Mitchell, South Dakota Building Permit Guide

Building permits in Mitchell come from the City’s Building Inspection office at Public Works, 612 N Main (605-995-8433), which also covers the extraterritorial area about 1 mile outside the city limits. Apply on the City’s paper permit form with a plot plan and building plan; the City’s code adopts the 2012 International Building and Residential Codes, and Mitchell also licenses plumbers itself.

When does Mitchell require a building permit?

The City’s permit form covers erecting, altering, repairing, changing the use of or demolishing a building or structure. Building Inspection gives these examples of work that needs a permit:

Fences may not use metal guards or barbed wire without City Council approval, and a new or expanding business within 33 feet of existing homes must put up a 6- to 8-foot privacy fence.

Who handles permits in Mitchell?

Building Inspection, part of Public Works, issues building, plumbing and moving permits and inspects the work; John Hegg is the Building Inspector. Planning and Zoning, led by City Planner Mark Jenniges, handles variances, conditional uses, rezonings, sign permits, plats and development in the city and its extraterritorial area.

The City’s zoning title applies inside the city limits and in the extraterritorial area agreed with Davison County, listed by section in Mitchell and Perry townships. Davison County says building permits, conditional uses and variances there are handled by the City; the rest of the rural county is permitted by Davison County Planning & Zoning.

Mitchell forms and applications

• Building Permit Application (permit to erect, alter, repair, change the use of or demolish): location, cost, contractors and architect, zoning district, occupancy group, type of construction, and whether a sewer or water tap, sidewalk or curb cut is needed. A change of use needs sign-off from the zoning official, fire marshal and Building Official.
• Application for Rezone, Variance or Conditional Use: owners within 140 feet are notified, and hearings go to the Planning Commission and the City Council or Board of Adjustment.
• Home Occupation Certificate and small cell facility (SCF) permit forms.
• Moving permit: a written application to the Building Official with the route, approved by the Director of Public Works, plus a deposit or bond. Moving a building that is not new construction needs a City Council hearing after a sign is posted on the property for 5 days.
• Plumbers License Application to the Mitchell Plumbing Board.

Mitchell permit fees

Building, plumbing and moving permit fees are set by City Council resolution, and the complete fee list is kept at the City Finance Office (Resolution R2024-77, adopted November 18, 2024). The permit form records the project cost, the permit fee and any tap fee. Zoning fees must be paid to the finance officer before an application is filed. Resolution R2023-82 (adopted November 20, 2023, in effect since January 1, 2024) sets the zoning fees below; the conditional use fee comes from the City’s application form.

Plumbing, electrical and mechanical work

Mitchell’s code still requires a City plumbing permit from the Building Official before plumbing or house-drainage work starts, issued only to a licensed master plumber or to an owner doing the work on his own home. Plumbers working in the city are licensed by the Mitchell Plumbing Board, and master plumbers file a $2,000 bond. The City says plumbing and electrical work follow the state codes. The South Dakota Plumbing Commission does not list Mitchell among the cities that do their own plumbing inspections, and electrical permits and inspections come from the South Dakota Electrical Commission.

The permit form names the HVAC, electrical, plumbing and concrete contractors for each job.

What to submit

• A plot plan showing where the building or addition sits on the lot; setbacks are measured from the roof overhang to the property line.
• A building plan with wall, roof and footing details.
• The project cost and the names of the contractors and any architect.
• For plumbing, the fixtures to be installed and, when the Building Official asks, plans of the whole system.

The City has no surveyor on staff, so property lines and pins must be located by a licensed surveyor.

How to get a Mitchell building permit

Inspections

Call Building Inspection at 605-995-8433 when work is ready. For plumbing, the code says the Building Official inspects within 2 working days of notice, the water, waste and vent piping is tested in the inspector’s presence, and a certificate of final approval is attached when the work passes. Lawn sprinkler piping may not be covered until it is approved.

The City publishes monthly and yearly building permit reports.

Local Mitchell details

Codes: the City’s code adopts the 2012 International Building Code, the 2012 International Residential Code (Ordinance 2505, December 2014) and the 2012 International Existing Building Code as an alternative path for existing and historic buildings.

Site work: the permit form checks whether a sidewalk, curb breakout or driveway is required, and the City Engineer and Parks and Recreation sign off where parking, landscaping or public right-of-way is involved.

Rural plats: a plat within 3 miles of Mitchell needs the Mitchell Planning Commission’s approval as well as the county’s.

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

Official Mitchell permit resources

• City of Mitchell Building Inspection
• Building Inspection FAQs (when a permit is required)
• Mitchell Building Permit Application
• City of Mitchell Planning and Zoning
• Application for rezone, variance or conditional use
• Mitchell Plumbing Board licence application
• Mitchell City Code 9-2, building codes adopted
• Mitchell City Code 9-3, plumbing regulations
• Mitchell zoning map
• Mitchell monthly building reports
• Mitchell City Council agendas, packets and minutes (fee resolutions R2023-82 and R2024-77)
• South Dakota Plumbing Commission
• South Dakota Electrical Commission

Mitchell permit FAQs

Who issues building permits in Mitchell?

The City’s Building Inspection office in Public Works, 612 N Main, 605-995-8433. It also covers the extraterritorial area about 1 mile outside the city limits.

Do I need a permit for a fence, deck or shed in Mitchell?

A new fence over 6 feet, a new deck and a garden shed over 200 sq ft all need a permit. Smaller projects may be exempted by the Building Official.

Which building code does Mitchell use?

The City code adopts the 2012 International Building, Residential and Existing Building Codes. Plumbing and electrical work follow the state codes.

How much does a variance or rezoning cost?

Under Resolution R2023-82, a variance is $150, a rezoning $250, a plat $100 and a sign permit $100; a conditional use application is $150.

Does Mitchell license plumbers?

Yes. The Mitchell Plumbing Board issues contractor ($50), journeyman ($20) and apprentice ($10) licences, renewed every calendar year.

Can I do my own plumbing?

The City code lets an owner install plumbing in the home he occupies, under a permit issued to him for that property.

Simplify Mitchell 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.

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