Bolthole Index

Minnehaha County, South Dakota

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Garretson, South Dakota

The City of Garretson, South Dakota requires a building permit for construction, additions, repairs and moves inside city limits1, and the city adopts its own zoning regulations2. Garretson sits in Minnehaha County, but the county's planning office covers only unincorporated land; for septic permits inside city limits, we could not confirm who issues them, so ask Garretson city hall first.

At a glance

Building permit
Required inside city limits; the building official may exempt minor work1
Zoning
City has its own adopted zoning regulations2
Building code
2018 International Residential Code, including the tiny-housing appendix3
Permit fee
New homes: $100 base fee plus the residential fee schedule4
Driveways
Driveway permit from the city zoning division5
Septic
State on-site wastewater rules apply; the permit office inside city limits is not confirmed6
Owner-builder
Homeowners are excluded from the contractor-license precondition for owner-occupied homes7

Who to call

Building permits

City of Garretson building official and zoning division

Building permits, inspections, certificates of occupancy and driveway permits inside Garretson city limits

Septic permits

Minnehaha County Planning and Zoning

Septic permits in rural Minnehaha County; whether the office also covers addresses inside Garretson is unconfirmed

415 N. Dakota Avenue, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Building permits

Minnehaha County Planning and Zoning

Building permits and zoning for unincorporated Minnehaha County, outside Garretson city limits

(605) 367-4204

415 N. Dakota Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57104

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Garretson means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Garretson, SD have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes and setbacks?

Yes. The City of Garretson has adopted zoning regulations that apply to land inside city limits2. We could not read the district map or the district standards, so we cannot tell you minimum lot sizes, setbacks, or whether a given lot allows RVs, accessory dwellings or manufactured homes; ask the city's zoning division which district a parcel is in before you buy.

On tiny homes, Garretson's adopted residential code includes Appendix Q, the tiny-housing appendix3. That shows the code can accommodate tiny houses, but zoning still decides where one may be placed, and we could not confirm a rule on tiny-home occupancy inside the city.

Do you need a building permit in Garretson, and who issues it?

Yes. Anyone who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move or demolish a building, or change its occupancy, inside Garretson must apply to the city's building official and obtain a permit first1. The building official may exempt minor work, and the city code lists specific exemptions, but an exemption never authorizes work that breaks another law or ordinance1.

Garretson adopted the 2018 International Residential Code for detached one- and two-family homes3. New residential construction pays a $100 base permit fee plus an amount from the city's residential fee schedule4. Applications need construction documents and generally a site plan, though the building official can waive either where review is not needed8.

Can you build your own house in Garretson?

The city code excludes a homeowner from the contractor-license requirement that otherwise applies before a residential building permit is issued for an owner-occupied one- or two-family home or its garage7. A permit and inspections still apply.

Electrical work has its own state rule: South Dakota requires an approved homeowner permit before an owner starts wiring work, and the final inspection comes before occupancy9. Confirm with the city whether its own electrical inspection process applies inside Garretson.

How do septic permits work inside Garretson?

We could not confirm who issues septic permits, or whether a septic permit is required, for addresses inside Garretson city limits. Ask the City of Garretson whether the lot is on city sewer; if it is not, ask who permits the system.

State rules apply either way: the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources administers on-site wastewater requirements statewide, and local governments may add stricter ones6. For rural land outside the city, Minnehaha County Planning and Zoning issues septic permits, and only state-certified installers can obtain them10. Minnehaha County's soil data rates about 20% of its soils "not limited" for a conventional drain field, so a site evaluation or engineered system is common11.

Building a home in Garretson: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the City of Garretson which zoning district the parcel is in and whether the use you plan is allowed2.
  2. Confirm sewer, water and septic arrangements for the lot; we could not confirm the city's utility connection rules, so ask the city.
  3. Apply to the building official with construction documents and a site plan8, and pay the $100 base fee plus the schedule fee4.
  4. Get a driveway permit from the zoning division5. A driveway onto a state highway also needs South Dakota Department of Transportation permission before construction starts12.
  5. If the lot is in a FEMA-mapped flood hazard area, send elevation documentation to the floodplain administrator before the final inspection13.
  6. Pass the final inspections and get a certificate of occupancy before anyone moves in14.

What stays with Minnehaha County, and what to check before you buy in Garretson

Minnehaha County's planning office issues building and zoning permits only for unincorporated land15. If the parcel you are looking at lies outside Garretson city limits, use the Minnehaha County page and its rules instead; the city's rules do not follow the parcel out of town.

Two checks before you buy: confirm the parcel is inside city limits, and ask the city about sewer and water. County figures give some context: Minnehaha County's effective property tax rate is 1.2%, with a median bill near $3,090 a year1617, and the nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 11 miles away18.

Watch-outs

  • Garretson's building permit requirement has exceptions for minor work, so ask the building official before you skip a permit for a small project1.
  • Inside Garretson, we could not confirm septic authority, utility connection rules, well rules, RV or tiny-home occupancy, accessory dwelling rules, lot sizes or setbacks; call city hall for each. State on-site wastewater rules apply regardless6.
  • A driveway permit comes from the city zoning division, and a state highway driveway needs a separate South Dakota Department of Transportation permit512.

Sources

  1. Garretson Code § 150.17, International Residential Building Code (Garretson), quoted and re-checked
  2. Garretson Code § 153.01, Zoning regulations adopted by reference (Garretson), quoted and re-checked
  3. Garretson Code § 150.16, International Building Code (Garretson), quoted and re-checked
  4. Garretson Code § 150.01, Building permits; fees (Garretson), quoted and re-checked
  5. Garretson Code § 150.17, International Residential Building Code (Garretson), quoted and re-checked
  6. On-Site Wastewater Systems in South Dakota (South Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Garretson Code § 150.17, International Residential Building Code (Garretson), quoted and re-checked
  8. Garretson Code § 150.17, International Residential Building Code (Garretson), quoted and re-checked
  9. South Dakota Electrical Commission - Homeowner Wiring (South Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Minnehaha County Planning and Zoning (minnehahacounty.gov)
  11. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  12. Instructions: Applying for permission for driveway or intersection on a South Dakota state highway (South Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Garretson Code § 150.17, International Residential Building Code (Garretson), quoted and re-checked
  14. Garretson Code § 150.17, International Residential Building Code (Garretson), quoted and re-checked
  15. Minnehaha County Planning and Zoning (minnehahacounty.gov)
  16. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  17. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  18. Straight-line distance from the county center to the nearest city of 100,000+ people: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Garretson

Garretson’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, alteration, repair, movement, demolition, occupancy changes, and regulated building-system work inside Garretson city limits.

    • The building official may exempt permits for minor work.
    • Specified work is exempt under R105.2, but exemptions do not authorize work that violates other laws or ordinances.
    “Any owner or owner’s authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be performed, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    Owner-occupied one- and two-family residential buildings, including accessory garages, inside Garretson city limits.

    • The provision addresses issuance of a residential building permit and contractor licensing.
    • The code’s wording excludes a homeowner from the contractor-license precondition.
    “Exclusive of a homeowner, no person or firm shall be issued a building permit for residential building defined as owner-occupied one- and two-family dwellings, including accessory garages, until that person or firm has been issued a residential contractor’s license required by this chapter.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Buildings and structures inside Garretson city limits; residential code separately applies to detached one- and two-family dwellings and qualifying townhouses.

    • The IBC adoption became effective July 1, 2019 and applies to permits issued after that date.
    • The IRC adoption became effective September 1, 2019 and applies to permits issued after that date.
    “The International Residential Code, 2018 edition, including Appendix E, Appendix G, Appendix H, and Appendix Q (tiny housing) as published by the International Code Council Incorporated, as amended, is hereby adopted as the residential building code by the city”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted buildings and structures inside Garretson city limits.

    • A certificate of occupancy also requires final inspections from electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and building inspection divisions.
    • Flood-hazard-area construction has additional documentation requirements before final inspection.
    “A building or structure shall not be used or occupied, and a change of occupancy or change of use of a building or structure or portion thereof shall not be made, until the building official has issued a certificate of occupancy therefor as provided herein and final inspections have been obtained from the electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and building inspection divisions of building services.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Use or occupancy of permitted buildings and structures inside Garretson city limits.

    • Certificates are not required for work exempt from permits under R105.2.
    • Certificates are not required for accessory buildings or structures.
    • Final inspections are required before issuance.
    “A building or structure shall not be used or occupied, and a change of occupancy or change of use of a building or structure or portion thereof shall not be made, until the building official has issued a certificate of occupancy therefor as provided herein and final inspections have been obtained from the electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and building inspection divisions of building services.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Garretson city limits.

    • The adopted zoning regulations and amendments are incorporated by reference; the underlying adopted zoning document was not available in the opened code page.
    “The city’s zoning regulations, and any and all amendments, are hereby adopted by reference and incorporated herein as if set out in full.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveways inside Garretson city limits.

    • The code identifies the zoning division as the permitting division.
    “Sidewalks and driveways. A driveway permit is required by the zoning division. A sidewalk permit is required by the building division.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Construction in FEMA-mapped flood hazard areas inside Garretson city limits.

    • Documentation must be submitted to the floodplain administrator upon placement of the lowest floor and before further vertical construction.
    • Elevation documentation is required before final inspection when located in a flood hazard area.
    “If located in a flood hazard area, the documentation of elevations required in Section R322.1.10 shall be submitted to the floodplain administrator prior to the final inspection.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Building permits inside Garretson city limits.

    • New residential construction has a $100 base fee plus the residential schedule fee.
    • The fee section cites Resolution 2019-02, passed January 7, 2019.

    new residential base permit fee: 100 USD (plus the applicable residential permit-fee schedule amount)

    “All new residential construction shall be charged a base permit fee of $100 plus the permit fee from the following table under division (C)(2): residential permit fee schedule.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Residential building-permit applications inside Garretson city limits.

    • The building official may waive construction documents where review is not necessary for code compliance.
    • A site plan is generally required with the application, subject to the building official’s authority to waive or modify it for alterations, repairs, or where otherwise warranted.
    “Submittal documents consisting of construction documents and other data shall be submitted with each application for a permit.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Garretson or Minnehaha County directly.

  • Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Garretson city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential zoning districts inside Garretson city limits.
  • Minimum lot size — Residential zoning districts inside Garretson city limits.
  • Setbacks — Residential zoning districts inside Garretson city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Residential zoning districts inside Garretson city limits.
15 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Garretson publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Minnehaha County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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