Grant County planning director says farm-use buildings don’t require permits; staff must still check floodplain and setbacks

P&Z Director Jason Albert told the Grant County Planning & Zoning Commission on April 9, 2026, that State's Attorney Walker advised strictly farm-use buildings do not require a county building permit. Albert said the clarification affects how the department handles unpermitted agricultural structures.

Albert told commissioners he still needs a reliable way to confirm that those unpermitted agricultural buildings do not fall in regulated floodplains or violate setback requirements that would require a permit. He described the issue as an operational need for staff to verify compliance even when a permit is not required in principle.

The clarification arose during the meeting’s review of old business; no formal ordinance change or formal board action was recorded in the minutes. The commission did not vote on a policy change at the April meeting.

The commission set its next regular meeting for May 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. MST.