Howard County, Missouri Building Permit Guide

No official source publishes a building code, zoning ordinance or building permit for unincorporated Howard County. Septic systems there are permitted directly by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, and SEMA lists the county floodplain administrator at the courthouse in Fayette. Fayette’s Department of Building Safety charges $25 plus $2 per $1,000 of construction value, and Glasgow and New Franklin also require permits.

Howard County building department: who handles permitting

Inside the cities, each city handles its own permits. For unincorporated land, the county contacts in the state listings are its floodplain administrator at the courthouse and, for septic systems, the state health department itself. Populations below are Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates.

Fayette and Glasgow permits and fees

Fayette, the county seat, requires a permit for any commercial or industrial building, any single-story residential or accessory structure over 160 sq ft, structural, electrical, plumbing, heating and air or insulation work, new homes, remodels, additions including decks, porches and sunrooms, re-roofing, garages, carports, sheds, pools, greenhouses and barns. Fences over 12 ft and retaining walls over 4 ft must be engineered. Commercial work needs plan review of 3 sets of construction documents.

For example, a house valued at $250,000 pays $25 plus $500, or $525. A house application needs a copy of the deed or survey, the cost estimate, the square footage of each floor, garage, porch and deck, a site drawing showing the wastewater system and lot-line distances, the foundation type, a floor plan and elevations; applications are taken from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. Fayette inspects the footing before concrete, the framing and sheathing, rough electrical, plumbing and mechanical work, insulation (at least R-15 in 2x4 walls) and the final.

In Glasgow, the permit costs $5 for work between $200 and $1,000, plus $2 for each $1,000 above the first $1,000. The city inspects at least four times, after the footings, after rough framing, after rough electrical and plumbing and at completion, and the signed permit serves as the certificate of occupancy that must be shown before utilities are connected. Glasgow’s code adopts the 1996 BOCA National Building Code and the 1995 CABO One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code.

New Franklin requires building permits for all new structures, additions, outbuildings, decks, patios, carports and remodeling, but not for roofing, siding or window replacement. Every fence needs a permit, with no fee, and removing any building needs a demolition permit.

Septic and floodplain in Howard County

Septic systems: Howard County has no local onsite wastewater authority, so the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services issues permits directly: request an application number through its online form or call 573-751-6095, ext. 5.

Floodplain: Howard County is in the National Flood Insurance Program on flood maps dated March 21, 2017, with its floodplain administrator listed by SEMA at 1 Courthouse Square, Fayette (660-248-2193). Armstrong, Fayette, Franklin, Glasgow and New Franklin also take part in the program.

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

Howard County permit FAQs

Does Howard County issue building permits?

No official source publishes a county building code or building permit for unincorporated Howard County. Septic and floodplain rules still apply.

Who issues septic permits in Howard County?

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, directly; call 573-751-6095, ext. 5, or use its online application number request form.

How much is a building permit in Fayette?

$25 plus $2 per $1,000 of construction value, with an extra $500 when the value is over $300,000. A $250,000 house pays $525.

What building code does Fayette use?

The 2015 International Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Energy Conservation, Fire and Property Maintenance Codes and the 2014 National Electrical Code.

Do I need a permit for a new roof in New Franklin?

No. New Franklin does not require building permits for roofing, siding or window replacement, though fences and new structures need one.

Howard County permit search and official resources

• SEMA emergency management and floodplain contacts, Howard County
• Missouri DHSS onsite wastewater permitting authority by county
• FEMA Community Status Book, Missouri
• City of Fayette Department of Building Safety
• City of Fayette building permit fees
• City of Fayette application for building permit
• City of Glasgow building permits and code enforcement (Chapter 503)
• City of New Franklin permits and licenses

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