Administrative overview · FIPS 27015
Brown 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
Brown County Planning & Zoning Department
For a project in or near Brown 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
(507) 233-6640
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Brown County Planning & Zoning, 14 South State Street, 2nd Floor, New Ulm, MN 56073
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Review expectation
N/A for ordinary building permits; no fixed review timeline was published. Zoning permits are valid for one year, with limited yearly extensions available under the ordinance.
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 Brown County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Brown County Planning & Zoning Department 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 (507) 233-6640.
How long might review take?
N/A for ordinary building permits; no fixed review timeline was published. Zoning permits are valid for one year, with limited yearly extensions available under the ordinance.
How are inspections scheduled?
The Planning & Zoning Department states that it issues building permits and provides inspections. Contact the office at (507) 233-6640 through the online permit portal for inspection instructions and status; septic installers must provide the county at least two working days' notice for a required inspection.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Brown County issues building permits and provides inspections in unincorporated areas. Its zoning ordinance states that Brown County will employ or contract with certified building officials as needed to enforce the Minnesota State Building Code for new buildings and structures. The current Minnesota framework is the 2020 Minnesota 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. The fee schedule lists exterior alterations to dwellings, agricultural, non-agricultural, and commercial structures at $20 and identifies no-footprint-change examples such as shingling, windows, siding, and enclosing a porch. However, the zoning ordinance broadly requires a permit before erection, addition, modification, rehabilitation including normal maintenance and repair, or alteration, so applicants should confirm whether a particular cosmetic project is exempt rather than assume it is.