County Building Permits
Walworth County, SD - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Walworth County, South Dakota. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
All unincorporated areas within Walworth County. Excludes incorporated municipalities: Selby, Mobridge, Glenham, Java, Akaska, and Lowry, which have their own permit authorities.
- Department
- Walworth County Planning & Zoning Department
- Address
- PO Box 292, Selby, SD 57472-0292
- Phone
- (605) 649-7602
Online Permit Portal
Platform: In-person / Phone / Mail • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Contact Walworth County Planning & Zoning Department by phone (605-649-7602) or visit in person during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM / 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM).
- Submit completed building permit application form with required documentation.
- Submit site plans or property sketches showing proposed structure location.
- Provide property description and/or parcel number.
- Staff reviews application for compliance with Zoning Ordinance #2017-1 and local requirements.
- Pay applicable permit fee.
- Receive issued permit; post on site before construction begins.
- Request inspections as required by permit conditions.
Typical processing time: Not publicly stated; contact department for current estimate
General Requirements
A construction permit is required for any new structure or development project in unincorporated Walworth County areas.
Required Documents
- Completed building permit application form
- Site plans or property sketches showing proposed location
- Building plans or drawings (complexity depends on project scope)
- Property description and/or parcel number
- Owner and applicant contact information
- Permit validity
- Not publicly stated; contact department
- Building code
- South Dakota Codified Laws Chapter 11-10 requires compliance with the 2021 International Building Code (IBC). Walworth County does not maintain a publicly stated adopted building code edition; contact department for confirmation.
- Owner-builder
- Not publicly stated; contact department
- 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; contact Zoning Administrator for current fee schedule
- Payment note
- Contact department; payment likely made in person at PO Box 292, Selby, SD 57472-0292. Fee schedule not publicly posted; contact Planning & Zoning at (605) 649-7602 for current fees.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Walworth County Planning & Zoning Department to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- (605) 649-7602 (phone)
- Scheduling deadline
- Not publicly stated; contact department
- Inspection hours
- Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM / 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- Time windows
- Not publicly detailed; contact department
Typical inspection sequence: Not publicly detailed; contact department
Additional Resources
- Building code: South Dakota Codified Laws Chapter 11-10 requires compliance with the 2021 International Building Code (IBC). Walworth County does not maintain a publicly stated adopted building code edition; contact department for confirmation.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Zoning Ordinance #2017-1 PDF
- Walworth County Comprehensive Plan
- 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 Walworth County Planning & Zoning Department before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Walworth County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Walworth County, SD?
- A construction permit is required for any new structure or development project in unincorporated Walworth County areas.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Walworth County, SD?
- Fees are calculated as: Not publicly listed; contact Zoning Administrator for current fee schedule.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Walworth County, SD?
- 1. Contact Walworth County Planning & Zoning Department by phone (605-649-7602) or visit in person during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM / 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM). 2. Submit completed building permit application form with required documentation. 3. Submit site plans or property sketches showing proposed structure location. 4. Provide property description and/or parcel number. 5. Staff reviews application for compliance with Zoning Ordinance #2017-1 and local requirements. 6. Pay applicable permit fee. 7. Receive issued permit; post on site before construction begins. 8. Request inspections as required by permit conditions.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Walworth County, SD?
- Typical processing time is Not publicly stated; contact department for current estimate.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Walworth County, SD?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: (605) 649-7602. Not publicly stated; contact department.
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