Dunklin County, Missouri Building Permit Guide

Dunklin County publishes no building code or county building permit, so the permit office for most projects is the city: Kennett’s Code Enforcement office, Malden’s Code Enforcement or the town hall. On unincorporated land, the county Emergency Management Agency at the Justice Center in Kennett (573-888-2937) is the floodplain administrator, and the state health department permits septic systems.

Dunklin County building department: who handles permitting

The courthouse is at 100 Kennett Court Square, Kennett, and the County Clerk can be reached at 573-888-1374. Emergency Management works from the Justice Center, 1175 Floyd St. Ten cities and towns lie in the county:

City building permit fees in Malden

Malden’s fee schedule (Ordinance 3270, January 23, 2023) caps the fees for new buildings, and the new-building fees include plumbing, electrical and structural work:

Any new house larger than 625 sq ft reaches Malden’s $50 cap. For 30 days after the Mayor or City Council declares an emergency event (a disaster that substantially damages three or more buildings) in an area, Malden issues permits there without a fee for reconstruction, renovation, remodeling, rehabilitation or demolition. Arbyrd’s code says the city sets the cost of building permits for all buildings other than houses.

Floodplain and septic rules on county land

Floodplain: the state emergency agency lists Dunklin County’s emergency management director as its floodplain administrator (emergency phone 573-344-5545). The county has taken part in the National Flood Insurance Program since 1989, with flood maps dated February 5, 2003; Arbyrd, Campbell, Cardwell, Clarkton, Holcomb, Hornersville, Kennett, Malden and Senath also take part, and FEMA does not list Rives.

Septic systems: the state health department’s directory names its own Onsite Wastewater Treatment program (573-751-6095 ext. 5) as the permitting authority for Dunklin County. The Dunklin County Health Department, 402 Recovery Road, Kennett (573-888-9008), explains the rule: a permit for a new system or major repair on a single-family lot of less than 3 contiguous deeded acres, and for every multifamily, business or public building, after an application, fee, soil morphology test and site evaluation. Under state law (RSMo 701.031) a single-family lot of 3 acres or more is excluded only when every part of the system is more than 10 feet from the property lines and no effluent leaves the lot, pollutes water or causes a nuisance; lots next to a Corps of Engineers or public-utility lake are never excluded. A registered installer must do the work, though an owner may install a permitted system for his or her own home. The state’s application fee has been suspended since August 28, 2026, while new fees are set.

Starting a project in Dunklin County

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

Dunklin County permit FAQs

Does Dunklin County, Missouri issue building permits?

The county publishes no building code or building permit. Kennett, Malden and Arbyrd handle building permits inside their limits; in the other towns, ask the city hall.

Who issues building permits in Kennett?

The City’s Code Enforcement office at 200 Second St. (573-888-3005), under the 2021 International Building and Residential Codes.

How much is a building permit for a new house in Malden?

$0.08 per sq ft, capped at $50, and the fee covers plumbing, electrical and structural work.

Who is the floodplain contact for rural Dunklin County?

The county Emergency Management Agency at the Justice Center, 1175 Floyd St., Kennett (573-888-2937).

When is a septic permit needed in Dunklin County?

The county health department says a state permit is needed for a new system or major repair at a single-family home on less than 3 contiguous deeded acres, and at any multifamily, business or public building regardless of acreage. Larger single-family lots are excluded only if the whole system stays more than 10 feet from the property lines and no effluent leaves the lot (RSMo 701.031).

Dunklin County permit search and official resources

• Dunklin County Emergency Management Agency
• Dunklin County phone directory
• Dunklin County Health Department on-site sewage page
• Missouri DHSS septic (OWTS) permit authority by county
• SEMA emergency and floodplain contacts, Dunklin County
• FEMA Community Status Book: Missouri
• City of Malden building permits
• City of Malden code of ordinances
• City of Arbyrd code of ordinances

Simplify Dunklin 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.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Dunklin County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.