Planning & Zoning

Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00pm.

New construction, additions, remodeling and certain types of structural repair require a building permit. A building permit authorizes a specific use and the proper location of structures on the property. On-site inspections are performed during various phases of construction to ensure that structures conform to the building code.

It is recommended that the building permit be obtained by the individual who is actually performing the work. The property owner should make sure that a building permit has been issued before the construction work starts.

The county building inspector can be reached at 605-360-8507. Footing, framing, and final inspections are required by the County. Electrical inspections are done by a state inspector who can be reached at 605-201-0520 or 605-251-5454. Plumbing inspections are done by a state inspector who can be reached at 605-773-3429.

Since this office only has jurisdiction in the unincorporated area, city residents should contact city hall or the municipal building about zoning and building questions. Sioux Falls residents should call 367-8254 for further information.

This is strongly recommended so you know what uses are allowed and whether they are in line with your intended use of the property. If the purchase involves an existing business, you should check to see if it conforms to current zoning and building code requirements. Also, any change in the existing use may be subject to additional requirements.

The zoning ordinance regulates the number of houses which can be built on agriculturally zoned property. You should contact this office to check on the residential building eligibility for a particular property.

The address or legal description is generally the most useful in identifying a property. If this information is not known, note the street where the property is located and the distance to the nearest cross street.

Some home based businesses are considered home occupations and may be allowed to operate in conjunction with a residence. A copy of the standards regulating home occupations may be obtained by contacting the Planning Department.

The zoning on your property depends on your location. The vast majority of the unincorporated land area within the county is zoned Agricultural (A-1). We do have other zoning categories, however. To find out your zoning, we can help you in a few different ways:

• Visit our office in the Courthouse Administration Building at 415 N. Dakota Ave., Sioux Falls. We are on the 3rd floor at the north end of the building.
• Phone us at 605-367-4204. With your address and/or legal description, we can tell you your zoning over the phone.

You may request a change in the zoning classification of your property by completing a rezoning application which is available in this office. A rezoning requires public hearings by the Planning Commission and County Commission. Such requests are evaluated according to the County's comprehensive plan.

Minnehaha County has a mapping web site that displays county highways, zoning districts, property boundaries, aerial photographs and more. The website is located here: Minnehaha County GIS Data Portal.

Citizens can call the office if they are concerned about the use or appearance of a particular property. The caller should provide the property address and nature of the complaint. If an investigation determines that a violation has occurred, contact is made with the responsible party to correct the problem. While some activities can certainly be annoying, this does not necessarily mean that a violation has occurred. The rural area is home to many different uses and the regulations have been written to accommodate the various activities.