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§ SD Brown County
City building permits

City of Aberdeen

How to apply for a building permit in City of Aberdeen, South Dakota. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Min. permit fee
$35.00
Last verified
April 2026
On this page 6
§ 01

Permit authority

Building Inspection Department, Community Development Department

Street address
123 South Lincoln Street, 3rd Floor, Aberdeen, SD 57401
Phone
605-626-7017
Coverage
All land within the incorporated city limits of Aberdeen. Aberdeen operates fully independent permit and inspection authority. Floodplain administration also handled by the city within its own limits.
Online portal
Building Inspection Department
In-person Submission
Additional resources
§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Aberdeen

A permit is required for new construction, additions, alterations, repairs to structural elements, changes of occupancy, and installation of mechanical, electrical, or plumbing systems. A permit is required for sheds larger than 200 square feet. Sheds under 200 sq ft still require submission of a site plan. Setbacks from property lines must be met for all structures.

Sheds and accessory structures under 200 square feet (though a site plan is still required)
Ordinary maintenance and repair that does not change the structural elements, occupancy, or systems of a structure
Painting, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting, cabinet and counter top installation, and similar finish work
  • Exempt Sheds and accessory structures under 200 square feet (though a site plan is still required)
  • Exempt Ordinary maintenance and repair that does not change the structural elements, occupancy, or systems of a structure
  • Exempt Painting, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting, cabinet and counter top installation, and similar finish work

Note: Full exempt work list should be confirmed with the Building Inspection Department at 605-626-7017 or reviewed in the Aberdeen Municipal Code.

Required documents
  • Completed building permit application
  • Site plan showing property lines and structure location
  • Construction drawings or specifications as applicable to project scope
Building code
Aberdeen adopted the 2009 ANSI standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities. Additional adopted codes referenced by the department include state-referenced editions of the IBC and IRC; confirm current adopted editions at 605-626-7017. Aberdeen Municipal Code Chapter 15.08 addresses code adoption.
Permit validity
Not publicly stated; contact department
Owner-builder
Not publicly stated; contact Building Inspection at 605-626-7017
Contractor requirements
State registration under SDCL Chapter 36-21C required for residential contractors (administered by SD Dept. of Labor and Regulation). Electrical and plumbing contractors must be state-licensed. Aberdeen may impose additional local qualification requirements; confirm with the Building Inspection Department.

Source: Building Inspection Department, Community Development Department ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Not publicly stated; contact 605-626-7017 for current estimate

  1. 01
    Review the Permit Requirements document to determine if your project requires a permit.
  2. 02
    Download or obtain the Building Permit Application form.
  3. 03
    Prepare required documents: completed application, site plan, construction drawings, and any other project-specific documents.
  4. 04
    Visit the Building Inspection office, 3rd Floor, City Hall, 123 South Lincoln Street, Aberdeen, SD 57401.
  5. 05
    Submit application and documents in person.
  6. 06
    Staff reviews for compliance with applicable building codes and zoning requirements.
  7. 07
    Pay the permit fee (do not write a check in advance -- fees are calculated at the counter and may vary slightly from published schedule).
  8. 08
    Receive issued permit; post on the project site.
  9. 09
    Schedule required inspections with the Building Inspection Department at 605-626-7017 as construction progresses.
  10. 10
    Final inspection conducted; certificate of occupancy issued upon approval.

Typical processing time: Not publicly stated; contact 605-626-7017 for current estimate

Source: Building Inspection Department, Community Development Department ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Effective 2026

Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
$35.00
02
Permit fee formula
Valuation-based sliding scale: $0-$500: $35.00 flat; $501-$2,000: $35.00 + $3.50 per $100; $2,001-$25,000: $87.50 + $12.41 per $1,000; $25,001-$50,000: $372.93 + $9.31 per $1,000; $50,001-$100,000: $605.68 + $6.47 per $1,000; $100,001-$500,000: $929.18 + $5.88 per $1,000; $500,001-$1,000,000: $3,281.18 + $5.54 per $1,000

Do not write checks prior to visiting City Hall; permit fees are calculated at the counter and may vary slightly from published schedule amounts. Payment made in person at 3rd Floor, City Hall.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective 2026) before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule
  • 605-626-7017 (phone)
Scheduling deadline
Not publicly stated; contact department
Inspection hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM CT
Time windows
Not publicly detailed; confirm specific inspection windows with the department

Typical sequence: Footing/foundation inspection; framing inspection; rough-in inspections for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical; insulation inspection; final inspection and issuance of certificate of occupancy. Specific sequence varies by project type; confirm with department.

Source: Building Inspection Department, Community Development Department ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Aberdeen permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Aberdeen, SD? ▸
A permit is required for new construction, additions, alterations, repairs to structural elements, changes of occupancy, and installation of mechanical, electrical, or plumbing systems. A permit is required for sheds larger than 200 square feet. Sheds under 200 sq ft still require submission of a site plan. Setbacks from property lines must be met for all structures.
02 How much does a building permit cost in Aberdeen, SD? ▸
Building permit fees in Aberdeen, SD are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $35.00. Fees are calculated as: Valuation-based sliding scale: $0-$500: $35.00 flat; $501-$2,000: $35.00 + $3.50 per $100; $2,001-$25,000: $87.50 + $12.41 per $1,000; $25,001-$50,000: $372.93 + $9.31 per $1,000; $50,001-$100,000: $605.68 + $6.47 per $1,000; $100,001-$500,000: $929.18 + $5.88 per $1,000; $500,001-$1,000,000: $3,281.18 + $5.54 per $1,000.
03 How do I apply for a building permit in Aberdeen, SD? ▸
To apply for a building permit in Aberdeen, SD, follow these steps: 1. Review the Permit Requirements document to determine if your project requires a permit. 2. Download or obtain the Building Permit Application form. 3. Prepare required documents: completed application, site plan, construction drawings, and any other project-specific documents. 4. Visit the Building Inspection office, 3rd Floor, City Hall, 123 South Lincoln Street, Aberdeen, SD 57401. 5. Submit application and documents in person. 6. Staff reviews for compliance with applicable building codes and zoning requirements. 7. Pay the permit fee (do not write a check in advance -- fees are calculated at the counter and may vary slightly from published schedule). 8. Receive issued permit; post on the project site. 9. Schedule required inspections with the Building Inspection Department at 605-626-7017 as construction progresses. 10. Final inspection conducted; certificate of occupancy issued upon approval.
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Aberdeen, SD? ▸
Building permit processing times in Aberdeen, SD typically run Not publicly stated; contact 605-626-7017 for current estimate. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in Aberdeen, SD? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in Aberdeen, SD. The following work is generally exempt: Sheds and accessory structures under 200 square feet (though a site plan is still required); Ordinary maintenance and repair that does not change the structural elements, occupancy, or systems of a structure; Painting, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting, cabinet and counter top installation, and similar finish work. Note: Full exempt work list should be confirmed with the Building Inspection Department at 605-626-7017 or reviewed in the Aberdeen Municipal Code. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Aberdeen, SD? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Aberdeen, SD via: 605-626-7017. Not publicly stated; contact department.
last verified April 2026 source Building Inspection Department, Community Development Department ↗ entry id permits/south-dakota/brown/aberdeen
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Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Building Inspection Department, Community Development Department before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

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