Outside city limits, Lafayette County’s Planning & Economic Development Office at the courthouse, 1001 Main St., Lexington, issues building permits, septic permits and floodplain permits and handles zoning, land splits and subdivisions under the county’s Land Development Code. Permits are taken by appointment (660-259-4439): a house permit is $300, a septic permit $375, and building before the permit is approved adds a $1,250 late fee. Odessa, Higginsville, Lexington and the other cities permit work inside their own limits.
Lafayette County building department: who handles permitting
Lafayette County’s voters chose to adopt zoning, so the Planning & Economic Development Office administers the Land Development Code, adopted December 31, 2016, across the unincorporated county. It is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (planning@lafayettecountymo.gov), and it handles building and septic permits, floodplain permits, rezoning, conditional use permits, variances, farm splits and subdivisions. The Planning Administrator decides building, septic, driveway and sign permits, with appeals to the County Commission. The code adopts no model construction code such as the International Residential Code. Inside a city, the county office has no jurisdiction; populations below are Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates for the part of each city in Lafayette County.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Place | Who permits building work |
|---|---|
| Odessa (5,721) | City Community Development at City Hall, 228 S. 2nd St.; 816-230-5577 ext. 2. Building permits and inspection scheduling, with guidelines for accessory buildings, decks, fences and pools |
| Higginsville (4,770) | City Building Department, City Hall, 1922 Main St.; 660-584-2106. Reviews plans and inspects building, mechanical, plumbing and electrical work |
| Lexington (4,568) | City Building & Codes Enforcement, City Hall, 919 Franklin Ave.; 660-259-4633. Plan review takes up to 5 days, and permits are not issued the same day |
| Concordia (2,338) | City Building Official under Chapter 500 of the City Code, which as published adopts the 2000 International Codes and the 2005 NEC and may double the fee for work started without a permit. City offices, 618 S. Main St.; 660-463-2228 |
| Waverly (819) | The City Code reserves its building regulations chapter for future use and has no building code; it does regulate mobile homes and floodplain development. City office, 111 E. Kelling Ave. |
| Wellington (761), Corder (433), Alma (392) | The published sources do not say. Wellington City Hall 816-934-2521 |
| Lake Lafayette (315) | The City issues building permits; City Hall, 816-230-8783, open Tuesday 9 a.m.–noon, Thursday 5–8 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.–noon |
| Bates City (227) | The City Code adopts the 2012 International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing and Fuel Gas Codes and the 2011 NEC (Ordinance 5059, 2015) and requires permits even for sheds up to 400 sq ft and fences up to 7 ft, which are exempt from the code itself |
| Mayview (218), Napoleon (210), Dover (86), Aullville (81) | The published sources do not say; ask the town |
| Oak Grove (117; 9,253 in Jackson County) | City Building Department through the Citizenserve online portal; 816-690-3773. Separate electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits and a City business licence are required |
| Emma (84; 117 in Saline County) | The City issues building permits under its zoning code (Section 405.240) once the Enforcement Officer approves the application, which must include a plan drawn to scale in duplicate showing the lot, the building and its location. City office, 101 S. Elm; (660) 463-2150 |
| Blackburn (11; 214 in Saline County) | The published sources do not say |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →What needs a county permit
The county requires a building permit for every structure that counts as development under the Land Development Code, including homes and other buildings with structural work, foundations, utilities or occupancy, whatever the size of the property. Staff decide whether a particular structure needs one, so call before building.
County permits and approvals
- Residential and commercial building permits
- Accessory building permits
- Roof-mounted and ground-mounted solar
- Onsite septic systems on parcels under 20 acres
- Floodplain development permits
- Driveway and access permits
- Signs, home occupations and temporary accessory dwellings
Land use decisions
- Boundary line adjustments and farm splits
- Minor subdivisions and plats
- Rezoning and comprehensive plan amendments
- Conditional use permits
- Variances and appeals
- Site plans for business and industrial zoning
Lafayette County permit fees
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential building permit | $300 |
| Commercial (non-residential) building permit | $400 |
| Residential accessory building | $300 |
| Solar, roof-mounted / ground-mounted | $200 / $300 |
| Onsite septic system, including two inspections | $375 |
| Additional septic inspection | $100 |
| Temporary accessory dwelling (1 year) | $300 |
| Home occupation (2 years) | $200 |
| Farm split / boundary line adjustment | $500 / $300 |
| Minor subdivision or plat | $500 plus $15 per lot |
| Rezoning, agricultural or residential / non-residential | $750 / $1,500 |
| Variance | $500 |
| Conditional use permit | $500–$2,500 by type |
| Building or installation begun before permit approval | $1,250 |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →The office posts these fees on its Applications, Permits & Fees page, and the 2026 forms print the same building permit and late fees. The web page lists a $700 site plan fee, while the 2026 commercial permit form prints $500 for site plans in the business and industrial districts, so confirm that figure before paying. Projects that need outside engineering or legal review can also be asked for an escrow deposit to cover the consultant’s costs.
Septic, flood and code-update details
Septic systems: the county regulates onsite systems on parcels of less than 20 acres, following the state Department of Health and Senior Services standards. Submit the application with a percolation test or soil morphology evaluation by a registered professional; staff usually make a pre-construction site visit within 3 to 5 business days, and construction may not start until the permit is issued. The installer calls for a final inspection of the open system, lagoon fences must be up before the home is occupied, and fences, pumps, filters and alarms must be in place before final approval.
Building permit forms: a residential application needs a site plan and the water district’s meter approval.
Flood rules: the county takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program, with flood maps dated November 26, 2010. Any construction, fill or other development in a mapped floodplain needs a floodplain development permit, including sheds, barns, mobile homes, grading and new or replacement driveways and culverts. The cities of Concordia, Corder, Emma, Higginsville, Lexington, Odessa, Waverly and Wellington also take part; Aullville, Bates City, Blackburn, Lake Lafayette and Napoleon are listed by FEMA as not participating.
Rather not deal with the Lafayette County building department?
Get a free quote →Code update: the county is reviewing the Land Development Code in phases; topics it may take up include subdivision and lot-split procedures, agricultural and rural residential standards, conditional use procedures, accessory dwelling units and road access requirements, with public hearings before the County Commission adopts any changes. Comments go to ldcfeedback@lafayettecountymo.gov.
How to get a Lafayette County permit
Look up the parcel’s zoning on the county GIS map; inside a city, go to that city instead.
Call 660-259-4439; permits are taken by appointment only.
Bring the site plan and water district meter approval for a house, or the site plan and fee for a business.
On a parcel under 20 acres without sewer, submit the septic application and soil report so the site visit can be scheduled.
Work started before approval brings a $1,250 late fee.
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
Lafayette County permit FAQs
Who issues building permits in rural Lafayette County?
The county Planning & Economic Development Office at the courthouse, 1001 Main St., Lexington, by appointment (660-259-4439).
How much is a county building permit for a house?
$300 for a residential building permit; a septic permit adds $375, and starting before the permit is approved costs another $1,250.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Do I need a permit for a shed or barn?
The county requires permits for structures that count as development, and the office decides case by case; any shed or barn in a mapped floodplain needs a floodplain permit.
Does the county issue permits inside Odessa or Higginsville?
No. The county office handles only unincorporated land; each city issues its own permits.
When does the county regulate a septic system?
On parcels under 20 acres, where the county issues the permit, visits the site before construction and inspects the finished system.
Is Lafayette County changing its zoning rules?
The county is reviewing its Land Development Code in phases, with public input and hearings before any change is adopted.
Lafayette County permit search and official resources
- Lafayette County Planning & Economic Development
- Lafayette County applications, permits and fees
- Lafayette County floodplain management
- Lafayette County planning common questions
- Lafayette County Land Development Code (2016)
- Lafayette County onsite septic application (2026)
- Planning for Lafayette County’s future (code update)
- FEMA Community Status Book: Missouri
- City of Odessa Community Development
- City of Higginsville Building Department
- City of Lexington Building & Codes Enforcement
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Simplify Lafayette 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.
Ready to break ground in Lafayette County sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Lafayette County permits while your crew stays on the job.
More Missouri permitting guides
Clay County
Read guide →Greene County
Read guide →St. Charles County
Read guide →Lake St. Louis Building Permit Guide
Read guide →Lawrence County Building Permit Guide
Read guide →Lebanon Building Permit Guide
Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Lafayette County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.