City of Perham Minnesota

Building Inspector

What Is a Building Permit?
A building permit is a license that grants legal permission to start construction of a building project.

What Does a Permit Do?
Your home or business is a significant investment. When that home or business building does not comply with the codes, the value of your investment could be reduced. In addition, insurance carriers may not insure work done on a building without proof of permits and inspections.

A property owner who can show that code requirements were strictly enforced and that a building has a firm foundation on which to stand. Your permit also allows the code official to protect the public by reducing the potential hazards of unsafe construction and ensuring public health, safety and welfare.

The City of Perham requires that building alteration or construction within its jurisdiction comply with the Minnesota State Building Code as adopted by the City of Perham. The Perham Building Official is charged with enforcing these provisions. The building official has the authority to determine if and when building permits and professional plan preparations are required by law and to review plans and inspect construction projects. Any and all construction activity requires a building permit signed by the Building Official and the City Manager. If this approval has not been given before construction starts the contractor is in violation of the State Building Code and is subject to a fee or prosecution for a misdemeanor.

What Construction Projects Need Building Permits?
Check with the Perham Building Official for the specific requirements in Perham.
Generally building permits are required for the following:

New Buildings
Additions
Renovations
Demolitions
Prefabricated Structures
Temporary Buildings
Manufactured Homes
Electrical Systems
Plumbing Systems
HVAC Systems (heating, ventilating, air conditioning)
Miscellaneous for Residential (fireplace, pools, decks, fences, etc.)
Miscellaneous for Commercial (parking, health, food handling, etc.)

Permit Process

Talk to the Perham Building Official.

You can reach the Building Official by calling City Hall (218) 346-9800 or by emailing: dneisen at cityofperham.com. Please replace the word "at" with the @ symbol. You will be asked basic questions regarding your project and will be advised of requirements.

Submit Application.

You may pick up a copy of the application at the Perham City Hall or you may view and print it from this web site by clicking here.

Review Process.

The Code Official will review your plans and determine if your project is in compliance with the construction codes and zoning ordinances.

Receive Permit.

With approval for the building permit, you have legal permission to start construction. A fee, based on the size of the job, is collected to cover the cost of the application, the review and the inspection process. See fee schedule below.

Job-site Inspection Visits.

Each major phase of construction must be inspected by the Code Official to make certain the work conforms to the Code, the building permit and the approved plans. The person responsible for the construction project must request each inspection. Usually, a one or two day notice is needed.

Final Approval.

When construction is complete and code compliance is assured, the Code Official will provide documentation of the completion of the project and gives permission for occupancy.

Applications should be returned to City Hall. For questions on completing the application, please call 218-346-4455.

Fee Schedule. City of Perham
(payable when permit is issued)

Cost of Construction:	Building Permit Fee:
$1.00-$500	$15.00
$501-$2,000	$15.00 for first $500.00 plus $2.00 for each additional $100.00 or fraction thereof, to and including $2,000.00
$2,001-$25,000	$45.00 for the first $2,000.00 plus $9.00 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof, to and including $25,000.00
$25,001-$50,000	$252.00 for the first $25,000.00 plus $6.50 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof, to and including $50,000.00
$50,001-$100,000	$414.50 for the first $50,000.00 plus $4.50 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof, to and including $100,000.00
$100,001-$500,000	$639.50 for the first $100,000.00 plus $3.50 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof, to and including $500,000.00
$500,001-$1,000,000	$2,039.50 for the first $500,000.00 plus $3.00 for each additional $1,000.00 or faction thereof, to and including $1,000,000.00
$1,000,001 and up	$3,539.50 for the first $1,000,000.00 plus $2.00 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof
Plan Review Fee	A plan review fee of 65% of the base building permit fee shall be charged for applicable commercial and industrial buildings as required by the State of Minnesota Rules under the Uniform Building Code
Inspections Outside of Normal Business Hours	$30.00 per hour* (minimum charge--two hours) * or the total hourly cost to the City, whichever is the greatest. This cost shall include supervision, overhead, equipment, hourly wages and fringe benefits of the employees involved
Inspections For Which No Fee Is Specifically Indicated	$30.00 per hour* (minimum charge--one half hour) * or the total hourly cost to the City, whichever is the greatest. This cost shall include supervision, overhead, equipment, hourly wages and fringe benefits of the employees involved
Additional Plan Review required by changes, additions or revisions to approved plan	$30.00 per hour* (minimum charge--one half hour) * or the total hourly cost to the City, whichever is the greatest. This cost shall include supervision, overhead, equipment, hourly wages and fringe benefits of the employees involved
For Use of Outside Consultants for plan checking and inspections or both	Actual costs (Actual costs include administrative and overhead costs)
State Surcharge	$.50 per $1,000.00 of Valuations (not part of City permit fee). Reminder: All valuation calculations shall include labor regardless of source.


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