County Building Permits
Houston County, MN - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Houston County, Minnesota. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated Houston County townships. The county office states it oversees planning and zoning in the townships, including floodplain and shoreland rules, septic systems, and feedlot regulations.
- Department
- Houston County Planning and Zoning Office
- Address
- 304 S. Marshall St., Caledonia, MN 55921
- Phone
- 507-725-5800
- zoning@hocomn.gov
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Schneider GIS permitting portal • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Submit the appropriate permit application and supporting materials.
- County staff reviews the application and may schedule a public hearing for discretionary permits.
- County staff contacts the applicant with questions or next steps.
- Permit issuance follows approval and completion of any required hearing or conditions.
General Requirements
Required Documents
- Application form, site plan and other project-specific materials. The county page points to permit applications, driveway permits, erosion control permits, septic applications, and online submission.
- Building code
- Houston County zoning office administers county zoning ordinance, floodplain, shoreland, septic, and feedlot rules. A separate building-code adoption statement was not surfaced in the public county pages captured here.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Houston County Planning and Zoning Office to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Inspection hours
- Office appointments can be arranged by calling 507-725-5800. County office hours on the site are Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM for the courthouse and 8:00 AM-4:00 PM for the license center.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Houston County zoning office administers county zoning ordinance, floodplain, shoreland, septic, and feedlot rules. A separate building-code adoption statement was not surfaced in the public county pages captured here.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Ordinances
- Public meetings
- GIS / parcel search
- 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 Houston County Planning and Zoning Office before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston County Building Permit FAQ
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Houston County, MN?
- 1. Submit the appropriate permit application and supporting materials. 2. County staff reviews the application and may schedule a public hearing for discretionary permits. 3. County staff contacts the applicant with questions or next steps. 4. Permit issuance follows approval and completion of any required hearing or conditions.
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