County Building Permits
McPherson County, SD - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated McPherson County, South Dakota. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
All unincorporated McPherson County land, including Long Lake, Wetonka, and Hillsview. Does not cover the City of Leola or City of Eureka (which have their own permit processing).
- Department
- McPherson County Equalization Office
- Address
- 1st floor, McPherson County Courthouse, P.O. Box 50, Leola, SD 57456
- Phone
- 605-439-3663
Online Permit Portal
Platform: In-person / Phone / Email • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Contact the McPherson County Equalization Office by phone (605-439-3663), email (mcphersondoe@valleytel.net), or in-person at 1st floor, McPherson County Courthouse, Leola.
- Discuss the proposed project with the Director of Equalization to determine if a construction permit is required based on improvement value threshold ($3,000+).
- Obtain and complete the applicable permit application form.
- Submit application with required documents and site plan.
- Staff reviews application for compliance with McPherson County Zoning Ordinance #2024-1.
- Pay applicable permit fee (contact office for current fee schedule).
- Receive issued permit; post on site before construction begins.
- Request inspections as required.
Typical processing time: Not publicly stated; contact office for current estimate
General Requirements
A building permit is required for any improvements to structures/buildings where the market value of improvements exceeds $3,000 in unincorporated McPherson County, Long Lake, Wetonka, and Hillsview. This threshold is established in McPherson County Zoning Ordinance #2024-1.
Required Documents
- Completed permit application form
- Site plan showing property lines and proposed structure location
- Property description
- Project scope and estimated improvement value
- Permit validity
- Not publicly stated; contact office
- Building code
- South Dakota Codified Laws Chapter 11-10 requires compliance with the 2021 edition of the International Building Code (IBC). If McPherson County has not adopted specific standards, the 2021 IBC applies by default.
- Owner-builder
- Not publicly stated; contact office
- 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
- Permit fee formula
- Not publicly listed; fees are adopted via county resolution
- Penalty (no permit)
- Applicable according to county ordinance per Resolution 23-2 (adopted January 3, 2023) for permits obtained without authorization
- Payment note
- Contact McPherson County Equalization Office at 605-439-3663 for current fee schedules. Payment methods not publicly listed; likely paid in-person or by phone.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the McPherson County Equalization Office to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- 605-439-3663 (phone)
- mcphersondoe@valleytel.net (email)
- Scheduling deadline
- Not publicly stated; contact office
- Inspection hours
- Not publicly stated; contact office for business hours
- Time windows
- Not publicly detailed; contact office
Typical inspection sequence: Not publicly detailed; contact office
Additional Resources
- Building code: South Dakota Codified Laws Chapter 11-10 requires compliance with the 2021 edition of the International Building Code (IBC). If McPherson County has not adopted specific standards, the 2021 IBC applies by default.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- McPherson County Ordinances
- McPherson County Official Website
- 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 McPherson County Equalization Office before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
McPherson County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated McPherson County, SD?
- A building permit is required for any improvements to structures/buildings where the market value of improvements exceeds $3,000 in unincorporated McPherson County, Long Lake, Wetonka, and Hillsview. This threshold is established in McPherson County Zoning Ordinance #2024-1.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated McPherson County, SD?
- Fees are calculated as: Not publicly listed; fees are adopted via county resolution.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated McPherson County, SD?
- 1. Contact the McPherson County Equalization Office by phone (605-439-3663), email (mcphersondoe@valleytel.net), or in-person at 1st floor, McPherson County Courthouse, Leola. 2. Discuss the proposed project with the Director of Equalization to determine if a construction permit is required based on improvement value threshold ($3,000+). 3. Obtain and complete the applicable permit application form. 4. Submit application with required documents and site plan. 5. Staff reviews application for compliance with McPherson County Zoning Ordinance #2024-1. 6. Pay applicable permit fee (contact office for current fee schedule). 7. Receive issued permit; post on site before construction begins. 8. Request inspections as required.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated McPherson County, SD?
- Typical processing time is Not publicly stated; contact office for current estimate.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated McPherson County, SD?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: 605-439-3663, mcphersondoe@valleytel.net. Not publicly stated; contact office.
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