Administrative overview · FIPS 27009
Benton 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
Benton County Planning & Zoning / Land Services; Inspection Services of Central Minnesota for county building-code inspections, with municipal exceptions
For a project in or near Benton 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
Planning & Zoning: (320) 968-5065; building official office: (320) 532-3629; inspection scheduling: (320) 532-3629
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Benton County Government Center, 531 Dewey Street, Foley, MN 56329
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Review expectation
A site inspection generally occurs within two weeks of the application date. Minnesota Statute 15.99 allows up to 60 days for approval or denial; the county calls the applicant when review is complete, and issuance follows inspection and payment of fees.
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 Benton County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Benton County Planning & Zoning / Land Services; Inspection Services of Central Minnesota for county building-code inspections, with municipal exceptions 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 Planning & Zoning: (320) 968-5065; building official office: (320) 532-3629; inspection scheduling: (320) 532-3629.
How long might review take?
A site inspection generally occurs within two weeks of the application date. Minnesota Statute 15.99 allows up to 60 days for approval or denial; the county calls the applicant when review is complete, and issuance follows inspection and payment of fees.
How are inspections scheduled?
The county application states that the applicant is responsible for scheduling building-code inspections. For county areas, contact Inspection Services of Central Minnesota / David Barsody; the official application gives (320) 532-3629 for scheduling and (612) 219-2252 for the building official. The site must be staked before review, and a staff member generally inspects within two weeks of application. Watab Township uses AllSpec Services at (320) 293-5298.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Benton County enforces the Minnesota State Building Code in areas where it issues building permits. The current Minnesota framework is the 2020 Minnesota State Building Code and related 2020 Minnesota Residential, Mechanical and Fuel Gas, Plumbing, Accessibility, Existing Building, and other code chapters, with the 2024 Minnesota Commercial Energy Code; electrical permits filed before August 17, 2026 follow the 2023 NEC, with the 2026 NEC scheduled to take effect August 17, 2026. Building review and inspections are contracted through Inspection Services of Central Minnesota, except Watab Township, which uses its own contracted inspection service. Structures 200 square feet or larger generally require both a county land-use permit and a building permit. Agricultural buildings are exempt from the building-code permit, but still require a land-use permit. Permit authority shifts to Foley, Rice, Gilman, St. Cloud, Sartell, Royalton, Sauk Rapids, applicable orderly-annexation areas, or Watab Township as identified by the county; ordinary cosmetic work and smaller structures should be confirmed with the applicable authority.