Administrative overview · FIPS 27011
Big Stone 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
Big Stone County Environmental Services
For a project in or near Big Stone 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
(320) 839-6376
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Big Stone County Environmental Services, 843 O'Neill Street, Ortonville, MN 56278
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Review expectation
N/A; no fixed building-permit review timeline was published. The accessory permit is valid for one year from approval unless an extension is granted.
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 Big Stone County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Big Stone County Environmental Services 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 (320) 839-6376.
How long might review take?
N/A; no fixed building-permit review timeline was published. The accessory permit is valid for one year from approval unless an extension is granted.
How are inspections scheduled?
The county's accessory-building application requires construction not to begin until the permit is approved and signed; contact Environmental Services at (320) 839-6376 for permit status and any required site or building inspection arrangements. Septic final inspections are performed by the county according to the approved design. Work inside municipal limits must be coordinated with the relevant municipality.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Big Stone County Environmental Services administers county land-use and construction permits outside municipal corporate limits, including new construction, moved or replaced structures, and specified excavation. The applicable building-code framework is Minnesota's current 2020 State Building Code and related 2020 Residential, Mechanical and Fuel Gas, Plumbing, Accessibility, Existing Building, and other 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. Municipalities regulate work within their corporate limits. The county lists permits for all new construction, all structures moved or replaced, individual septic systems, and excavations exceeding 50 cubic yards or 10 cubic yards in shoreland areas outside municipal limits. No single countywide minor/cosmetic exemption list was published; confirm small accessory work, repairs, agricultural work, and municipal requirements with Environmental Services.