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§ MN Benton County
County building permits

Unincorporated Benton County

How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Benton County, Minnesota. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Code adoption
Minnesota State Building Code, locally administered
Last verified
April 2026
On this page 6
§ 01

Permit authority

Benton County Land Services, Planning & Zoning

Street address
Benton County Government Center, 531 Dewey Street, P.O. Box 129, Foley, MN 56329
Phone
320-968-5000; Planning & Zoning 320-968-5065
Coverage
All areas outside the listed city limits and certain annexation areas that obtain land use and building permits through Benton County.
Online portal
County online permitting program
County online permitting program
Website
Department website
§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Benton County

A building permit is required for structures 200 square feet or larger, and a land use permit is required for structures 200 square feet or larger. Agricultural buildings are exempt from building code permits, but a land use permit is still required.

Agricultural buildings are exempt from building code permits, but not from land use permits
  • Exempt Agricultural buildings are exempt from building code permits, but not from land use permits
Building code
Minnesota State Building Code, locally administered
Contractor requirements
County contracts inspections through a certified building official; trade licensing follows Minnesota law.
§ 03

Application process

Application → plan check → issuance → inspection → final

  1. 01
    Confirm parcel jurisdiction on the county Building Permit Information page.
  2. 02
    Apply online for the building permit and land use permit as applicable.
  3. 03
    County staff reviews land use compliance, then the contracted building official reviews plans and inspections.
  4. 04
    Pay applicable fees and obtain the issued permit before starting work.
  5. 05
    Coordinate inspections with the contracted inspector during construction.

Source: Benton County Land Services, Planning & Zoning ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Effective March 4, 2025

Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
Land use permit $100; building code fee minimums are permit-type specific
02
Plan check fee
Residential and commercial building plan review is 65 percent of the permit fee
03
Permit fee formula
Mixed schedule, valuation-based for many items
04
Reinspection fee
Re-inspection $50 per hour with 1 hour minimum
05
Penalty (no permit)
Construction without permit investigation double the permit fee; non-business-hours inspection $100 per hour with 1 hour minimum

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective March 4, 2025) before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule
  • Inspection Services of Central Minnesota, Inc. (contracted inspector)

Typical sequence: County and contracted inspector review, then standard footing, framing, rough-in, and final inspections as applicable.

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about unincorporated Benton County permits

01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Benton County, MN? ▸
A building permit is required for structures 200 square feet or larger, and a land use permit is required for structures 200 square feet or larger. Agricultural buildings are exempt from building code permits, but a land use permit is still required.
02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Benton County, MN? ▸
Building permit fees in unincorporated Benton County, MN are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is Land use permit $100; building code fee minimums are permit-type specific. Fees are calculated as: Mixed schedule, valuation-based for many items. Plan check fee: Residential and commercial building plan review is 65 percent of the permit fee.
03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Benton County, MN? ▸
To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Benton County, MN, follow these steps: 1. Confirm parcel jurisdiction on the county Building Permit Information page. 2. Apply online for the building permit and land use permit as applicable. 3. County staff reviews land use compliance, then the contracted building official reviews plans and inspections. 4. Pay applicable fees and obtain the issued permit before starting work. 5. Coordinate inspections with the contracted inspector during construction.
04 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Benton County, MN? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in unincorporated Benton County, MN. The following work is generally exempt: Agricultural buildings are exempt from building code permits, but not from land use permits. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
05 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Benton County, MN? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Benton County, MN via: Inspection Services of Central Minnesota, Inc..
last verified April 2026 source Benton County Land Services, Planning & Zoning ↗ entry id permits/minnesota/benton/unincorporated
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Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Benton County Land Services, Planning & Zoning before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

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