Apple Valley, MN Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Section 150.03(A) of the Apple Valley Code of Ordinances requires permits for building and mechanical work as stated in the Minnesota State Building Code, and permits for plumbing work regulated by the Minnesota Plumbing Code. The City Council adopted the state code by reference in § 150.01, with one copy on file in the office of the City Clerk, so the list of work that needs a permit is the state code's list, applied inside the City of Apple Valley in Dakota County, Minnesota. Section 150.02 makes the Building Inspection Division the Department of Building Safety, with a state certified building official as the administrative authority and the City Council as the appointing authority.

Under § 150.03(B), building and mechanical permits are valid for the time stated in the state code, and plumbing permits or any other permit issued under Chapter 150 are valid for a similar time period. Section 150.07(D) adds that a permit expires 180 days from the date of issuance if no substantial work is completed under it.

Fees are paid before the permit issues. Section 150.04 sets them by the appendix to Chapter 35, adds a state permit surcharge remitted to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry under M.S. § 326B.148, and bases the fee on the valuation of the work, taken from the State of Minnesota Building Valuation Data, a cost estimating manual such as Means Building Cost Data, the applicant's valuation, or a city established valuation. A plan review fee of 65% of the building permit fee is paid when plans are submitted for all commercial building permits, all new single-family home permits, and all new apartment building and condominium permits.

Section 150.07 also sets completion deadlines for exterior work: 180 days for roofs, siding, replacement doors and windows, accessory structures and retaining walls on single-family property, and 365 days for new construction and additions to the primary home. Sheds, detached garages, decks and fences count as exterior structures. The Building Official can grant one extension of not more than 180 days for unavoidable delay. Exterior work done without a permit falls outside those dates, and the Building Official alone sets the completion and code compliance date.