Inside Vermillion city limits, building permits are issued by the City’s Code Enforcement Department (Building Official, 605-677-7088) and applied for, paid and scheduled in GovWell. Under the 2026 Comprehensive Fee Schedule, a project valued at $80,000 pays a $422 building permit fee, and a window, roofing or siding permit costs $30.
What needs a building permit in Vermillion?
The City requires a permit for:
Permit needed
- All new construction, including accessory buildings and structures
- Additions and remodels involving structural changes
- Changes of use or occupancy
- Replacement windows
- Re-roofing or re-siding when more than 50% of a roof or wall surface is replaced or repaired within 5 years
- Decks larger than 200 sq ft or more than 30 inches above grade
- Fences and snow fences
- Razing (demolition), moving a structure and placing a mobile home
- Signs and dumpsters
No permit
- One-story detached sheds, playhouses and similar accessory buildings up to 120 sq ft with walls no higher than 10 ft
- Replacing glass only, in a non-hazardous location
- Roofing or siding repairs below the 50% threshold
- Decks up to 200 sq ft and no more than 30 inches above grade
- Retaining walls up to 4 ft high
- Painting, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work
- Sidewalks and driveways (a driveway permit from the City Engineer is still required)
City Code sections 150.02 and 150.03 say all window replacement requires a permit. State law (SDCL 11-10-15, 2026) now bars a city from requiring one to repair or replace, with substantially similar parts, the same-size doors and windows, downspouts, fascia, fence panels or posts, gutters, nonstructural siding or soffits of an owner-occupied detached single-family house.
Who issues building permits in Vermillion?
The Code Enforcement Department checks new and remodeled homes and commercial buildings against the adopted codes through plan review and site inspections, and also enforces the sign rules in Chapter 152. Alex Goodburn is the City’s Building Official.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Building Official | 605-677-7088 |
| City Hall | 25 Center Street, Vermillion, SD 57069; 605-677-7050; info@cityofvermillion.com |
| Online filing | GovWell (register for an account first) |
| Rental housing inspector | 605-677-7090 |
| Plumbing and electrical | South Dakota Plumbing Commission and South Dakota Electrical Commission |
| Joint zoning area outside the city | Clay County Zoning Administrator, 605-677-7145 |
Vermillion permits in GovWell
The City uses GovWell for all building, razing, sign, structure moving and mobile home placement permits, and for rental registration. Register in GovWell, choose the permit, upload the documents and pay there; the portal also handles inspection requests at any hour, while City staff remain the contact for questions.
Residential
- Residential new construction
- Residential addition
- Residential remodel
- Deck
- Fence and snow fence
- Roofing, siding and window permits
- Mobile home placement
Commercial and other
- Commercial new construction, addition and remodel
- Change of use or occupancy
- Sign permit
- Dumpster permit
- Razing permit
- Structure moving permit
Vermillion building permit fees (2026)
City Code section 150.34 leaves permit fees to City Council resolution. The current figures are in the 2026 Comprehensive Fee Schedule, adopted December 15, 2025:
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Project value | Building permit fee |
|---|---|
| Less than $1,000 | $30 |
| $1,001 to $1,999 | $30, plus $1.25 for each $100 over $1,000 |
| $2,000 to $24,999 | $42.50, plus $6.50 per $1,000 over $2,000 |
| $25,000 to $49,999 | $192, plus $5 per $1,000 over $25,000 |
| $50,000 to $99,999 | $317, plus $3.50 per $1,000 over $50,000 |
| $100,000 and over | $492, plus $3 per $1,000 |
Example: a detached garage valued at $80,000 falls in the $50,000 to $99,999 band, so the fee is $317 plus 30 × $3.50, or $422.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Window permit (any number of windows) | $30 |
| Roofing or siding permit | $30 each; roofing, siding and windows can be combined for $40 |
| Razing (demolition) permit | $30 |
| Building sign / freestanding sign under 100 sq ft | $30 |
| Freestanding sign 100 sq ft or more / billboard | $50 / $100 |
| Mobile home placement | $20 |
| Conditional use permit | $175 |
| Work started before the permit | 1.5 times the permit fee, at least $100 and no more than $500 |
| Inspection approval or certificate of occupancy not obtained | $100 each |
| Water meter, 1 in (near side / far side) | $1,369.60 / $2,222, plus meter node, spud and flange |
| Sewer tap, 4 in or 6 in | $250, plus 2% excise tax |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Plumbing, electrical and mechanical work in Vermillion
Vermillion does not issue trade permits for plumbing or wiring. Its building code amendments send plumbing permits and inspections to the South Dakota Plumbing Commission, under the Uniform Plumbing Code as the state adopts it, and electrical permits and inspections to the South Dakota Electrical Commission, under the state’s edition of the National Electrical Code.
For mechanical systems, the Building & Signs page lists the 2018 International Mechanical Code, while Chapter 150 of the City Code titles its mechanical section as adopting the Uniform Mechanical Code, Chapters 1 through 10.
What to submit for a Vermillion permit
The City asks for three things with a building permit application:
- Building plans: site, foundation and floor plans as needed, detailed enough that an inspector could build the project from them
- A plot plan showing where the work sits on the lot
- The estimated cost of the project, which sets the fee
For replacement windows, the code asks for windows that meet new-construction rules for light, ventilation, safety glazing and egress where the opening allows; double-hung or sliding windows that limit egress are to be changed to casements or a similar style. Windows in rental housing must meet the occupants’ health and safety requirements.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Six steps to a Vermillion building permit
Land in the joint zoning area outside Vermillion is permitted by the Clay County Zoning Administrator.
Create an account to reach the City’s permit applications.
Choose the residential, commercial, deck, fence, roofing, siding, window or other permit that matches the job.
Attach the building plans and plot plan and enter the estimated project cost.
Pay the permit fee in GovWell and get the state plumbing and electrical permits.
Begin work and request the first inspection within 180 days, then finish within a year.
Vermillion inspections
Inspections are requested through GovWell. Under the City’s rules, work must start and an inspection must be requested within 180 days of the permit being issued, and the project must be finished within one year; failing to start and call for an inspection voids the permit.
The fee schedule adds $100 when an inspection approval or a certificate of occupancy is not obtained. Plumbing and electrical inspections are separate and are booked with the state commissions.
Local Vermillion rules
Rental housing: Chapter 94, the Rental Housing Code, requires every rental dwelling to be registered with the City and inspected, roughly every two years. Work on existing rentals needs building permits, apart from minor routine maintenance, and new owners must register a rental before taking possession.
Historic districts: before re-roofing or re-siding in a historic district, the Vermillion Historic Preservation Commission can explain the historic guidelines (Administration Office, 605-677-7050).
Joint zoning area: about 16 square miles around the city fall under joint zoning regulations adopted by Clay County and Vermillion. Building permits there come from the Clay County Zoning Administrator, who sends the City a copy of each application within five working days.
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 Vermillion building-permit resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
- Vermillion Building & Housing permits (GovWell list)
- Vermillion Code Enforcement: Building & Signs
- Vermillion GovWell permit portal
- City of Vermillion 2026 Comprehensive Fee Schedule
- Vermillion City Code Chapter 150, Building Regulations
- Vermillion Rental Housing registration and inspections
- Clay County and Vermillion joint jurisdiction zoning
- South Dakota Plumbing Commission
- South Dakota Electrical Commission
Vermillion building permit FAQs
Who issues building permits in Vermillion?
The City’s Code Enforcement Department; the Building Official is at 605-677-7088. Applications are filed in GovWell.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How much is a building permit in Vermillion?
It is based on project value: $30 under $1,000, rising to $492 plus $3 per $1,000 for projects of $100,000 and over. A project valued at $80,000 pays $422.
Do I need a permit to replace windows, a roof or siding?
The City charges $30 for a window, roofing or siding permit ($40 for a combination). Roofing and siding permits apply when more than 50% of a surface is replaced or repaired within 5 years. State law exempts repair or substantially similar replacement of same-size windows and of nonstructural siding on an owner-occupied detached single-family house; re-roofing is not exempt.
Do fences need a permit in Vermillion?
Yes. The City requires a permit for all fences, including snow fences. State law exempts repairing or replacing fence panels or posts with substantially similar ones at an owner-occupied detached single-family house.
Who handles plumbing and electrical permits?
The South Dakota Plumbing Commission and Electrical Commission issue those permits and do the inspections.
How long is a Vermillion permit good for?
Work must start, with an inspection requested, within 180 days of issue, and the project must be finished within one year.
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More South Dakota permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Vermillion permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.