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§ SD Fall River County
County building permits

Unincorporated Fall River County

How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Fall River County, South Dakota. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Last verified
April 2026
On this page 6
§ 01

Permit authority

Fall River County Planning & Zoning / Director of Equalization

Street address
906 N. River Street, Hot Springs, SD 57747
Phone
605-745-5136
Coverage
All unincorporated Fall River County land outside the incorporated cities of Hot Springs, Edgemont, and the Town of Oelrichs.
Online portal
Fall River County Planning & Zoning
Phone / In-person / GIS Department
Additional resources
§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Fall River County

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.

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
  • Exempt Routine agricultural work and normal farming operations may not require a county building permit
  • Exempt 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.

Required documents
  • Completed application form (if in flood plain)
  • Property description
  • Site plan or property identification
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.
Permit validity
Not publicly stated; contact department
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.

Source: Fall River County Planning & Zoning / Director of Equalization ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Not publicly stated; contact department for current estimate

  1. 01
    Contact the GIS Department (605-745-5136) to verify if your property is within a designated flood plain.
  2. 02
    If outside the flood plain, no county building permit is required.
  3. 03
    If within the flood plain, contact the Director of Equalization to obtain a building permit.
  4. 04
    Property owners must report changes to the Director of Equalization: new structures, additions, mobile home relocations, demolitions, or major damage requiring significant repair.
  5. 05
    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 ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Fall River County building permit fees

Fee type
Amount
01
Permit fee formula
Not publicly listed; contact Director of Equalization at 605-745-5136 for current fee schedule

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.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

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 sequence: Not publicly detailed; contact department

Source: Fall River County Planning & Zoning / Director of Equalization ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about unincorporated Fall River County permits

01 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.
02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Fall River County, SD? ▸
Building permit fees in unincorporated Fall River County, SD are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. Fees are calculated as: Not publicly listed; contact Director of Equalization at 605-745-5136 for current fee schedule.
03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Fall River County, SD? ▸
To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Fall River County, SD, follow these steps: 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.
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Fall River County, SD? ▸
Building permit processing times in unincorporated Fall River County, SD typically run Not publicly stated; contact department for current estimate. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Fall River County, SD? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit 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. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Fall River County, SD? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Fall River County, SD via: 605-745-5136. Not publicly stated; contact department.
last verified April 2026 source Fall River County Planning & Zoning / Director of Equalization ↗ entry id permits/south-dakota/fall-river/fall-river-county
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Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Fall River County Planning & Zoning / Director of Equalization before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

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