Dent County publishes no building permit, building code or zoning for unincorporated land; its commission’s duties cover county buildings, roads and bridges. Septic systems on county land are permitted directly by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (573-751-6095, ext. 5). Inside Salem, the city’s Building Inspector (573-729-4811) issues permits under the 2012 International codes, with fees based on floor area and the ICC construction cost table.
Dent County building department: who handles permitting
The County Commission meets on Mondays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the courthouse, 400 N. Main St., Salem (573-729-3044). The state emergency agency lists the county emergency coordinator at 112 E. 5th St., Salem (573-729-3241).
| Place | Who permits building work |
|---|---|
| Salem (4,674) | City Building Inspector (573-729-4811): building, plumbing, electrical and sign permits; City Administration Building, 400 N. Iron St. (573-729-5211), where contractors register |
| Bunker (100 in Dent County) | The published sources do not say; ask the city |
| Unincorporated county | No county building permit is published; septic permits from the state health department |
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Salem permit fees
Salem’s rate schedule is in City Code Section 500.060 (last amended in March 2018). A new building is charged gross area × 0.67 × the current ICC square-foot construction cost × 0.0017, and commercial projects add a plan review fee of 65% of the permit fee.
| Work | Fee |
|---|---|
| Remodel under 500 sq ft | $40 residential / $85 commercial |
| Remodel 501–1,499 sq ft | $85 residential / $175 commercial |
| Remodel 1,500 sq ft and larger | $150 residential / $300 commercial |
| Electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit | $30 residential / $60 commercial |
| Manufactured, modular or mobile home | $0.15 per sq ft |
| Portable building over 200 sq ft | $0.15 per sq ft |
| Demolition | $0.05 per sq ft |
| Deck, porch or stairs; fence over 3 ft; retaining wall | $30 each |
| Pool or spa | $60 |
| Sign | $30 plus $0.10 per sq ft |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Salem also takes a refundable deposit, returned after an approved final inspection: $50 for a residential job under $2,500 and $100 above that, or $100 and $200 for commercial work. It is forfeited if the permit expires first. Work started without a permit pays double the fee.
Septic, floodplain and Salem rules
Septic on county land: the state’s permit directory lists the state health department itself, not a county agency, as the onsite sewage authority for Dent County, so applications go to its office in Jefferson City. The statute behind the state program, RSMo 701.031, exempts a one-home lot of 3 acres or more only if each piece of the system is over 10 feet from the property line and nothing it discharges reaches a neighbour, pollutes water or becomes a nuisance. No state application fee has been charged since August 28, 2026, when the $90 fee was suspended until new fees are set.
Floodplain: Salem takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program with flood maps dated August 1, 2023; FEMA lists Dent County among communities that do not participate. The state’s directory lists Salem’s floodplain administrator at the Meramec Regional Planning Commission in St. James, Phelps County (573-265-2993).
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Salem contractors and rentals: contractors and service providers register with the City Clerk and show proof of workers’ compensation insurance, and most businesses need a $35 annual city business licence. The city also posts an application for short-term rentals.
Starting a project in Dent County
Check whether the site is inside Salem or Bunker; rural land has no county building permit.
Apply to the state health department’s onsite program with a soil evaluation and a registered installer.
Call the Building Inspector before any construction, plumbing or electrical work, register as a contractor with the City Clerk and pay the fee and deposit.
Salem’s inspector visits during construction; the deposit is refunded after the final inspection is approved.
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 Dent County building department?
Get a free quote →Dent County permit FAQs
Does Dent County, Missouri require a building permit?
No county building permit is published for unincorporated land. Septic systems still need a state permit in the cases state law covers, and Salem requires city permits.
Who issues septic permits in Dent County?
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, directly (573-751-6095, ext. 5); the state lists no county agency for septic permits in Dent County.
How are building permit fees calculated in Salem?
Gross area times 0.67 times the current ICC square-foot construction cost times 0.0017, plus a commercial plan review fee of 65% of that amount.
Do I need a permit for a fence in Salem?
Yes for a fence over 3 feet; the fee is $30.
Who do I call for a building permit in Salem?
The Building Inspector at 573-729-4811, before any construction, plumbing or electrical work starts.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Dent County permit search and official resources
- Dent County Commission
- Missouri DHSS septic (OWTS) permit authority by county
- SEMA emergency and floodplain contacts, Dent County
- FEMA Community Status Book: Missouri
- City of Salem permits and licences
- City of Salem code, including building permit fees
Simplify Dent County permitting with Alliance Permitting
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.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Ready to break ground in Dent County sooner?
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Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Dent County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.