Unincorporated Clinton County is a zoned county, and its Planning and Zoning office (207 N. Main St., Room 3, Plattsburg; 816-539-3722) must issue a building permit before any construction starts. A new house is charged $0.30 per sq ft of finished and unfinished living space, a septic permit adds $235, and the Zoning Administrator acts on an application by the fifth business day after filing. Cameron, Plattsburg, Lathrop, Gower, Trimble and Holt run their own permits inside city limits.
Clinton County building department: who handles permitting
The Zoning Administrator and two deputy administrators run the county zoning office from Room 3 of the courthouse at 207 N. Main St., Plattsburg, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with an hour’s lunch break (email cczoning@clintoncomo.gov). The office asks applicants to call before applying and to start every permit before 4 p.m. It also stresses that homeowner, property owner and subdivision associations cannot issue building permits: only Planning and Zoning can.
Town contacts below come from the county’s community pages or the town’s own site, and populations from the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Place | Who permits building work |
|---|---|
| Cameron (5,119 in Clinton County; 2,222 in DeKalb County) | City of Cameron Building Permits & Inspections, 205 N. Main (816-632-2177), Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The city says it works under the 2015 ICC codes and the 2017 NEC; its fee schedule of May 4, 2026 (Res. 2026-22) charges $0.67 per sq ft for new construction |
| Lathrop (2,253) | City of Lathrop: permits for new houses, room additions and interior work such as finishing a basement; floor plan, site plan and cross section required. City Hall, 707 Oak Street, 816-740-4251 |
| Plattsburg (2,239) | City of Plattsburg: the Building Inspector issues permits and inspects under the city code, which adopts the 2015 International Building Code; $0.40 per sq ft for a new home or commercial building, $0.30 for additions and remodels, accessory structures $0.20 ($35 minimum); work of $500 or less needs no permit. City Hall, 114 W. Maple, 816-539-2148 |
| Gower (1,484 here; 30 in Buchanan County) | City of Gower: the Zoning Administrator issues all permits ($0.20 per sq ft of living area for a new house); City Hall, 97 North 4th Street, 816-424-6617 |
| Trimble (659) | City of Trimble: building permits through the City Clerk; the city has a building inspector. City Hall, 402 N. Port Arthur Road, 816-357-2228, open Monday, Wednesday and Friday |
| Turney (125) | The published sources do not say; ask the village |
| Holt (90 here; 392 in Clay County) | City of Holt: permits through City Hall, with plan review and inspections by a contract building inspector; since January 1, 2025 a new house is $0.40 per sq ft. City Hall, 315 Main St., 816-320-3391, weekdays 9 a.m. to noon |
| Osborn (53 here; 316 in DeKalb County) | The City of Osborn does not require building permits; it regulates tiny homes and trailers by ordinance. City Hall 816-675-2239 |
| Unincorporated Clinton County | Clinton County Planning and Zoning, Plattsburg |
What needs a county permit in Clinton County?
Under the Zoning Order no building, sign or other structure may be built, rebuilt, moved or altered, and no vacant land put to a use other than farming, until the Zoning Administrator has issued a permit. The county publishes these applications:
Building permits
- New house, with or without attached garage
- Accessory building, barn or shed of 120 sq ft or more
- Commercial building
- Residential solar under 30 kW
- Temporary living permit during construction (AG-A and AG-B parcels)
Related permits
- On-site wastewater (septic) permit
- Driveway onto a county-maintained road
- Special use permit, including solar of 30 kW or more
- Variance, rezoning and subdivision applications
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Every application must come with the county’s applicant contact sheet. An accessory building may never be used as a home, and one that will have water in any form needs a septic application unless a system is already in place.
Clinton County permit fees
Fees are set in Section 21 of the Zoning Order and printed on each application. They are not refundable, are payable to the Clinton County Treasurer, and double when work starts before the permit is issued.
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| House or room addition | $0.30 per sq ft of living space, finished and unfinished (Section 21 lists a 950 sq ft minimum for dwellings) |
| Commercial, industrial or business building | $0.30 per sq ft |
| Accessory building, 120 sq ft or larger | $0.05 per sq ft or $50, whichever is larger |
| Septic system permit | $60, plus $175 inspection fee |
| Residential solar under 30 kW | $100 plus $10 per kW |
| Driveway onto a county road | $50, waived when filed with a house or accessory building permit |
| Temporary living permit (AG-A, AG-B) | $150 |
| Tower or other structure without floor space | $4 per foot |
| Signs | $1 per sq ft |
| Variance application | $250, plus certified-letter costs and a $150 legal notification fee |
| Special use permit | $500, plus certified-letter costs and a $150 legal notification fee |
For example, a house with 2,000 sq ft of living space is $600 for the building permit, or $835 with a new septic system. The estimated construction cost asked for on the house application does not change the fee.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →How to get a Clinton County permit
Check the zoning, setbacks and lot rules for the parcel before buying, dividing or building.
Without sewer, a licensed soil evaluator tests the site and a state-licensed installer designs the system.
Applicant contact sheet, the permit application, deed, scaled plot plan showing new construction, existing structures, the likely lagoon location and distances to the lot lines, plus the septic application and morphology report.
The Zoning Administrator acts by the fifth business day; septic designs are reviewed and pre-inspected by the Health Department.
Display the permit where it can be seen from the street and start within 12 months.
Give the inspector 24 hours’ notice and leave all buried components uncovered; the house cannot be occupied until the Health Department has passed the system.
Commercial buildings and multi-family buildings of four or more units need a site plan sealed by a registered architect or engineer. A building permit lapses if construction has not started within 12 months, and the Zoning Administrator can extend it by up to 18 months.
Septic, driveways and floodplain in Clinton County
Septic systems: the county permits on-site wastewater systems under its own ordinance, and the Clinton County Health Department (816-539-2144) carries out the plan review and the inspections under contract. The $235 fee covers the license and inspection.
Rather not deal with the Clinton County building department?
Get a free quote →Driveways: an entrance onto a county road needs a county driveway permit and a drainage tube installed to the County Highway Engineer’s specifications before construction starts; a driveway onto a state highway needs a Missouri Department of Transportation permit instead.
Floodplain: in a mapped flood zone the lowest floor of a new or substantially improved home, including the basement, must be at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. Clinton County, Cameron, Gower, Holt, Lathrop, Plattsburg and Trimble all participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, according to FEMA’s Community Status Book.
Solar: systems under 30 kW need a building permit with engineered plans; larger ones need a special use permit first.
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
Clinton County permit FAQs
Do I need a building permit in rural Clinton County?
Yes. Clinton County is zoned, and Planning and Zoning must issue a permit before any construction begins; starting first doubles the fee.
How much is a building permit for a new house in Clinton County?
$0.30 per sq ft of finished and unfinished living space, so $600 for 2,000 sq ft, plus $235 if the house needs a septic system.
Do I need a permit for a shed or barn?
Yes for accessory buildings of 120 sq ft or more: $0.05 per sq ft with a $50 minimum.
How long does a Clinton County permit take?
The Zoning Order requires the Zoning Administrator to act by the fifth business day after the application is filed.
Can my homeowners association approve my building?
Not in place of a permit. The county says only Planning and Zoning can issue building permits.
Who issues permits inside Cameron or Lathrop?
Each city: Cameron’s Building Permits & Inspections office (816-632-2177) and Lathrop City Hall (816-740-4251).
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Clinton County permit search and official resources
- Clinton County Planning and Zoning
- Clinton County ordinances and permit forms
- Clinton County Zoning Order, amended July 21, 2026
- Clinton County house and accessory building permit application
- Clinton County commercial building permit application
- Clinton County driveway permit application
- Clinton County residential solar permit application
- Missouri DHSS onsite wastewater permitting authority by county
- City of Cameron building permits and inspections
- City of Cameron comprehensive fee schedule, May 2026
- City of Lathrop forms and permits
- City of Trimble local government and permits
- City of Plattsburg municipal code (Chapter 500, building)
- City of Holt municipal code (Chapter 500, permit fees)
- FEMA Community Status Book, Missouri
Inspections are where schedules slip.
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Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Clinton County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.