County Building Permits
Grant County, SD - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Grant County, South Dakota. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
All unincorporated Grant County land. Does not include incorporated cities and towns: Big Stone City, Twin Brooks, Revillo, LaBolt, Strandburg, Stockholm, Marvin, and Troy.
- Department
- Grant County Planning & Zoning Office
- Address
- 210 E 5th Avenue, Milbank, SD 57252
- Phone
- 605-432-7580
Online Permit Portal
Platform: ArcGIS Hub / In-person / Phone • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Contact Grant County Planning & Zoning Office by phone (605-432-7580) or visit in person at 210 E 5th Avenue, Milbank, SD 57252.
- Pick up a Building Permit Application form (available daily at the Planning & Zoning Office).
- Prepare a site plan drawing showing property lines and proposed structure location (mandatory per ArcGIS portal requirements).
- For new construction projects, prepare a property sketch.
- Submit the completed application with all required documentation to the Planning & Zoning Office.
- Staff reviews application for compliance with Grant County Planning and Zoning Ordinance and Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
- Building permits are approved by the Planning & Zoning Officer after review.
- Permits are mailed to applicants upon approval.
- Post permit on site before construction begins; conduct final inspection before occupancy.
Typical processing time: Not publicly stated; contact department for current estimate
General Requirements
A construction permit is required for: new residential structures (homes, stick-built, modular, or manufactured); garages and sheds larger than 79 square feet (including structures on skids); building additions; decks; building demolition; moving an existing structure onto the premises.
Required Documents
- Building Permit Application form
- Site plan drawing showing property lines and proposed structure location
- Property sketch (for new construction projects)
- Permit validity
- Applications must be submitted at least 2 months prior to construction or moving a structure onto the premises.
- Building code
- Grant County adopts and enforces the 2021 International Building Code (IBC) as its standard for new construction.
- Owner-builder
- Farm residence properties are subject to permit requirements for new structures despite tax-exempt status.
- Contractor requirements
- State registration under SDCL Chapter 36-21C (administered by SD Department of Labor and Regulation) is required for residential contractors. Electrical and plumbing work requires a state-licensed contractor regardless of project size.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $15.00
- Permit fee formula
- Building Permit Application Fee: $15.00. Additional fees for Conditional Use Permits and Variance Permits may apply.
- Payment note
- Contact Planning & Zoning Office for complete fee schedule. Payment made in person at 210 E 5th Avenue, Milbank, SD 57252.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Interior remodeling work performed entirely inside existing structures
Important: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and planning requirements. Farm residence properties still require permits for new structures. Confirm with Planning & Zoning Office for any edge cases.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- 605-432-7580 (phone)
- Scheduling deadline
- Not publicly stated; contact department
- Inspection hours
- 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday-Friday (Central Time)
- Time windows
- Not publicly detailed; contact department
Typical inspection sequence: Building inspections are conducted to ensure compliance with approved site plans and zoning ordinances. Final inspection is required before occupancy of new structures.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Grant County adopts and enforces the 2021 International Building Code (IBC) as its standard for new construction.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Grant County Planning and Zoning Ordinances
- Grant County Building Permit Applications (ArcGIS Hub)
- South Dakota Building Codes (UpCodes)
- 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 Grant County Planning & Zoning Office before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Grant County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Grant County, SD?
- A construction permit is required for: new residential structures (homes, stick-built, modular, or manufactured); garages and sheds larger than 79 square feet (including structures on skids); building additions; decks; building demolition; moving an existing structure onto the premises.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Grant County, SD?
- The minimum permit fee is $15.00. Fees are calculated as: Building Permit Application Fee: $15.00. Additional fees for Conditional Use Permits and Variance Permits may apply..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Grant County, SD?
- 1. Contact Grant County Planning & Zoning Office by phone (605-432-7580) or visit in person at 210 E 5th Avenue, Milbank, SD 57252. 2. Pick up a Building Permit Application form (available daily at the Planning & Zoning Office). 3. Prepare a site plan drawing showing property lines and proposed structure location (mandatory per ArcGIS portal requirements). 4. For new construction projects, prepare a property sketch. 5. Submit the completed application with all required documentation to the Planning & Zoning Office. 6. Staff reviews application for compliance with Grant County Planning and Zoning Ordinance and Comprehensive Land Use Plan. 7. Building permits are approved by the Planning & Zoning Officer after review. 8. Permits are mailed to applicants upon approval. 9. Post permit on site before construction begins; conduct final inspection before occupancy.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Grant County, SD?
- Typical processing time is Not publicly stated; contact department for current estimate.
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Grant County, SD?
- The following work is generally exempt: Interior remodeling work performed entirely inside existing structures. Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and planning requirements. Farm residence properties still require permits for new structures. Confirm with Planning & Zoning Office for any edge cases.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Grant County, SD?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: 605-432-7580. Not publicly stated; contact department.
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