The Greene County Resource Management Department addresses rules, regulations and issues for all unincorporated areas of Greene County, and its Building Regulations office has the legal jurisdiction to issue permits for all phases of construction there. Springfield is one of the municipalities within Greene County, and there the city issues permits.
This guide covers the county’s permits for unincorporated land and the City of Springfield. No Greene County building fee schedule was found on the county website, so ask Building Regulations for fees.
What requires a building permit in Greene County?
In unincorporated Greene County, Building Regulations issues permits for all phases of construction. A county permit is also needed to repair or replace a wastewater system or sewer line, or to disconnect from a septic system and connect to city sewer.
Some approvals must come first: a blasting permit, including any required pre-blast survey, must be in hand before a building permit is issued, and a structure without 15’ vertical and horizontal clearance from utility lines needs the utility provider’s approval of its placement.
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Get a free quote →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
Who handles permitting in Greene County?
Building Regulations (Resource Management Department): 940 N Boonville Ave Room 305, Springfield, MO 65802, (417) 868-4015, Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Environmental Division: 940 N Boonville Ave Room 315, (417) 868-4147, administers the county’s stormwater, sinkhole, erosion and sediment control, floodplain and on-site wastewater rules.
Planning and Zoning processes conditional use permits, plats, administrative subdivisions and rezonings for unincorporated land. Access from a county road goes through the Greene County Highway Department.
Springfield: Building Development Services, Busch Municipal Building, 840 Boonville Ave., 1st Floor, Springfield, MO 65802; permit questions 417-864-1585; permit desk open 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Greene County rules
Codes
Greene County has adopted the 2012 International Codes, the 2011 National Electric Code with adopted amendments, and the Greene County Wastewater Standards.
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Get a free quote →Owner and address
Permits are issued in the name of the recorded property owner; authorized agents need proof of ownership. On the single-family application, the work site address must be approved by the Greene County Addressing Office (Room 305).
Wastewater
Wastewater installers in unincorporated Greene County must be certified by both Greene County and the State.
Commercial projects
Check zoning first and contact the Highway Department about access from a county road. Plans must be sealed by a design professional licensed in Missouri, in five sets; they are routed to the Stormwater Engineer, Zoning, the Highway Department, Springfield City Utilities and the plan reviewer, with first comments in ten to fifteen working days.
Building permits in Springfield
Springfield takes commercial, residential, trade, driveway, excavation and wrecking permit applications through eCity.springfieldmo.gov. The city has adopted the 2018 International codes, except that its electrical code is the 2017 National Electric Code.
A new house on septic in Springfield needs septic approval from Public Works Clean Water Services, with a percolation test, a system designed by a professional engineer and a tract of at least 3 acres. Plumbing, electrical and mechanical work in new dwellings must be done by certified, bonded professionals.
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →How to get a building permit in Greene County
Unincorporated land goes to Greene County Building Regulations; Springfield parcels go to the city.
Have the work site address approved by the Addressing Office; commercial projects check zoning first.
Blasting permit and pre-blast survey, and utility provider approval where the 15’ clearances are not met.
Permits are issued to the recorded owner; agents bring proof of ownership. Commercial plans need five sealed sets.
A county permit becomes invalid if work does not start within six months or no inspection is made for six months.
Permit validity is set by Greene County's ordinance rather than by statute, so confirm the expiry on phased or delayed work. Permit validity in Missouri
Rather not deal with the Greene County building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections in Greene County
Greene County issues no same-day permits and does no same-day inspections: call (417) 868-4015 the day before to schedule. In Springfield, all work must stay exposed until inspected and approved; lot corners must be exposed and staked for the footing inspection, and an approved footing inspection is needed before the stem wall is built.
Official Greene County permitting resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
- Greene County Building Regulations
- Greene County single-family permit application
- Greene County Environmental Division
- Greene County Planning and Zoning
- Springfield building permits and codes
- Springfield 1-2 family permits
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Get a free quote →Frequently asked questions
Which codes does Greene County enforce?
The 2012 International Codes, the 2011 National Electric Code with local amendments, and the Greene County Wastewater Standards.
Can I get a same-day inspection in Greene County?
No. Call (417) 868-4015 the day before to schedule.
When does a Greene County permit expire?
It becomes invalid if work does not start within six months of the permit date or if no inspection is done for six months.
Simplify Greene County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →- Confirm whether the county or a city has the parcel, and which office to file with
- Line up zoning, wastewater and road access approvals before the building permit
- File with the right office and book each inspection ahead of time
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.
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More Missouri permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Greene County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.