Lincoln County has no planning and zoning department and, in its own words, no permits are required from the county, including building and occupancy permits. Three things still apply on unincorporated land: a floodplain development permit from the county floodplain office (636-528-6182; the county’s planning and zoning page gives 636-462-8191 for the same office) for any work in the mapped floodplain, a septic permit from the Lincoln County Health Department, and whatever your fire protection district requires. Troy, Moscow Mills, Elsberry, Winfield and Hawk Point issue their own building permits.
Lincoln County building department: who handles permitting
The county’s planning and zoning page sends questions about occupancy permits and electrical codes to the fire protection district that serves the property. The county website’s menu lists six fire protection districts: Eolia Community, Hawk Point, Lincoln County, Warrenton, Winfield-Foley and Wright City. Some districts run their own code programs:
- Winfield-Foley Fire Protection District, 3931 E. Highway 47, Winfield (636-566-8406), has adopted the 2012 International Fire, Building and Residential Codes and posts permit applications for new construction and for residential and commercial occupancy, an inspection request form and a fee schedule dated June 13, 2023.
- Eolia Community Fire Protection District, 105 South Main Street, Eolia, posts a building permit application and Ordinance 2025-1 adopting the 2024 International Building and Fire Codes, and states that its codes and permits do not apply to single-family homes or family-farm agricultural buildings.
Inside a city, the city decides. Populations below are Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Place | Who permits building work |
|---|---|
| Troy (15,201) | City Building Department; 636-528-1254. Troy enforces the 2015 International Codes and the 2014 NEC |
| Moscow Mills (4,388) | City Building Official, City Hall, 995 Main Street; 636-356-4220. The City Code adopts the 2021 International Building Code and prices permits from the International Code Council construction cost table, with a $35 residential and $50 commercial minimum |
| Elsberry (2,108) | City Building Permits and Inspections Department; print the application and return it to City Hall, 201 Broadway (573-898-5588). Occupancy permits are $40, inspection included |
| Winfield (1,660) | City Building Commissioner; City Hall 636-668-8100. The City Code adopts the 2018 International Building Code and holds a 5% escrow, up to $5,000, against mud and debris on city streets |
| Hawk Point (772) | A person named by the Board of Aldermen reviews each application and site plan; the permit is $50. Garages, carports, decks, porches, driveways, mobile homes and outbuildings on foundations need one; fences, pools and sheds not on foundations do not. City Hall, 121 West Lincoln, 636-338-4377 |
| Foley (97) | The City lists a City Inspector among its departments; City Hall, 617 Elm Street, 636-662-2557 |
| Silex (266) | The City’s website has code-book and records pages but no permit forms or code text posted; City Hall 573-384-5959 |
| Old Monroe (281), Fountain N’ Lakes (181), Chain of Rocks (104), Truxton (71), Whiteside (63) | The published sources do not say; ask the town clerk |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →County permits that still apply
Floodplain office
- Any new construction, addition or improvement in the mapped floodplain
- Commercial and recreational buildings
- Agricultural buildings
- Subdivisions and manufactured home parks
- Soil extraction and demolition
- Temporary use permit for an RV or camper in an A or AE zone
Health Department
- New onsite septic systems
- Major septic repairs
Floodplain permit fees
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| New construction, including any improvement to an existing building | $200 |
| Commercial or recreational construction | $250 |
| Agricultural building or improvement | $25 |
| Subdivision or manufactured home park | $150 per lot in the flood hazard area |
| Soil extraction | $200 |
| Demolition | $25 |
The application asks for the estimated cost of the work with a cost list or bid, the base flood elevation and its source, and whether fill will be used. An elevation certificate by a certified engineer, surveyor or architect must be obtained before and after construction for new and substantially improved buildings, and work in a floodway needs an engineer’s or architect’s no-rise certificate before the permit is issued. If you plan a map change (LOMA, CLOMR-F or LOMR-F), FEMA must issue it before construction starts.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Flood, septic and land-use details
Floodplain rules: the county’s floodplain ordinance, first adopted in 1982 and last revised on September 25, 2018, names the Emergency Management Director as floodplain administrator and uses FEMA maps dated October 5, 2018. New and substantially improved homes, including manufactured homes, need the lowest floor, basement included, 3 ft above the base flood elevation, with heating, cooling, electrical and plumbing equipment at least 36 inches above it; businesses must reach the same height or be floodproofed. An RV in an A or AE zone may stay fewer than 180 consecutive days, must be licensed and ready for highway use, and needs a temporary use permit that expires after 180 days. FEMA lists the county in its Community Rating System at class 8, a 10% flood insurance discount.
Septic: the Lincoln County Health Department, 5 Health Department Drive, Troy (636-528-6117), permits and inspects new onsite systems and major repairs under the county’s own onsite wastewater ordinance.
Battery storage, solar and data centers: on August 27, 2026 the County Commission tabled for two weeks a proposed six-month moratorium (Ordinance #20260827) on county land-use authorizations for utility-scale battery energy storage and solar facilities in the unincorporated area. Its minutes of September 10, 15 and 24, 2026 record public comment on the proposal and the emergency management office’s list of recommended commitments for the planned Millcreek battery facility, but no vote on the ordinance. Commissioners have said in 2026 meetings that without planning and zoning the county has limited authority over such projects, and in June 2026 that they knew of no data center plans in the county.
Rather not deal with the Lincoln County building department?
Get a free quote →How to build in unincorporated Lincoln County
Inside Troy, Moscow Mills, Elsberry, Winfield or Hawk Point, the city’s permit process applies.
Ask the floodplain office, 911 Professional Parkway, Troy (636-528-6182), whether the site is in the floodplain; if it is, get the elevation certificate and floodplain permit before building.
Apply to the Lincoln County Health Department before installing or repairing a septic system.
Find out whether your fire protection district requires a building or occupancy permit and inspection for your project.
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
Lincoln County permit FAQs
Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Lincoln County?
Not from the county: it states that no county permits are required, including building and occupancy permits. Your fire protection district may have its own requirements, and floodplain and septic permits still apply.
When do I need a Lincoln County floodplain permit?
For any construction, improvement or other development within the county floodplain. A new-construction permit is $200.
How high must a new home be built in the floodplain?
With its lowest floor, including the basement, 3 ft above the base flood elevation, and its mechanical and electrical equipment at least 36 inches above it.
Who issues septic permits?
The Lincoln County Health Department in Troy, 636-528-6117.
Does Lincoln County have zoning?
No. The county has no planning and zoning in its unincorporated area; Troy, Moscow Mills, Elsberry, Winfield and the other cities run their own.
Who issues building permits in Troy?
The City of Troy Building Department (636-528-1254), not the county.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Lincoln County permit search and official resources
- Lincoln County planning and zoning statement
- Lincoln County Floodplain Administration
- Lincoln County floodplain development permit application
- Lincoln County Floodplain Ordinance (2018)
- Lincoln County RV and camper temporary use permit
- Lincoln County Health Department wastewater (septic) systems
- Lincoln County Commission agendas and minutes
- FEMA Community Status Book: Missouri
- Winfield-Foley Fire Protection District code enforcement
- Eolia Community Fire Protection District codes and permits
- City of Elsberry building permits and inspections
- City of Moscow Mills building permit fees (Chapter 40)
Inspections are where schedules slip.
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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
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Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Lincoln County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.