Administrative overview · FIPS 27055
Houston 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
Houston County Zoning & Planning Department
For a project in or near Houston 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
507-725-5800
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Houston County Zoning & Planning Department, 304 S. Marshall Street, Room 209, Caledonia, MN 55921
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Review expectation
Townships are given a minimum of 7 days to comment after a complete application is submitted; Houston County does not guarantee a faster overall turnaround.
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 Houston County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Houston County Zoning & Planning 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 507-725-5800.
How long might review take?
Townships are given a minimum of 7 days to comment after a complete application is submitted; Houston County does not guarantee a faster overall turnaround.
How are inspections scheduled?
Apply through GeoPermits by locating the parcel in Beacon and selecting Apply for Permit. Inform the township of every zoning application; townships receive a minimum of seven days to comment before county staff issues a permit. Electrical inspections are scheduled with Dylan Becker at 612-394-5206, and commercial plumbing inspections with Kara Topper at 651-279-3418. Plumbing or bedroom additions may also require septic review.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Houston County administers zoning, land-use, floodplain, shoreland, septic, feedlot, and erosion-control requirements in townships and unincorporated areas. The county expressly does not enforce building code; applicable Minnesota building-code requirements are handled by the responsible municipal or state authority, while the county requires appropriate plumbing and electrical inspections. Houston County requires a zoning permit for construction or placement of any structure. The zoning ordinance exempts interior and exterior maintenance and minor repairs of existing structures. Some accessory buildings of 200 square feet or less may not require a zoning permit under the ordinance, but they must still meet setbacks and other standards; confirm applicability with the Zoning Administrator.