County Building Permits
Dakota County, MN - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Dakota County, Minnesota. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
County permits do not replace township or city building permits. In unincorporated Dakota County, building permits are routed through the applicable township or contracted building official, while Dakota County separately handles county-regulated shoreland, floodplain, septic, and roadway matters.
- Department
- Dakota County Building and Land Use Permits / Water Resources / Transportation, depending on permit type
- Address
- 14955 Galaxie Avenue, Apple Valley, MN 55124 for many county permit services; Transportation and other functions have separate offices
- Phone
- 651-438-4372 for Public Services and Revenue general permit help; 952-891-7000 for many water resources and septic functions
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Dakota County One Stop Roadway Permit Shop • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Confirm whether the parcel is in a township and whether the project also falls in county shoreland, floodplain, septic, or right-of-way jurisdiction.
- Apply first to the township or local building official for the building permit.
- If the parcel is in county-regulated shoreland or floodplain, or if septic work or county roadway work is involved, submit the separate county permit application.
- Wait for county review and any requested revisions.
- Pay county fees and obtain the county permit before starting work.
General Requirements
County permit needed for county-regulated shoreland, floodplain, septic, and county roadway activities; local building permits remain local
Required Documents
- Site plan
- parcel information
- construction details
- engineered materials when applicable
- septic documents for SSTS
- roadway traffic control details for ROW work
- Building code
- County pages defer building-code administration to the local city or township; state code is Minnesota State Building Code
- Owner-builder
- Building permit owner-builder rules are handled by the local city or township authority
- Contractor requirements
- Follow Minnesota DLI rules plus any local registration requirement
Fees
- Payment note
- One Stop Roadway Permit Shop supports online processing for roadway permits; other county permits often use PDF or department-specific workflows
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Dakota County Building and Land Use Permits / Water Resources / Transportation, depending on permit type to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Varies by permit type and is often coordinated through the local authority plus county staff (other)
Typical inspection sequence: Permit issuance, field review as needed, final sign-off by county function
Additional Resources
- Building code: County pages defer building-code administration to the local city or township; state code is Minnesota State Building Code
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/Environment/WaterResources/Pages/default.aspx
- https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/Transportation/Pages/default.aspx
- License lookup guide: Minnesota Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Minnesota Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Minnesota hub: Minnesota Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Dakota County Building and Land Use Permits / Water Resources / Transportation, depending on permit type before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dakota County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Dakota County, MN?
- County permit needed for county-regulated shoreland, floodplain, septic, and county roadway activities; local building permits remain local
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Dakota County, MN?
- 1. Confirm whether the parcel is in a township and whether the project also falls in county shoreland, floodplain, septic, or right-of-way jurisdiction. 2. Apply first to the township or local building official for the building permit. 3. If the parcel is in county-regulated shoreland or floodplain, or if septic work or county roadway work is involved, submit the separate county permit application. 4. Wait for county review and any requested revisions. 5. Pay county fees and obtain the county permit before starting work.
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Dakota County, MN?
- The following work is generally exempt: - No countywide exemption list was found for all county permit categories; - County-level exemption rules depend on whether the work affects shoreland, floodplain, septic, or county right-of-way. Note: confirm exemption status directly with Dakota County before assuming local building permit exemptions cover county-regulated work
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Dakota County, MN?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Varies by permit type and is often coordinated through the local authority plus county staff.
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