Administrative overview · FIPS 27131
Rice 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
Municipal Fallback
This profile identifies a handoff outside the county’s ordinary structural permitting lane.
Required jurisdiction check
Confirm the controlling local or state authority before filing.
The record is marked Municipal Fallback. That means the county profile should be treated as a routing brief: incorporated municipalities, a state building department, or a state fire marshal may control plan review, permits, and inspections. Contact the named agency below and verify the parcel’s jurisdiction before paying a fee or scheduling field work.
Responsible agency
Rice County Environmental Services - Building Division
For a project in or near Rice 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
507-332-6113
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Rice County Government Services Building, 320 Third St. NW, Faribault, MN 55021
Operating hours
May 18-September 25, 2026: Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM; Friday 8:00 AM-noon
Review expectation
Typically 10-15 working days after staff review is complete and the required second invoice is paid.
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 Rice County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
This record is marked Municipal Fallback. Confirm whether a city, state agency, or other local authority controls the parcel 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 507-332-6113.
How long might review take?
Typically 10-15 working days after staff review is complete and the required second invoice is paid.
How are inspections scheduled?
Apply through the Rice County RT Vision portal. The Building Division performs field inspections of residential and commercial structures, including fireplaces, footings, foundations, heating, plumbing, and structural components; contact Environmental Services at (507) 332-6113 for inspection arrangements.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Minnesota State Building Codes as adopted by Rice County; the county’s zoning ordinance requires permitted activities to conform to the most current state building code adopted by the county. Rice County’s zoning ordinance exempts storage buildings 200 sq ft or less, provided they still meet zoning requirements. Agricultural structures are exempt from the ordinary building-permit requirement only when an Agricultural Structures Permit is obtained. All other construction, alteration, remodeling, moving, or demolition generally requires a permit in county-administered areas.