Administrative overview · FIPS 19049
Dallas County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Dallas County Planning and Development
For a project in or near Dallas County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
515-993-5819
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Dallas County Planning and Development, 800 Court Street, Room 220, Administration Building, Adel, IA 50003
Operating hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; department hours may vary
Review expectation
Complete building permit applications are generally reviewed in up to 10 business days in order received; incomplete applications are returned and cannot proceed. Construction must commence within six months and be completed within 12 months of permit issuance unless an extension is approved. Certificate of Zoning Compliance documents state that the certificate is void if work has not commenced within six months and proposed construction or alteration must be completed within 18 months.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Dallas County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Dallas County Planning and Development is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 515-993-5819.
How long might review take?
Complete building permit applications are generally reviewed in up to 10 business days in order received; incomplete applications are returned and cannot proceed. Construction must commence within six months and be completed within 12 months of permit issuance unless an extension is approved. Certificate of Zoning Compliance documents state that the certificate is void if work has not commenced within six months and proposed construction or alteration must be completed within 18 months.
How are inspections scheduled?
Submit the building permit application by email, mail, or in person after providing a scaled site plan, construction plans, applicable septic and entrance permits, and required sub-permits. Inspection requests must be emailed to the Building Inspector, not phoned in, at least 24 hours in advance and preferably 48 hours. Required stages include footing, foundation, under-slab, rough-in, and final inspection before occupancy; covered work may have to be exposed for inspection. The county also requires a final Certificate of Occupancy before use.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Dallas County's Chapter 47 Uniform Construction Codes Ordinance, Chapter 45 Zoning Ordinance for the unincorporated areas, Chapter 40 Floodplain Management Ordinance, Chapter 42 Subdivision Regulations, Chapter 41 Perry Airport Ordinance, and Chapter 48 Small Wind Energy Conversion Systems Ordinance apply in unincorporated areas. The county's 2026 amendment requires passive radon control methods under Appendix AF of the 2021 International Residential Code for new single-family and two-family homes; Chapter 47 also incorporates county amendments to the International codes and Iowa requirements. Applicable electrical, plumbing, mechanical, septic, floodplain, and state requirements also apply. Agricultural exemption applications may exempt farmhouses and farm buildings primarily adapted for agricultural use while so used or under construction for that use, as well as animal feeding operations and qualifying structures under Iowa Code; the exemption requires Director approval and ends if the building is used for a non-agricultural purpose. The county's general building permit process applies to all other structures, including pools and ground-mounted solar. No broad minor or cosmetic exemption list was published.