Crawford County’s government in Steelville lists no building, planning or zoning office, and its published sources describe no county building permit for unincorporated land. Septic systems are the exception: the Crawford County Health Department, 202 W. Main Street, Steelville (573-775-2555), permits them under the county’s own onsite wastewater ordinance. The county contracts with the Meramec Regional Planning Commission for technical help in administering its floodplain program, and Cuba, Bourbon and Sullivan run their own building permits.
What needs a permit outside the cities
Permit needed
- New or repaired onsite septic systems: Crawford County Health Department
- Building, filling or other development in the mapped floodplain: county floodplain program
No county office
- No building department among the county offices
- No planning and zoning office among the county offices
The floodplain rule reaches county projects too: in June 2025 a commissioner reported that a lean-to planned at a county road shed was waiting for FEMA approval because the site is in the floodplain.
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Get a free quote →Who to contact in Crawford County
The County Commission meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Crawford County Courthouse, 302 W. Main Street, Steelville (573-775-2376), and posts its agendas and minutes on the county website. Items for an agenda must be requested from the presiding commissioner by 4:30 p.m. the Friday before. The County Surveyor (573-241-2491) offers plot plans and stake-outs. The incorporated places below permit work inside their limits; populations are Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates for the part of each place in Crawford County.
| Place | Who permits building work |
|---|---|
| Cuba (3,288) | City building official, City Hall, 202 N. Smith Street; 573-885-7432. The City Code adopts the 2009 International Codes and the 2008 National Electrical Code, and the building official issues certificates of occupancy |
| Bourbon (1,544) | The City’s Administrative Officer issues building permits, required before any building or addition is started, and the City Clerk collects the filing fee: $100 for a mobile home and $15 to $100 for home alterations by size. A residence must be at least 800 sq ft |
| Sullivan (1,513 here; 5,429 in Franklin County) | City Building and Code Department at City Hall; building inspector 573-468-8999. The Sullivan Fire Protection District requires its own permit for commercial construction |
| Steelville (1,447) | A City Inspector issues occupancy permits: homes that are bought or rented need an inspection and permit before City utilities are turned on (City occupancy checklist, March 2024). The city also has Planning and Zoning and Appeals boards; City Hall, 895 Frisco Street, 573-775-2815 |
| Leasburg (318), West Sullivan (281), St. Cloud (39) | The published sources do not say; ask the village clerk |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Septic permits
The Crawford County Health Department is the onsite wastewater permitting authority for the county under a county ordinance that can add requirements to the state’s minimum construction standards, so contact the department before installing or repairing a septic system. The County Commission approved the list of Crawford County On-Site Sewage Board members in May 2026, to be reviewed annually.
Fees
The county posts no building permit fee schedule, and septic permit charges come from the Health Department. In the cities, Bourbon’s code sets these filing fees:
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Mobile home | $100 |
| Home alteration under 500 / 501–1,499 / 1,500 sq ft or more | $15 / $50 / $100 |
| Commercial alteration, same size bands | $75 / $150 / $250 |
| Residential deck, porch or stairs | $15 |
| Portable storage building over 200 sq ft, or portable carport | $15 |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →How to build in unincorporated Crawford County
Inside Cuba, Bourbon, Sullivan or Steelville, follow the city’s rules.
Contact the Crawford County Health Department before installing or repairing an onsite system.
If the site may be in the mapped floodplain, contact the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (573-265-2993), which gives the county technical assistance with floodplain administration, before building or filling.
For a plot plan or stake-out, the County Surveyor can help.
Floodplain and data center notes
Floodplain: Crawford County takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program, with flood maps dated May 20, 2010, as do Bourbon, Cuba, Leasburg, Steelville and Sullivan. The Commission signed a contract in February 2025 for the Meramec Regional Planning Commission to continue providing technical assistance in administering the floodplain, and noted in April 2026 that the agreement’s rates would rise. The commission’s office is at 4 Industrial Drive, St. James, in neighboring Phelps County.
Data centers: the Commission held a long discussion at its July 7, 2026 meeting on what the county would do if a data center came to Crawford County; the minutes record the discussion but no action.
Rather not deal with the Crawford County building department?
Get a free quote →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
Crawford County permit FAQs
Does Crawford County issue building permits?
The county lists no building, planning or zoning office, and its published sources describe no county building permit. Septic and floodplain rules still apply outside the cities.
Who issues septic permits in Crawford County?
The Crawford County Health Department, 202 W. Main Street, Steelville (573-775-2555), under the county’s onsite wastewater ordinance.
Who handles floodplain permits?
Contact the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (573-265-2993), which gives the county technical assistance with floodplain administration under contract.
Who issues building permits in Cuba?
The City of Cuba’s building official, under the 2009 International Codes; City Hall is at 202 N. Smith Street (573-885-7432).
When does the County Commission meet?
Every Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the courthouse in Steelville.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Crawford County permit search and official resources
- Crawford County Commission
- Crawford County Commission minutes
- Crawford County Surveyor
- Missouri DHSS onsite wastewater permit contacts: Crawford County
- SEMA floodplain contacts: Crawford County
- FEMA Community Status Book: Missouri
- City of Cuba building codes (Chapter 500)
- City of Bourbon building regulations (Chapter 500)
- City of Sullivan Building & Code Department
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Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Crawford County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.