Fulton, Missouri Building Permit Guide

Inside Fulton city limits, building and remodel permits come from the City’s Planning and Protective Services office in the Public Works Engineering Division at City Hall, 18 E. 4th Street; the building permit application is filed online. Under the City’s 2026 Rate Book a new one- or two-family home or addition costs $2 per $1,000 of ICC valuation ($40 minimum), and inspections must be booked 24 hours ahead.

What needs a permit in Fulton?

The City’s process sheet says a building or remodel permit must be in hand before any work starts. The online application covers new residential and commercial buildings, remodels and repairs, signs, demolition, pools and accessory structures; solar and alternative power systems have their own permit.

Accessory buildings also have to meet the zoning code: they cannot be built before the house, cannot sit in front of it unless attached, and must be 10 ft from the main building, 5 ft from rear and side lot lines and 25 ft from a public street (alleys excepted). Their total size is capped by lot area (for example 500 sq ft on lots up to 7,000 sq ft and 1,500 sq ft on lots of half an acre to an acre), and together they may cover no more than 30% of the rear yard.

Fulton building department: who handles permitting

The Engineering Division of the Public Works Department runs Planning and Protective Services, which reviews plans, issues permits and inspects construction inside city limits; under the zoning code the building inspector issues permits and certificates. Casey Bailey is the Planning and Protective Services Manager, and the City Engineer, Darrell Dunlap, heads the Engineering Division. Appeals of a building decision go to the Board of Adjustment within 30 days.

Applying for a Fulton permit

The building permit is filed through the City website’s online Building and Remodel Permit Application. It asks for the permit type, the square footage, whether new utilities will be installed, whether the property is historic and whether it is in a floodplain, plus the owner’s and contractor’s details and the contractor’s licence number; drawings are uploaded with it. Rezoning, right-of-way, sewer tapping and solar applications are paper forms that can be emailed, mailed or taken to City Hall.

Before the application is approved, staff review the building plans or drawings, a site plan and any structural details. For new construction the property boundaries must be marked before applying, and the footing must leave a smooth, flush surface at least 8 inches wide where the underground electric service enters so the conduit can bend under the meter base.

Every contractor needs a current City business licence from the City Clerk’s office; construction contractors must also show workers’ compensation cover or a signed exemption affidavit. Property owners may take out permits for work on their own property, provided the work meets City codes and passes inspection.

Fulton permit fees

Fees come from the City’s 2026 Schedule of Rates, Fees, and Charges (the “Rate Book”), approved by Ordinance 1698-25 and effective January 1 to December 31, 2026. Construction value is taken from the latest ICC Building Valuation Data; an owner who thinks that figure is wrong can submit a value prepared by an architect, engineer or trade expert for the planning staff to consider.

For example, a new house whose ICC valuation is $250,000 pays a $500 building permit fee. Signs cost $40 for up to 50 sq ft plus $0.25 for each square foot over 50. All fees double if work starts before the permit is issued, and occupying a dwelling without a valid inspection adds 50% to the original permit fee.

Trade work and utility connections

The Rate Book has no separate electrical, plumbing or mechanical fee table: jobs that only upgrade or extend an electric service, panel or interior wiring, interior plumbing or gas appliances pay the minimum permit fee. The required inspections include under-slab plumbing and electrical, electrical and plumbing rough-ins, and the electrical and plumbing finals.

The City runs its own electric, natural gas, water and sewer utilities. A Sewer Tapping and Reconnection Permit is needed for any work on a new or existing sewer service line; when the job needs a new tap on the main or affects a City street or sidewalk, a $414 fee (4-inch service) or $776 (6-inch or larger) is billed to the contractor. Tell the Engineering Department before starting (573-592-3111, 8 a.m.–3 p.m.); work is generally limited to 8 a.m.–4 p.m., and building sewers must be at least 4 inches, laid at 1/8 inch per foot or more in Schedule 40 PVC or an approved equal.

How to get a Fulton building permit

Fulton inspections

The permit holder is responsible for calling for every required inspection at least 24 hours in advance. The City’s minimum inspection points for building and remodeling work are the footing and foundation (vapor barrier and steel), under-slab plumbing and electrical, framing and egress, electrical and plumbing rough-ins, attic insulation, and the electrical, plumbing and building finals. A Certificate of Occupancy must be issued before anyone moves in.

On remodels, all work must be clearly visible at the time of inspection, any system affected by the work has to be inspected and tested to current code, and anything found not to meet the adopted codes must be corrected before occupancy. If no inspections were requested during construction, the City cannot issue a standard certificate of occupancy and may discontinue City utilities; the owner then signs a non-compliance statement and pays the fee for a nonconforming certificate. A permit stays valid for one year and can be renewed for $40 on one- and two-family work or $80 on other work.

Local Fulton rules

Codes: Fulton enforces the 2015 International Building, Residential, Existing Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, Fire and Property Maintenance Codes and the 2017 National Electrical Code, adopted by Ordinance 1439-17 in August 2017. Its residential amendment limits the sprinkler requirement to homes of three or more stories.

Floodplain: the City’s flood chapter adopts the federal floodplain management standards of 44 CFR 60.3(d), and floodplain development needs its own permit plus an elevation or floodproofing certificate. Fulton takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program; FEMA lists its current effective flood map as September 5, 2012, while the City’s building code amendment inserts November 1, 2017 as the flood hazard map date.

Stormwater: where on-site detention is not built, the City may accept a contribution in lieu of $2,000 plus 50 cents per square foot for sites under 75,000 sq ft of surface area, if the project causes no downstream problems and the City Engineer and Code Enforcement approve.

Zoning: a rezoning application costs $300 and a Board of Adjustment case $200 plus a $500 deposit.

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

Fulton building permit FAQ

Who issues building permits in Fulton?

Planning and Protective Services in the City’s Public Works Engineering Division, at City Hall, 18 E. 4th Street (573-592-3111).

How much does a building permit cost in Fulton?

For a one- or two-family home or addition, $2 per $1,000 of ICC valuation with a $40 minimum; other building types pay $3 per $1,000. Remodels cost $1 or $2 per $1,000 with minimums from $40 to $120.

Do I need a permit for a shed?

Not for an accessory storage structure under 120 sq ft. Larger ones need a permit and must meet the zoning setbacks and size limits.

Do I need a permit to replace my roof?

Yes if the reroof or residing goes down to the structural or utility elements ($40); repairs that are not structural and involve no utilities need no permit.

Which codes apply in Fulton?

The 2015 International Building, Residential, Existing Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, Fire and Property Maintenance Codes and the 2017 National Electrical Code, with local amendments.

How long is a Fulton permit valid?

One year; renewal costs $40 for one- and two-family work and $80 for other work.

Fulton permit search and official resources

• Fulton Public Works and permit application center
• Fulton online Building and Remodel Permit Application
• Fulton building and remodeling process sheet
• Fulton 2026 Schedule of Rates, Fees, and Charges
• Fulton Sewer Tapping and Reconnection Permit
• Fulton right-of-way permit
• Fulton City Code Chapter 18, buildings and building regulations
• Fulton City Code Chapter 54, floods
• Fulton City Council agendas and minutes

Simplify Fulton 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 Fulton permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.