County Building Permits
Fall River County, SD - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Fall River County, South Dakota. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
All unincorporated Fall River County land outside the incorporated cities of Hot Springs, Edgemont, and the Town of Oelrichs.
- Department
- Fall River County Planning & Zoning / Director of Equalization
- Address
- 906 N. River Street, Hot Springs, SD 57747
- Phone
- 605-745-5136
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Phone / In-person / GIS Department • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Contact the GIS Department (605-745-5136) to verify if your property is within a designated flood plain.
- If outside the flood plain, no county building permit is required.
- If within the flood plain, contact the Director of Equalization to obtain a building permit.
- Property owners must report changes to the Director of Equalization: new structures, additions, mobile home relocations, demolitions, or major damage requiring significant repair.
- Obtain required state-level electrical and plumbing permits from the South Dakota Electrical Commission and South Dakota Plumbing Commission.
Typical processing time: Not publicly stated; contact department for current estimate
Source: Fall River County Planning & Zoning / Director of Equalization
General Requirements
A building permit is required ONLY if your building lies within a designated flood plain. For structures outside flood-prone areas, no county building permit is mandated. All property owners must report changes (new structures, additions, mobile home relocations, demolitions, major damage) to the Director of Equalization for assessment records. State permits for electrical and plumbing work are required regardless of county permit status.
Required Documents
- Completed application form (if in flood plain)
- Property description
- Site plan or property identification
- Permit validity
- Not publicly stated; contact department
- Building code
- South Dakota does not enforce a single uniform building code statewide. Unincorporated Fall River County relies on state-level electrical and plumbing code standards. Individual municipalities may adopt different code versions. Verify requirements with the county.
- Owner-builder
- Not publicly stated; contact department
- Contractor requirements
- State registration under SDCL Chapter 36-21C is required for residential contractors. Electrical and plumbing work requires a state-licensed contractor regardless of project size. State-level compliance required.
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- Not publicly listed; contact Director of Equalization at 605-745-5136 for current fee schedule
- Payment note
- Contact department; payment likely made in person at 906 N. River Street, Hot Springs, SD 57747. Fee schedule not publicly posted on the county website.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Fall River County Planning & Zoning / Director of Equalization to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- 605-745-5136 (phone)
- Scheduling deadline
- Not publicly stated; contact department
- Inspection hours
- Not publicly stated; contact department
- Time windows
- Not publicly detailed; contact department
Typical inspection sequence: Not publicly detailed; contact department
Additional Resources
- Building code: South Dakota does not enforce a single uniform building code statewide. Unincorporated Fall River County relies on state-level electrical and plumbing code standards. Individual municipalities may adopt different code versions. Verify requirements with the county.
- Fall River County GIS Maps & Land-Building Codes
- Fall River County Contact Information
- 9-1-1 Addressing Requirements
- License lookup guide: South Dakota Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: South Dakota Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- South Dakota hub: South Dakota Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Fall River County Planning & Zoning / Director of Equalization before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Fall River County, SD?
- A building permit is required ONLY if your building lies within a designated flood plain. For structures outside flood-prone areas, no county building permit is mandated. All property owners must report changes (new structures, additions, mobile home relocations, demolitions, major damage) to the Director of Equalization for assessment records. State permits for electrical and plumbing work are required regardless of county permit status.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Fall River County, SD?
- Fees are calculated as: Not publicly listed; contact Director of Equalization at 605-745-5136 for current fee schedule.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Fall River County, SD?
- 1. Contact the GIS Department (605-745-5136) to verify if your property is within a designated flood plain. 2. If outside the flood plain, no county building permit is required. 3. If within the flood plain, contact the Director of Equalization to obtain a building permit. 4. Property owners must report changes to the Director of Equalization: new structures, additions, mobile home relocations, demolitions, or major damage requiring significant repair. 5. Obtain required state-level electrical and plumbing permits from the South Dakota Electrical Commission and South Dakota Plumbing Commission.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Fall River County, SD?
- Typical processing time is Not publicly stated; contact department for current estimate.
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Fall River County, SD?
- The following work is generally exempt: Routine agricultural work and normal farming operations may not require a county building permit; Minor repairs that do not change the use or footprint of a structure may be exempt. Note: Specific exempt categories are not publicly enumerated. The department advises contacting them directly (605-745-5136) to determine whether a project requires a permit, especially for flood plain properties.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Fall River County, SD?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: 605-745-5136. Not publicly stated; contact department.
Need help with your project?
Navigating permits in Fall River County (Unincorporated) can be complicated.
Jaspector connects you with local experts who can review your scope, verify your contractor, and help you understand what permits your project actually needs.
Learn how Jaspector works