to check the buildable envelope against RR or LR district setbacks, wetland edges, tree cover, and whether the parcel is sewered or needs well and septic.
- Design and floor plan refinement. Our team adjusts layout and architectural details until the plan fits both your family and the site. On lakeshore lots that means designing to the ordinary high water level setback and hardcover tier from the start. Our process page walks through each stage.
- Permitting and watershed sign-off. We prepare the City of Orono application through its online permit portal and handle Minnehaha Creek Watershed District documentation. Orono’s plan review runs longest in March through May and August through October, and the city names incomplete submittals and changing plans as the two biggest causes of delay. We submit complete.
- Selections at your pace. You choose finishes and materials in a defined sequence so scope is locked before construction starts rather than renegotiated mid-build. See our timeline expectations.
- Construction with a dedicated PM. Your project manager gives you a real schedule and regular updates, so you know what is happening on your Orono site without chasing anyone.
- Completion and walkthrough. We walk the finished home with you before move-in and stay reachable afterward.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Custom Home in Orono, MN?
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Custom Home in Minnetonka, MN?
A custom home in Orono typically runs $690,000 to $1,125,000 before land for roughly 2,500 square feet, and lakeshore builds on the bays commonly run $1,200,000 to $3,000,000 or more. Orono sits at the top of the Twin Cities range because of land cost, larger lot minimums, and watershed review. Land is separate: Orono lakefront parcels routinely clear $500,000 to $2,000,000 on their own.
| Project Type | Typical Cost Range (2026, before land) |
|---|---|
| New build on a sewered lot (Navarre or Highway 12 corridor), approx. 2,500 sq ft | $690,000 – $1,125,000 |
| New build on a rural acreage lot (RR-1B 2-acre or RR-1A 5-acre) with well and septic, approx. 2,500 sq ft | $710,000 – $1,165,000 |
| Lakeshore build on Crystal, Maxwell, North Arm, Stubbs, or Tanager | $1,200,000 – $3,000,000+ |
Twin Cities custom builds run $250 to $400 per square foot, and Orono, Wayzata, and Plymouth add $25 to $50 per square foot on top of that. Minnesota’s frost line also pushes footings at least 42 inches below grade, which adds excavation and concrete you will not see quoted in warmer states. On an Orono lot the biggest swing factor is usually not the house. It is what the parcel needs before you can build: tree removal, grading, drainage, a well and septic system, or watershed mitigation. Our foundation cost guide breaks down the below-grade side, and if you are building at the upper end, read how to choose a luxury home builder in Minnesota.
Related Resources for Your Minnetonka Build
- Browse Our Custom Floor Plans: adapt any layout to your Minnetonka lot
- Download the Free Home Planning Guide: timelines, budgeting, and how the process works before your first call
- See Featured Homes: completed TC Homes projects across the Twin Cities metro
- Meet Our Process: how Discovery, Design, Selections, and Construction actually work
- Talk to Us or call 763-373-5974 to start with your specific lot
Frequently Asked Questions: Custom Home Building in Minnetonka, MN
Do you build custom homes in Orono, MN?
Yes. TC Homes builds new custom homes, lakeshore homes, and teardown-and-rebuild projects throughout Orono, including lots on Crystal Bay, Maxwell Bay, North Arm, Stubbs Bay, and Tanager Lake, plus rural acreage parcels off Highway 12. We are a licensed Minnesota Residential Building Contractor (BC344259) and assign a dedicated project manager to every build.
How much does it cost to build a custom home in Orono, MN?
A custom home in Orono typically runs $690,000 to $1,125,000 before land for about 2,500 square feet. Lakeshore builds commonly run $1,200,000 to $3,000,000 or more, and Orono lakefront land routinely clears $500,000 to $2,000,000 on its own. We put full scope and budget in writing before construction starts. Our Minnesota cost guide shows the per-square-foot math.
What is the minimum lot size for a new home in Orono?
It depends on the district. Orono requires 5 acres in RR-1A and 2 acres in RR-1B rural residential, 1 acre in R-1A and a half acre in R-1B, and its lakeshore districts run 2 acres (LR-1A), 1 acre (LR-1B), and a half acre (LR-1C). RR-1A also sets a 300-foot minimum lot width and a 100-foot front setback. We confirm the district and buildable envelope before design.
Who issues building permits for a new home in Orono?
The City of Orono issues and inspects building permits through its online permit portal. Electrical inspections run through the State Electrical Inspector and wells through the Minnesota Department of Health, not the city. Orono also requires Minnehaha Creek Watershed District documentation before it will issue a permit. We manage the application and inspection scheduling on every project we build here.
Can you build on a well and septic lot in Orono?
Yes, and most of the city works that way. Orono’s sanitary sewer serves the Navarre area and the Highway 12 corridor; other areas run on private septic systems. Well and septic together typically add $20,000 to $40,000 to a build, and drainfield siting affects where the house can sit. We price and site both during lot evaluation.
OUR PROVEN HOME BUILDING PROCESS
Building a custom home in Orono is a serious commitment. Our four-step process keeps it clear and collaborative from the first conversation to move-in.
Discovery
We learn your goals, lifestyle, budget, and your Orono lot before anything else.
Design
Our team refines your floor plan and architectural details until it fits both you and the site.
Selections
You choose finishes, fixtures, and materials at your own pace. We guide, you decide.
Construction
With plans locked, our team builds your Orono home with regular updates from your PM.
Communities we serve
- Long Lake: 55356
- Loretto: 55357, 55599
- Maple Plain: 55593, 55359
- Minnetonka Beach: 55361
- Mound: 55364
- Spring Park: 55384
- Wayzata: 55391
- Excelsior: 55331
- Hamel: 55340
- Eden Prairie: 55344, 55347
- Minnetonka: 55305, 55343, 55345
- Plymouth: 55441, 55442, 55446, 55447
- Minnetrista: 55375, 55388
- Maple Grove: 55311, 55369
- Independence: 55328, 55373, 55599
- Corcoran: 55374
- Medina: 55359,55357,55340,55391
- Orono: 55356,55391
- Deephaven: 55331
- Woodland: 55417
Looking for More Floor Plans?
Indulge in our exclusive Enhanced Design Library, a curated collection of the latest and trending floor plans, carefully crafted to inspire the transformation of your home into an extraordinary sanctuary.
