Outside Watertown and the towns, building permits come from the Codington County Zoning Office at the Extension Complex, 1910 West Kemp Avenue, Entrance B (605-882-6300). Bring the signed application, a site sketch and a check or cash; the fee is based on the construction value, and a complete application is usually approved in 4–5 business days.
When does Codington County require a permit?
A county building permit is needed before excavating for construction and before any building in the unincorporated county is built, moved, added to or structurally altered. The county’s administrative rules also call for a permit for filling, grading, lagooning or dredging to prepare a site.
Permit types on the application
- New structures, including houses and farm buildings
- Alterations and additions
- Accessory buildings
- Excavation
- Moving a building or manufactured home
- Demolition
Separate county approvals
- Variances and conditional use permits (Board of Adjustment)
- Rezonings and plats (Planning Commission and County Commission)
- E-911 rural address sign
The county’s published permit list shows the range of work it permits, from houses and move-in homes to grain bins, calving barns, pole sheds, decks, fences and egress windows.
Who issues building permits in Codington County?
The Planning and Zoning Department, with Zoning Officer Luke Muller, reviews plans, issues permits and enforces the zoning ordinance. It serves the County Commission, the Planning Commission and the Board of Adjustment, which hears conditional uses, variances and appeals of the Zoning Officer’s decisions.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Codington County Extension Complex, Entrance B, 1910 West Kemp Avenue, Watertown, SD 57201 |
| Phone | 605-882-6300 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Payment | Check or cash only; no cards, and no applications by email |
Cities and towns
| Area | Building permits |
|---|---|
| Watertown | City of Watertown Building Services, 20 N. Maple, 605-882-6201, through the City’s OpenGov portal |
| Joint jurisdiction area around Watertown | County building permit; the application is marked as joint jurisdiction and reviewed by the City of Watertown when required |
| Henry | Town’s Administrative Official, after the Town Board recommends approval, under Henry’s 2014 zoning ordinance |
| Florence, Kranzburg, South Shore and Wallace | The county ordinance applies outside incorporated towns; ask the town office before building inside town limits |
| All other unincorporated land | Codington County Zoning Office |
Applications and forms
Pick up applications at the Extension Complex or download them from the Zoning Office page. The landowner or the landowner’s agent must return the original, signed application to the Extension Complex with payment.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →- Building Permit Application: owner and applicant, legal description and street address, type of work, building size and height, foundation, roof, siding, heating, basement, and the estimated construction cost including labor.
- Moving Form: moving in a building or manufactured home needs the signatures of 66% of adjoining landowners and 50% of landowners within 200 feet, unless it is a new building being placed for first occupancy.
- Variance Application, Conditional Use Permit Application and Petition for Rezoning: file with the fee by noon on the first Monday of the month to be heard at the next meeting.
- Rural Addressing Sign Order Form for the E-911 sign required with a new home.
Codington County permit fees
The building permit fee is based on the value of construction, including materials and labor, under a fee schedule the County Commission sets by resolution and posts in the Zoning Office; the application’s estimated construction cost, including labor, is the basis for the fee. Pay by check or cash in the exact amount.
Starting construction without a permit can bring an administrative fee of up to 200% of the permit fee, and civil or criminal proceedings.
Electrical, plumbing and septic
Electrical permits and inspections come from the South Dakota Electrical Commission and plumbing permits from the South Dakota Plumbing Commission. The county application asks for the name of the private sewage system installer, and the applicant agrees to follow state rules for building and for installing the sewage disposal system.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →What to submit
- The signed original application with the estimated construction cost.
- A sketch showing north, the proposed building’s dimensions and location, street names, existing buildings and the front and side yard setbacks.
- For a house in the agricultural district, proof the site has at least 35 acres; for commercial or industrial building, at least 10 acres; in the Lake Park District, 2 acres.
- A signed, notarized agricultural or CAFO easement for residential development where required.
- Moved-in buildings: the neighbor signatures on the Moving Form.
- The septic installer’s name and the E-911 sign purchase.
How to get a Codington County building permit
Watertown and Henry issue their own permits; near Watertown, check whether the land is in the joint jurisdiction area.
A house in the agricultural district needs 35 acres; anything that does not conform needs a variance, conditional use or rezoning first.
File board applications by noon on the first Monday of the month; Planning Commission notices run in The Watertown Current 10–12 days ahead.
Sign the original, attach the sketch, easements and installer name, and list the construction value.
Bring it to Entrance B of the Extension Complex with a check or cash; email is not accepted.
Display it where it can be seen from the road and make substantial progress within 6 months.
Rather not deal with the Codington County building department?
Get a free quote →Time limits and enforcement
The application says a permit becomes void unless substantial progress is made within 6 months of issue, and if the work will run past one year the owner must explain the delay to the Board of Adjustment and ask for an extension. The Zoning Officer can inspect buildings and land to confirm the zoning rules are met. Electrical and plumbing inspections are done by the state commissions.
Local Codington County details
Watertown joint area: the City of Watertown and the county hold joint planning commission and joint Board of Adjustment hearings for the area around the city, and county permits there carry a City review.
Moved-in homes: the neighbor-signature rule (66% of adjoining owners, 50% within 200 feet) applies to any building or manufactured home moved onto a site, except one built elsewhere for its first occupancy.
Permit records: the Zoning Office publishes a running list of every building permit issued, updated in October 2026.
South Dakota building code
South Dakota has no state-enforced building code: each city or county decides whether to adopt one. The state Electrical and Plumbing Commissions permit and inspect those trades, except in a few cities that run their own inspections. South Dakota rules
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Official Codington County permitting resources
- Codington County Zoning Office (contacts, forms and meeting schedule)
- Codington County building permit FAQ
- Codington County Building Permit Application
- Codington County Moving Form (Section 5.06 signatures)
- Codington County building permit list (October 2026)
- Codington County 2026 planning meeting schedule
- City of Watertown Building Services
- Town of Henry zoning ordinance
- South Dakota Plumbing Commission
- South Dakota Electrical Commission
Codington County permit FAQs
Who issues building permits in rural Codington County?
The Codington County Zoning Office at the Extension Complex, 1910 West Kemp Avenue, Entrance B, Watertown (605-882-6300).
Does Codington County issue permits inside Watertown?
No. Inside the city, permits come from the City of Watertown Building Services. In the joint jurisdiction area around the city, the county issues the permit and the City reviews it when required.
How much is a county building permit?
The fee is based on the construction value, including materials and labor, from the county’s fee schedule; pay by check or cash.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How long does it take?
A complete application that meets the zoning ordinance is generally issued within 4–5 business days.
How much land do I need to build a house?
35 acres in the agricultural district and 2 acres in the Lake Park District; commercial and industrial sites need 10 acres.
Can I email my application?
No. The original signed application must be returned to the Extension Complex with payment.
What if I start building without a permit?
The county may charge an administrative fee of up to 200% of the permit fee and may take civil or criminal action.
Simplify Codington County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in South Dakota. 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.
Ready to break ground in Codington County sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Codington County permits while your crew stays on the job.
More South Dakota permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Codington County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.