Brookings building department

Brookings’ Building Services Division, part of Community Development, issues building permits for all residential and commercial projects inside city limits. It also issues them on nonagricultural land in the Joint Jurisdictional Area, which the city describes as extending roughly 3 miles beyond the city limits. A permit must be issued before footings are poured. Brookings handles building review and inspections itself, but electrical and plumbing work is permitted and inspected by the state.

Adopted codes

The city’s International Building Code page lists the codes Brookings currently enforces:

Code	Edition	Who inspects
International Building Code	2021	City
International Residential Code	2021	City
International Mechanical Code	2021	City
International Property Maintenance Code	2021	City
International Fire Code	2021	City
Uniform Plumbing Code	2015 (as listed by the city)	SD Plumbing Commission
National Electrical Code	2020 (as listed by the city)	SD Electrical Commission

Local amendments covering snow load, wind load, sprinklers, egress, and other items were adopted in Ordinance 23-008. The state now inspects electrical work under the 2023 NEC (for permits received from November 12, 2024) and has adopted the 2024 UPC, so the trade editions on the city page may be out of date.

What needs a permit

Building permits are required for all construction work in the city and on nonagricultural land in the Joint Jurisdictional Area. The city’s Building Regulations page addresses fences specifically:

• Fences under 6 feet high do not need a permit if they are within your property line. Over 6 feet, a fence counts as a structure: it needs a permit and must meet structure setbacks.
• Fences or hedges over 30 inches are not allowed in the front yard of interior or corner lots.
• Call Brookings Municipal Utilities to check for utility easements, and SD One Call (1-800-781-7474) before digging.

Driveways, approaches, public sidewalks, curb ramps, and curb cuts need a separate permit from the City Engineer’s office. Zoning deviations, such as for use, yard size, setbacks, or parking, need Board of Adjustment approval.

Submittal checklist

The city lists these required submittals for a new home or addition:

• Site plan (to scale), showing:
  • setbacks measured perpendicular from every property line
  • lot drainage direction and site and structure elevations
  • driveway, sidewalk, and ramp locations
• Floor plans naming rooms, with dimensions, deck size and location, and finished and unfinished square footage per floor
• Elevations of all four sides, showing finish grade and bottom of footing
• Wall section from footing to shingles, with joist, beam, and bearing wall sizes and insulation type and R-value
• Rescue windows: a list with clear-opening dimensions and square footage
• Legal description, smoke detector locations, and stair rise, run, and headroom
• Names of the owner, general contractor, electrician, plumber, and mechanical contractor
• HVAC type and size, and electrical service voltage and amperage

For additions, decks, and garages, the city notes that your title insurance (mortgage) survey drawing helps locate the project on the lot. Allow one week for plan review. Zoning questions go to the City Planner.

Applying in SmartGov

Brookings uses SmartGov at ci-brookings-sd.smartgovcommunity.com for Building Services, Engineering, Rental Housing, and Planning & Zoning applications. Create an account with “Sign Up”. If staff gave you an access code, enter it to link existing records to your account. In the portal you can upload plans, pay fees, request inspections, and track applications through final inspection. You can also print the issued permit yourself.

2026 fee highlights

The Engineering/Community Development fee schedule (effective 01.01.2026, updated 2/5/2026) values new dwellings at:

• $115 per sq ft of finished space and $70 for finished basements
• $40 for unfinished space and attached garages
• $35 for detached garages and decks

Remodels use the bid price.

Item	Fee
R-3/U valuation $1-$2,000	$30
R-3/U valuation $2,000.01-$25,000	$32.50 for first $2,000 + $6 per $1,000
R-3/U valuation $50,000.01-$100,000	$283 for first $50,000 + $3 per $1,000
R-3/U valuation over $100,000	$433 for first $100,000 + $2.50 per $1,000
Detached accessory structure, 200 sq ft or less	$30
Roofing and siding (R-2, R-3, U)	$30
Driveway, demolition, window replacement	$30
Re-inspection	$50 per hour
Residential contractor’s license (annual)	$75
Board of Adjustment application	$175
Rental license	$25 per structure + $2 per unit

If work starts before a permit is issued, the Building Services page warns of an investigation fee of twice the permit fee. The fee schedule sets the minimum investigation fee at the amount of the permit fee.

Electrical and plumbing

Owners may do electrical and plumbing work in an owner-occupied structure. Otherwise the work must be done by an electrician or plumber licensed by both the state and the City of Brookings. The city also charges an annual plumbing contractor license fee: $50 for new applicants and $25 for renewals.

All electrical work is permitted and inspected by the SD Electrical Commission (800-233-7765), and all plumbing work by the SD Plumbing Commission (605-773-3429). Call (605) 692-6629 for the city’s footing inspection.

Office and contact

Building Services is at 520 3rd Street, Suite 140, Brookings, SD 57006, phone (605) 692-6629, email [email protected]. Hours are 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monthly reports are posted on the Past Building Permits page.