The Lawrence County Planning and Zoning Office is here to assist the County Commissioners with land use management.  Lawrence County has had some form of land use management since 1974, which makes it evident our forefathers thought of planning and zoning for the future.  Overtime our regulations and practices have changed and evolved into the current Ordinances, but we are a long way from having totally modern practices. This is why you will be seeing a major overhaul of our current Ordinances; this comes along with many more changes.

 

Duties of the Department include but are not limited to:

• Building Applications
• Flood Plain Administration
• Land Use Applications
• Zoning Enforcement

Building Applications:

 

Building Permits are required in Lawrence County.  Building Permits are required for any new construction, reconstruction, alteration, remodeling, or change of use on all dwellings, buildings, utilities, towers, and animal structures within the unincorporated region of Lawrence County.  Lawrence County requires the 2006 International Building Code, 2006 International Residential Code, 2006 International Property Maintenance Code, and the 2006 International Mechanical Code.   Please apply for a Building Permit at least 30 days before construction is scheduled to take place.  This is to ensure the minimum setback requirements and to prevent slowdowns and possible Variance Applications which may hold up your project. 

 

Flood Plain Administration:

 

Our staff will check the flood plain boundary maps provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)  to determine if a property is in the flood plain.  FEMA Regulations and the Lawrence County Flood Plain Regulations restrict development within a 100-year Floodplain.   Proposals can be made and excepted provided that all regulations are followed.   A flood plain development plan must be submitted and specific requirements satisfied before a building permit will be issued on properties in this area.

 

Land Use Applications:

 

Land use applications are made available in the office and on the Lawrence County website Forms Page.  Please feel free to contact our department before filling out any applications.   Pre-conferences with the department are required before any application can be accepted and incomplete applications will not be accepted.  Please visit our meeting schedule page for application deadlines and hearing dates.   All land use applications will result in at least one public hearing.

Please review our Frequently Asked Questions if you still have questions.

Director: Ms. Amber Vogt

Deputy Director/Code Enforcer: Mr. Jeff Schroeder

Administrative Secretary: Ms. Sherryl Schulz

 

Telephone: (605)-578-3871

Fax: (605)-722-6221

 

Planning and Zoning Board Members:

Rick Tysdal - Chair

Darryl Johnson  - Commissioner Representative

Craig Mickelson - Secretary

Tom Brady

Bill Coburn

Barb Mattson

Marty O'Dea

Bob Ewing - Co-Commissioner Alternate

The Planning and Zoning Office is responsible for the proper zoning of all non-municipal properties in Lawrence County.

 

For a listing of permitting organizations nation-wide, try the Permit Place.