Dakota County, Minnesota Building Permit Guide

Building permits in Dakota County are issued by the city or township, and all of them have land use and zoning authority. The county’s list includes Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Farmington, Hastings, Inver Grove Heights, Lakeville, Rosemount, South St. Paul and West St. Paul, and townships such as Castle Rock, Douglas, Eureka, Greenvale, Hampton, Marshan, Nininger, Randolph, Ravenna, Sciota, Vermillion and Waterford. By the Census Bureau’s latest estimates the largest cities are Lakeville (79270), Eagan (67109), Burnsville (65244) and Apple Valley (55248).

This guide covers the building offices of the four largest cities and the county’s own water, septic and highway permits.

What requires a building permit in Dakota County?

The Minnesota State Building Code applies statewide and supersedes local building codes, but Dakota County does not enforce it: each city or township does. What changes from place to place is the office, how it takes applications and what it adds locally.

Two local examples: in Eagan, retaining walls 4 feet and taller require a building permit; Lakeville issues separate zoning permits for fences, sheds and above-ground pools.

Residential building contractors, remodelers and roofers, electricians and plumbers are licensed by the state Department of Labor and Industry, so the same credential is valid in Dakota County as anywhere in Minnesota. Building without a required permit exposes a job to stop-work orders, penalties and delayed occupancy, and unlicensed residential contracting is a separate violation enforced by the state. How Minnesota’s statewide code works

Who handles permitting in Dakota County?

The city or township issues the building permit. The county adds its own permits on top:

• Shoreland and floodplain: County Ordinance 50 requires a county permit for construction, grading, filling or vegetation removal near public waters and in FEMA floodplain. In townships, call Water Resources at 952-891-7000 to see if the property falls under it; floodplain determinations: 952-891-7024.
• Septic: the county regulates septic systems in the cities of Hastings, Randolph and New Trier, in Randolph and Waterford townships, and in shoreland/floodplain or unincorporated areas (Ordinance 113); elsewhere the city or township is the septic authority. Environmental Resources: 952-891-7557.
• Wells: the county regulates well construction and sealing; applications are normally filed by a licensed well contractor (952-891-7000, wellpermits@co.dakota.mn.us).
• County ditches: connecting to, placing utilities in, or dewatering to a county ditch needs a Public Drainage Systems Permit, approved before work starts.

Local rules in the largest Dakota County cities

Lakeville

All permits are applied for in the city’s BS&A online system, where contractors register the first time. The city issues its own septic permits and posts a 2026 fee schedule.

Eagan

Permit applications are only accepted in the online permitting portal, and permits must be paid before any work begins or inspections are scheduled. Signs go to the Zoning Specialist at 651-675-5690.

Burnsville

Licensed contractors and owner-occupant homeowners can apply online for residential projects, and permit history is on the city’s Public Portal.

Apple Valley

The Building Inspections Division of Public Works issues building, mechanical, plumbing, demolition, septic and manufactured housing permits. Applications go through ePermits and plans through ProjectDox.

Electrical permits in Dakota County

Eagan’s electrical permits are issued through the State of Minnesota, and the State Electrical Inspector (612-997-3547) schedules electrical inspections. Burnsville issues its own electrical permits, to licensed electricians or owner-occupants, under its own electrical fee schedule. Apple Valley schedules electrical inspections at (507) 381-1791.

Whether an electrical permit goes to the state Department of Labor and Industry or to the city depends on the area: if the state’s Authority Having Jurisdiction directory lists “State”, file with the state; if it lists “Local”, contact the city or township.

Electrical and plumbing work must be done by state-licensed trades, though an individual may do electrical work on a home they own and occupy if it has its own electrical service. Whether the electrical permit comes from the state or the local office depends on whether that city or township has taken on electrical inspection. Electrical and plumbing rules in Minnesota

Dakota County permit costs and fees

Building permit fees are set by each city: Lakeville publishes a 2026 fee schedule and Burnsville a separate electrical fee schedule. In Eagan the permit must be paid before work or inspections.

How to get a building permit in Dakota County

A Minnesota municipality may require exterior work under a building permit to be finished within a set period, but not sooner than 180 days after the permit is issued, so confirm whether Dakota County has adopted such a rule. Minnesota’s statewide code rules

Inspections in Dakota County

Lakeville inspects replacement furnaces, air conditioners, water heaters and water softeners from photos emailed to lakevilleinspections@lakevillemn.gov with the permit number and address; re-roofing and re-siding photos go to roofingsidingphotos@lakevillemn.gov, followed by an anytime onsite final. Eagan books inspections in 30-minute increments at 651-675-5675 or online. Burnsville schedules inspections between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 952-895-4444. Apple Valley schedules at (952) 953-2588.

On public buildings, state-licensed facilities and school district and charter school projects, plumbing permits and inspections generally run through the state Department of Labor and Industry rather than the local office. State plumbing review in Minnesota

Official Dakota County permitting resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Dakota County building and zoning permits
• Dakota County septic systems
• Dakota County well permits
• Dakota County highway permits
• Lakeville Building Inspections
• Eagan Building Inspections
• Burnsville permits and licenses
• Apple Valley Building Inspections
• Minnesota DLI electrical permits for homeowners

Frequently asked questions

Does Dakota County issue building permits?

No. Building permits are issued by the city or township, all of which have land use and zoning authority.

Who issues septic permits in Dakota County?

The county in Hastings, Randolph, New Trier, Randolph and Waterford townships and in shoreland/floodplain or unincorporated areas; elsewhere the city or township.

Can Lakeville inspect a furnace replacement from photos?

Yes. Replacement furnace, air conditioner, water heater and water softener installations can be inspected from photos emailed to lakevilleinspections@lakevillemn.gov.

Simplify Dakota County permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Confirm which city or township issues the permit and whether electrical goes to the State or the city
• Line up the county highway, right-of-way, septic or well permits the site needs alongside the city permit
• File in each city’s own portal and book inspections the way that office takes them

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Minnesota. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Dakota County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.