Barry County’s list of county offices at the Cassville courthouse (700 Main St., 417-847-2561) includes no planning, zoning or building department, and the county posts no building code. Building permits come from the cities, chiefly Monett, Cassville and Seligman. Outside town, the county permit a new home needs is the Health Department’s wastewater (septic) permit, and the 911 address must be in place before that application.
Who issues building permits in Barry County towns
11 cities and villages have residents in the county; Pierce City’s small Barry County section has none, so Pierce City is covered in the Lawrence County guide.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Place | Who permits building work |
|---|---|
| Monett (6,568 in Barry; 3,680 in Lawrence County) | Community Development Department (Building & Zoning), 508 Bond St., 417-235-5306 option 2; building, zoning and floodplain permits on both county sides of the city |
| Cassville (3,301) | City of Cassville, City Hall, 300 Main St., 417-847-4441; 2018 International Building Code (Ordinance 1916, January 14, 2025) |
| Purdy (1,062) | City Hall, 401 E. State Hwy C, 417-442-3273; the published sources do not describe a building permit |
| Seligman (951) | Zoning Administrator, who issues building permits, reviews plans and inspects; City Hall, 29144 Main St., 417-662-3600 |
| Butterfield (420) | City Hall, 10604 E. 1st St., 417-442-7975; the published sources do not describe a building permit |
| Exeter (765), Washburn (408) | No city permit program is published; the state lists floodplain contacts at 118 Front St., Exeter, 417-835-2823, and 2005 W. Pineville Rd., Washburn, 479-619-5729 |
| Wheaton (693) | No city permit program is published; the state lists an emergency management contact at 114 Barnett, Wheaton, 417-652-3314 |
| Emerald Beach (226), Chain-O-Lakes (107), Arrow Point (80) | The published sources do not say who permits building work; ask the village clerk |
Barry County permit fees
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Septic permit, single-family dwelling (county Health Department) | $200 |
| Septic permit, any other building | $300 |
| Septic repair | $75 |
| Cassville, new house | $0.30 per sq ft, $50 minimum for a residential permit |
| Cassville, garage, carport or outbuilding | $0.15 per sq ft |
| Cassville, residential remodeling | $0.20 per sq ft |
| Cassville, new commercial building | $0.50 per sq ft |
| Monett, house | $0.10 per sq ft; new-home permits are charged half the standard fee through December 31, 2027 |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →A 2,000 sq ft house in Cassville pays 2,000 × $0.30, or $600, for the city building permit, before any trade or utility charges.
Septic, addresses and flood insurance
Septic systems: the Barry County Health Department, 90 Barry County Dr., Cassville (417-847-2114), enforces the county wastewater ordinance adopted April 19, 1999 and amended in 2008. Every installation needs a site evaluation by a registered soil scientist or professional engineer; a percolation test alone is not accepted. The installer stakes the tank, lateral lines, well and water lines, and submits the drawing, the soil report and the fee. Review and a site visit can take up to 5 days, and the final inspection happens before the trenches are backfilled, with 24 hours’ notice where possible.
911 addresses: Barry County E9-1-1, 4011 Main St., Cassville (417-846-4911), assigns addresses for structures outside city limits, apart from Seligman; inside a city, ask city hall. Allow up to 3 weeks, because the septic application cannot be filed without the address.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Flood insurance: FEMA lists Barry County, Cassville, Arrow Point, Chain-O-Lakes and Emerald Beach as not participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, while Exeter, Monett and Washburn take part. The state’s floodplain directory names administrators only for those three cities; in Monett, Community Development issues floodplain permits.
Building a home on rural Barry County land
Apply to Barry County E9-1-1 early; it can take up to 3 weeks.
A registered soil scientist or engineer evaluates the site where the system will go.
The installer marks the tank, laterals, well and water lines and draws the plan.
Submit the application, soil report and fee to the Health Department, then wait for approval before construction of the system begins.
Call the Health Department before the trenches are backfilled; the installer then files Part II.
Missouri building code
Missouri has no mandatory statewide building code for private construction: a county, fire protection district or municipality may adopt one (usually by reference under RSMo 67.280), and in parts of the state none has. Building codes in Missouri
Rather not deal with the Barry County building department?
Get a free quote →Barry County permit FAQs
Does Barry County, Missouri issue building permits?
No county building, planning or zoning office is listed, and the county posts no building code. Monett, Cassville, Seligman and other towns handle permits inside their limits.
How much is a septic permit in Barry County?
$200 for a single-family dwelling, $300 for other buildings and $75 for a repair, paid to the county Health Department.
Do I need a 911 address before a septic permit?
Yes. Barry County E9-1-1 assigns rural addresses, and the Health Department will not take the application without one.
How much is a building permit in Cassville?
$0.30 per square foot for a new house, with a $50 minimum for residential permits.
Is Barry County in the National Flood Insurance Program?
FEMA lists Barry County as not participating. Exeter, Monett and Washburn do take part.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Barry County permit search and official resources
- Barry County offices
- Barry County Commission and County Clerk
- Barry County Health Department environmental services
- Barry County wastewater permit application procedure
- Barry County wastewater treatment systems ordinance
- Barry County E9-1-1 mapping and addressing
- SEMA floodplain and emergency contacts, Barry County
- FEMA Community Status Book: Missouri
- City of Cassville code of ordinances
- City of Seligman building permits and inspections
Simplify Barry County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Missouri. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.
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More Missouri permitting guides
Monett
Read guide →Clay County
Read guide →Greene County
Read guide →Barton County Building Permit Guide
Read guide →Bates County Building Permit Guide
Read guide →Bellefontaine Neighbors Building Permit Guide
Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Barry County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.