Building permits, zoning and land rules in Gregory County, South Dakota
59Index Score / 100 #4 of 66 in South Dakota
Gregory County, South Dakota requires a building permit from the county Planning and Zoning Administrator before a structure is erected, moved, enlarged or put to a different use in the county zoning jurisdiction.12 Inside incorporated towns such as the City of Gregory, the municipality may run its own building and zoning review.34 Septic systems follow South Dakota's state on-site wastewater rules, with no separate county septic permit confirmed.5
At a glance
Building permit
Required in the Gregory County zoning jurisdiction1
Zoning
Yes; county zoning administered by Planning and Zoning, with separate municipal zoning inside towns63
Septic
State DANR rules apply; local governments may be stricter5
Owner electrical work
A qualifying resident owner may do the work with a homeowner permit and inspections7
Private wells
A water-right permit may be required before drilling8
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Do you need a building permit in Gregory County, South Dakota?
Yes. Gregory County requires a permit before a building or other structure is erected, moved, enlarged or put to a different use within the county zoning jurisdiction.1 The county lists limited exceptions for concrete slabs on grade, agricultural fences, corrals, semi-portable agricultural structures, qualifying windbreaks and wildlife blinds; that list does not exempt every farm building.9 Building without the required permit carries a $250-per-day fine.1
Treat the permit as an early design step, not final paperwork. Gregory County directs applicants to complete both the building-permit form and a site plan, then submit them to the Planning and Zoning Administrator.2 Ask that office which zoning district covers the parcel and whether the proposed use, placement and structure type need additional county review. We could not confirm a county building code, inspection schedule or certificate-of-occupancy process, so ask the administrator before ordering materials.
Who handles Gregory County building permits, and how do you reach the office?
The Gregory County Planning and Zoning Administrator is the starting point for a county building permit and site-plan submission.10 The county’s instructions say to fill out the building-permit form and site plan and submit both to that administrator.2 The official county page lists the county address as 221 E. 8th St., Burke, SD 57523 and the phone as 6057752673.10
Ask the office to identify the zoning district, current application form, required site-plan details, fee, review timing and inspections for the exact parcel. Gregory County points applicants to Sections 1411-1425 of its zoning ordinance for more permit information.2 Incorporated municipalities can administer separate rules; within the City of Gregory, the city reviews building and land-use applications rather than the county process controlling automatically.4 Electrical and plumbing work can also have separate state processes: qualifying homeowner electrical work still needs an approved homeowner permit, and covered plumbing installations require an inspection certificate.711
Does Gregory County have zoning?
Gregory County has county-administered zoning through its Planning and Zoning Administrator and Planning Commission.6 That does not mean the county administers zoning inside every incorporated municipality; municipal requirements apply within the relevant city limits, and the City of Gregory has its own building and land-use review.34
The county’s permit exceptions are narrow: agricultural fences, corrals and semi-portable agricultural structures are listed, but the official material does not establish a blanket exemption for every agricultural building.9 We could not confirm numeric setbacks, minimum lot size, minimum dwelling size, height limits or lot-coverage limits. Before relying on an advertisement that calls land unrestricted, give the appropriate county or municipal zoning office the parcel description and proposed use, then ask for the district rules controlling location and use.
How do septic permits work in Gregory County?
South Dakota’s Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources administers statewide minimum requirements for on-site wastewater systems, while local governments may impose stricter rules.5 DANR should be contacted before a new or modified system is installed, except for a conventional on-site system serving an individual residence; other systems receiving human waste require plans and specifications submitted to DANR.12 The state agency, not the county, is the office to call about on-site wastewater systems13. Ask Gregory County Planning and Zoning whether any stricter local requirement applies before finalizing the design.
Site conditions deserve early attention in Gregory County: only 4.1% of mapped soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field.14 That is a screening signal, not a parcel-level determination, so budget time for site evaluation and system design before choosing a house location. South Dakota allows certain unconventional sanitation systems when water or electricity is unavailable, but systems other than vault privies require plans and specifications submitted for state approval before installation.15
Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Gregory County?
Gregory County has zoning and requires permits for structures and changes of use in its zoning jurisdiction.61 We could not confirm a published county rule that answers whether an RV may be occupied on private land, how long temporary camping may continue, or when a tiny home qualifies as a dwelling. Ask the Gregory County Planning and Zoning Administrator about the specific parcel, proposed length of stay, utility connections and construction timeline before moving an RV or tiny home onto the site.
A tiny home should not be assumed exempt merely because it is small or movable. Gregory County’s stated permit exceptions cover specific items such as concrete slabs, agricultural fences, corrals, semi-portable agricultural structures, qualifying windbreaks and wildlife blinds; tiny homes and RV residences are not in that published exception list.1 Waste disposal remains a separate issue because South Dakota regulates on-site wastewater systems and requires prior approval for most unconventional systems.1615
Building a home in Gregory County: what are the steps?
Identify the authority for the parcel: Gregory County administers county zoning, while incorporated municipalities may administer their own requirements.3
For land in the county zoning jurisdiction, complete the county building-permit form and site plan, then submit both to Planning and Zoning before construction.2
Resolve wastewater early. South Dakota sets statewide minimum requirements, conventional systems for individual homes are treated differently from other new systems, and local rules may be stricter.512
Determine the water source. A proposed well use may require a water-right permit, and approval must precede drilling when that permit is required.8
Arrange trade permits and inspections. Covered plumbing needs an inspection certificate, while qualifying owner-installed electrical work needs a homeowner permit and a final inspection before occupancy.117
If the driveway connects to a state highway, obtain South Dakota Department of Transportation permission before starting access construction.17
What should you check before buying land in Gregory County?
Start with buildability, wastewater, water and access rather than the listing description. Gregory County has only 4 people per square mile, and the nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 127 miles from the county center.1819 That remoteness can make contractor scheduling, hauling and emergency planning material parts of a rural project.
For wastewater, only 4.1% of mapped soils avoid a severe conventional-drain-field limitation, so make an acceptable septic plan a purchase contingency when possible.14 For water, confirm the likely well yield and whether the intended use triggers a water-right permit before drilling.8 If access is from a state highway, construction cannot begin until the state access permit is issued.17 Ask Planning and Zoning whether the parcel lies in a regulated floodplain because participating South Dakota communities require permits for floodplain development.20 Finally, use the county’s 1.1% effective property-tax rate and $1,419 median annual bill only as countywide context; obtain the parcel’s actual assessment and tax history.2122
Watch-outs
Starting without a required Gregory County building permit can bring a $250-per-day fine.1
Do not assume every agricultural building is permit-exempt; the county publishes only a limited exception list.9
We could not confirm county rules for RV occupancy, tiny-home occupancy, setbacks or minimum dwelling size; ask Gregory County Planning and Zoning before committing to a layout.6
Most mapped Gregory County soils have severe limitations for conventional drain fields, so complete a parcel-level septic evaluation early.14
Written October 10, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.
Gregory County highlighted among the South Dakota counties · colored by Index score
How Gregory County scores
Seclusion87100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency36100% ev.
Admin Boringness49100% ev.
Durability36100% ev.
Property Autonomy67100% ev.
Carry Cost84100% ev.
Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →
$129kTypical home
1.1%Property tax
$2,050Land / acre
24.5"Annual rain
14.4% of yrsSevere drought
16.1 / yr (+12.1)Mid-century 100°F days
21.4 daysMid-century dry spell
1.39" (+3.1%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.52×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,600Home insurance / yr
5% / yrInsurance growth
0.69%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
2,986People within 30 min
72,006People within 2 hr
3,005Radius comparison (15 mi)
4People / sq mi
4.3%Federal land
83.7%Land at 15% slope or less
4.1%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
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Cities and towns in Gregory County
Inside a city, town or township here, that government usually sets zoning and may issue its own building permits; the county’s rules above cover land outside them.
Not yet researched: Bonesteel · Town of Dallas · Dixon Township · Edens Township · Town of Fairfax · Fairfax Township · Gregory · Town of Herrick · Jones Township · Landing Creek Township · Pleasant Valley Township · Schriever Township · Star Valley Township
Answers from the rulebook for Gregory County
What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.
Gregory County rules
Building permitRequired
Buildings and other structures in the county zoning jurisdiction.
A permit is required before a building or other structure is erected, moved, added to, or its use is changed.
Exceptions listed by the county page are concrete slabs on grade; agricultural fences; corrals; semi-portable agricultural structures; windbreaks pursuant to Section 517; and wildlife blinds.
The county page states that building without a permit is subject to a $250-per-day fine.
Applications require a building permit form and site plan submitted to the Planning and Zoning Administrator.
fine for building without permit: 250 USD per day
““No building or other structure shall be erected, moved, added to , or use changed without a permits issued by the Zoning Administrator.””
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Required — Buildings and other structures in Gregory County subject to the county zoning ordinance.
““No building or other structure shall be erected, moved, added to , or use changed without a permits issued by the Zoning Administrator.””
County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)
County zoning regulation administered through the Gregory County Planning and Zoning Administrator and Planning Commission.
The official county page identifies a Gregory County Zoning Ordinance Book and zoning administration, but the ordinance text and district schedule were not exposed on the county ordinances page.
“Further information regarding building permits can be found in Section 1411-1425 of the Gregory County Zoning Ordinance Book.”
Local zoningPresent
County-administered zoning in Gregory County; this claim does not determine zoning rules administered separately by incorporated municipalities.
The county page identifies a Planning & Zoning Commission and Planning & Zoning Administrator.
Municipal zoning, if any, may be separately administered by incorporated municipalities.
“Further information regarding building permits can be found in Section 1411-1425 of the Gregory County Zoning Ordinance Book.”
2 more reviewed findings on this topic
Present (with conditions) — County-level zoning in Gregory County; this claim does not establish separate municipal or township zoning rules.
“The Planning & Zoning Commission meets the second Tuesday of the month in the County Commissioner Chambers at 1:00pm. The Deadline for the agenda is the Friday before at 2pm”
Varies (with conditions) — Aggregate zoning situation across Gregory County, including county-administered zoning and separate municipal zoning within incorporated communities.
““No building or other structure shall be erected, moved, added to , or use changed without a permits issued by the Zoning Administrator.””
Agricultural exemptionConditional
Agricultural structures and agricultural fences under Gregory County's building-permit exceptions.
The county lists agricultural fences, corrals, and semi-portable agricultural structures among building-permit exceptions.
The source does not establish that all agricultural buildings are exempt.
“Exceptions to building permits shall be: Concrete slabs on grade Fences, agricultural Corrals Semi-portable agricultural structures Windbreaks, pursuant to Section 517; and Wildlife Blinds”
Permit processPartial
Gregory County building-permit application process.
Complete the building permit form and site plan.
Submit the materials to the Planning and Zoning Administrator.
The page refers applicants to Sections 1411-1425 of the Gregory County Zoning Ordinance Book for further information.
“To apply for a building permit, please fill out the building permit form and site plan and submit to the Planning and Zoning Administrator.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Published (with conditions) — Gregory County building-permit application process.
“To apply for a building permit, please fill out the building permit form and site plan and submit to the Planning and Zoning Administrator.”
An individual owner personally installing electrical wiring and fixtures in a residence or farmstead owned and resided in by that individual.
The exemption is from electrical licensure requirements, not from permitting or inspection.
An approved homeowner permit must be obtained before electrical work begins.
The exemption does not apply to commercial or rental property.
Mobile-home and modular-home installations are allowed only when the unit is on an owner-occupied lot at the time of installation; otherwise a licensed South Dakota electrical contractor is required.
A final inspection is required before occupancy.
“an "owner's exemption" as an exemption from licensure requirements”
Building code adoptedPartial
South Dakota building-code adoption framework for local governments, including residential structures and county or municipal construction standards.
For residential structures, the statute authorizes the governing body of a municipality to adopt the 2024 International Residential Code; the quoted residential authorization does not name counties.
A residential-structure rule may not require installation of a sprinkler system and may not impose requirements more stringent than the 2024 International Residential Code.
A residential structure means a detached one-family or two-family dwelling, a townhouse not more than three stories with a separate means of egress, and related accessory structures.
For buildings other than residential structures, a local-unit ordinance must comply with the 2024 International Building Code, subject to statutory exclusions and permitted amendments.
The nonresidential rule does not apply to HUD-compliant mobile or manufactured homes, may not require fire sprinklers in a single-family dwelling, and does not apply to qualifying specialty resorts or vacation-home establishments constructed to Group R-3 requirements.
Where a local unit has not adopted a qualifying ordinance, the default 2024 International Building Code design standard applies to covered construction commenced after July 1, 2026, but the default does not apply to residential structures, mobile or manufactured homes, farmsteads, or accessory structures.
residential model code: 2024 International Residential Code (Municipal governing body authorization; no sprinkler requirement; no requirements more stringent than the code) · nonresidential model code: 2024 International Building Code (Statutory exclusions apply) · default nonresidential design-standard commencement: > 2026-07-01 (The default does not apply to residential structures, mobile or manufactured homes, farmsteads, or accessory structures)
“The governing body of a municipality may enact requirements for construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, removal, and demolition of a residential structure by adopting the 2024 edition of the International Residential Code, as published by the International Code Council, Incorporated.”
2 more reviewed findings on this topic
Partial — Statewide South Dakota building standards for construction and related work within a local unit of government that has not adopted an ordinance prescribing standards under SDCL § 11-10-5.
“The design standard [...] of any building commenced after July 1, 2026 [...] must be based on the 2024 edition of the International Building Code”
Partial — South Dakota building-code standards for construction within local units of government, including unincorporated county areas.
“The design standard for construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, removal, and demolition of any building commenced after July 1, 2026, within the boundaries of any local unit of government that has not adopted an ordinance prescribing the standards pursuant to § 11-10-5, must be based on the 2024 edition of the International Building Code as published by the International Code Council, Incorporated. [...] The provisions of this section do not apply to any residential structure as defined in § 11-10-12, mobile or manufactured home, or farmstead and any accessory structure or building thereto.”
InspectionsRequired
Plumbing installations in South Dakota outside cities that administer their own plumbing inspection requirements.
The exception is for cities with their own inspection requirements.
Inspection requests generally require at least 72 hours advance notice, excluding weekends and holidays.
Inspections occur after a plumbing installation certificate is secured.
“You must have a plumbing inspection certificate for all plumbing installations.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Limited — Electrical wiring installations subject to South Dakota Electrical Commission inspection.
“A final inspection is required for all jobs prior to occupancy.”
Who permits septicState
On-site wastewater systems serving property in Gregory County, subject to any more stringent local requirements.
South Dakota identifies SDCL Chapter 34A-2 and ARSD Article 74:53:01 as the state authority and rules.
The state guide states that local governments may have more stringent regulations.
“The authority for regulating on-site wastewater systems is found in SDCL Chapter 34A-2. The regulations are in the ARSD Articles 74:53:01. These regulations are the state’s minimum requirements and standards, but local governments may have more stringent regulations.”
2 more reviewed findings on this topic
State (with conditions) — On-site wastewater systems in South Dakota, including Gregory County.
“Inspection of the installation, equipment, and operation of an on-site wastewater system may be made at any time by the secretary or the secretary's authorized representative.”
State — Individual and small on-site wastewater systems statewide in South Dakota.
“The authority for regulating on-site wastewater systems is found in SDCL Chapter 34A-2.”
Septic permitLimited
New or modified on-site wastewater systems in Gregory County under South Dakota rules.
DANR should be contacted before installation of any new on-site system except a conventional on-site system serving an individual residence.
Plans and specifications must be submitted for installations receiving human excreta other than a conventional individual onsite system.
Works of sanitary significance require plans and specifications at least 30 days before planned construction.
All individual and small wastewater installers must be certified by the South Dakota Plumbing Commission.
advance submission for works of sanitary significance: >= 30 days
“You should contact DANR prior to the installation of any new on-site system except those conventional on-site systems serving an individual residence. DANR will review information about the on-site system to make sure it complies with the regulations. Plans and specifications must be submitted to DANR for any installation that will receive human excreta other than a conventional individual onsite system, per ARSD 74:53:01:03. For works of sanitary significance, plans and specifications must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the planned commencement of construction, per ARSD 74:53:04:05.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Limited — New or modified on-site wastewater systems in Gregory County.
“You should contact DANR prior to the installation of any new on-site system except those conventional on-site systems serving an individual residence. DANR will review information about the on-site system to make sure it complies with the regulations.”
Off-grid sanitationAllowed (with conditions)
Unconventional off-grid sanitation systems where a water or electrical system is unavailable statewide.
Vault privies, chemical toilets, incinerator toilets, or composting units must be used when a water or electrical system is unavailable.
Except for vault privies, all unconventional systems are experimental systems and require plans and specifications submitted to the secretary for approval before installation.
“all unconventional systems are considered experimental systems”
Well permitLimited
Water-well drilling and proposed water uses statewide in South Dakota.
A water-right permit is required only for proposed water uses that fall within the permitting requirements; the official page directs applicants to the Using Water in SD page to determine whether a permit is needed.
When a water-right permit is required, state law requires approval before well drilling.
The chief engineer may permit construction of a test well before obtaining the water-right permit; the test well may serve as the production well if the application is approved.
A water-right permit, when required and approved, provides five years to construct the water-use system and an additional four years to place all water to beneficial use.
A well driller's license is required before drilling any well or contracting to drill a well.
construction period after water-right permit approval: 5 years · period to place water to beneficial use: 4 years
“If a water right permit is needed, state law requires the permit to be approved prior to doing any well drilling.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Limited — Private wells serving property in Gregory County.
“Your proposed water use may require obtaining a water right permit. In order to determine whether you need a permit, please refer to the Using Water in SD web page. If a water right permit is needed, state law requires the permit to be approved prior to doing any well drilling. [...] However, you may seek permission from the chief engineer of the Water Rights Program to have a test well constructed prior to obtaining a water right permit.”
Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)
Division of a government subdivision or platted tract or lot, within or outside municipal corporate limits, into parcels for transfer when the parcels cannot be described except by metes and bounds.
The parcels must be platted into lots, numbered, and the plat recorded before any instrument of transfer may be recorded.
If an actual survey is necessary, the land must be surveyed and the plat recorded.
The requirement does not apply to parcels subject to a contract with the United States Secretary of Agriculture under the Conservation Reserve Program that are being transferred to or from the South Dakota Building Authority.
“within or without the corporate limits of any municipality [...] he shall cause the parcels of land so divided to be platted into lots”
Driveway accessLimited
New or modified driveways and intersections connecting to South Dakota state highways.
Permission from the South Dakota Department of Transportation is required for access to a state highway.
The application may require an access approach design, vicinity map, estimated traffic volumes, three copies of a site plan, traffic-control plan, liability insurance, development plan, drainage plan, traffic-impact study, and revegetation plan.
Construction cannot begin until the access permit is issued.
The permittee pays construction, maintenance, and removal costs.
The permit expires if access is not under construction within one year, subject to one written one-year extension.
Access construction must be completed within 45 days after initiation within the highway right-of-way.
application review update threshold: 30 days (If the application is not completed within 30 days, a Department employee will contact the applicant with an update.) · construction completion period: 45 days (Measured from initiation of construction within the highway right-of-way.)
“Construction of the access shall not proceed until the access permit is issued. The access shall be completed in an expeditious and safe manner and shall be finished within 45 days from the initiation of construction within the highway right-of-way.”
Building in a floodplainRequired
Development in floodplains within South Dakota communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, including incorporated and unincorporated areas administered separately by local governments.
Participating communities must adopt and enforce a flood-damage-prevention ordinance.
Permits are required for all types of development in the floodplain.
New or substantially improved homes and manufactured homes must be elevated above the Base Flood Elevation.
Non-residential buildings must be elevated or flood-proofed.
Elevation Certificates are required to document compliance.
NFIP participation and eligibility are established separately for incorporated and unincorporated areas; the source does not establish a single uniform permit process for every South Dakota location.
“Require permits for all types of development in the floodplain.”
Permit feesPublished (with conditions)
South Dakota state electrical wiring permits, including residential and farmstead wiring subject to state administration.
A wiring permit is required for electrical service entrances over 60 amperes, owner-exemption wiring, and other installations with an estimated inspection fee of at least $30.
Local inspection systems may have their own procedures, inspection fees, and regulations.
Inspection fees are separate from the $20 wiring-permit fee.
wiring permit fee: 20 USD · permit validity: 3 years (A new permit is required if the installation extends beyond three years.) · late permit administrative fee: 250 USD (Applies when the permit is not dated at job start or is not renewed before expiration.)
“A wiring permit may be obtained for twenty dollars from the commission office. A wiring permit is valid for three years from the date the permit is issued.”
county zoning authorityGeneral
South Dakota county boards' authority to adopt zoning ordinances, including for unincorporated county land.
The authority is granted for promoting the health, safety, or general welfare of the county.
The statute authorizes regulation of building and land-use characteristics including height, number of stories, building and structure size, lot coverage, yards, courts, open spaces, population density, and locations and uses of buildings, structures, and land.
The authorized purposes expressly include trade, industry, residence, flood plain, and other purposes.
This claim identifies statewide enabling authority; whether a particular county has adopted an ordinance is a separate local question.
“For the purpose of promoting health, safety, or the general welfare of the county the board may adopt a zoning ordinance to regulate and restrict the height, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures, the percentage of lot that may be occupied, the size of the yards, courts, and other open spaces, the density of population, and the location and use of buildings, structures, and land for trade, industry, residence, flood plain, or other purposes.”
county building authorityLimited
County authority to prescribe building standards and issue building permits for construction in South Dakota, including unincorporated areas.
Section 11-10-5 expressly addresses ordinances adopted by any local unit of government, and expressly provides for amendments to a county ordinance filed with the county auditor.
That provision concerns buildings other than residential structures as defined in § 11-10-12.
Section 11-10-12 expressly authorizes a municipality to enact residential-structure requirements using the 2024 International Residential Code, rather than expressly extending that authorization to counties.
A county, municipality, or township may not require permits for specified repairs or substantially similar replacements to existing exterior parts of a detached single-family owner-occupied residential structure, except designated historical property repairs authorized under chapter 1-19B.
Construction under the default § 11-10-6 standard is subject to the residential, manufactured-home, farmstead, accessory-structure, and specialty-resort exclusions stated there.
nonresidential code: 2024 International Building Code (County ordinances may amend, modify, or delete portions before enactment; HUD-compliant mobile or manufactured homes and specified Group R-3 specialty resorts or vacation home establishments are excluded; no single-family dwelling fire sprinkler may be required.) · permit exemption effective date: 2026 (Applies to listed repairs and substantially similar replacements of existing exterior parts.)
“Additional deletions, modifications, and amendments to the county ordinance may be made by the governing body and are effective upon their adoption and filing with the county auditor. [...] Notwithstanding any authority granted to a county, municipality, or township to prescribe building codes or standards or to issue building permits, a county, municipality, or township may not require a building permit for the repair or substantially similar replacement of any of the following existing exterior parts of a detached single-family owner-occupied residential structure:”
Inside cities and towns in Gregory County
Municipal rules found while researching the county. They apply inside that city or town, not to unincorporated land.
Local zoningPresent (with conditions)
Building and land-use regulation within the city limits of the City of Gregory, Gregory County, South Dakota.
The application must be submitted to the City of Gregory by noon on the Friday before a city council meeting.
The Planning and Zoning Commission reviews the application and the city council must approve it.
“No person or business shall cause any building or structure to be erected [...] within the city limits of the City of Gregory”
Minimum lot sizeSpecified
A mobile home park in the City of Gregory
The 5-acre minimum does not apply when the parcel abuts an existing mobile home park.
The initial construction of a mobile home park must provide at least 15 mobile home spaces so streets, parking, and other facilities are completed for the first occupants.
Ordinance 124 was passed 1994-02-07.
minimum mobile-home-park parcel area: >= 5 acres (Unless abutting an existing mobile home park.) · minimum initial mobile-home spaces: >= 15 spaces (For initial construction of a mobile home park.)
“No mobile home park as defined herein [...] having surface area of less than 5 acres unless abutting an existing mobile home park.”
SetbacksSpecified
Building-permit applications within the City of Gregory zoning jurisdiction
The application must state the distance from front, rear, and side lot lines.
A site plan must show setbacks from property lines.
If required setbacks cannot be met, a variance request must accompany the building permit application.
The cited provision does not state the numeric setback distances; those remain district-dependent under the city zoning ordinance.
setback categories required in application: front, rear, and side lot lines · variance request fee: 75 USD (When required setbacks cannot be met.)
“The distance the building or structure will be located from the front, rear and side lot lines;”
Permit feesPublished (with conditions)
Residential and commercial building permits for structures within the City of Gregory
The application must be accompanied by the applicable residential and commercial building permit fee schedule.
Fees are based on valuation, square-foot valuation, or listed non-valued work.
Failure to file a building permit incurs a $75 penalty in addition to the fee schedule.
A variance request has a $75 flat fee.
The ordinance amendment was Ordinance 2014-02, passed 2014-08-04; the section also cites Ordinance 41 and prior code provisions.
permit fee for valuation $0 through $1,000: 15 USD · variance request fee: 75 USD · failure-to-file penalty: 75 USD (In addition to the applicable fee schedule.) · finished habitable space valuation basis: 65 USD per square foot (Single-family dwelling, duplex, and townhouses.)
“The application must be accompanied by an amount equal to the residential and commercial building permit fee schedule that is shown below:”
Set by your township or city, not the county
In South Dakota, zoning is adopted by each township or city, so Gregory County has no county-wide answer on these. Find your township or city in the list of places on this page, or call its clerk or zoning administrator.
Zoning districts
Minimum dwelling size
Lot coverage
Building height
Living in an RV
Camping on your land
Tiny homes
Manufactured homes
Accessory dwellings
Short-term rentals
Still unanswered
We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.
Certificate of occupancy — County certificate-of-occupancy requirements.
Septic inspection — Inspection of on-site wastewater systems in Gregory County.
Mandatory utility hookup — Water and sewer connection requirements.
Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.
Living off-grid in Gregory County, South Dakota
Is Gregory County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?
Gregory County scores 59/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: deep seclusion — about 2,986 people within a 30-minute drive and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: elevated current hazard exposure and thin water margin (24.5″/yr rainfall).
Do you need a building permit in Gregory County, South Dakota?
Gregory County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR). Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.
How much does land cost in Gregory County, South Dakota?
Land in Gregory County runs about $2,050 per acre, based on the latest county data.
What is the water situation in Gregory County?
Gregory County gets about 24.5" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 14.4% of years.
How remote is Gregory County?
A representative private-land location has about 2,986 people within a 30-minute drive and 72,006 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.
