The Macon County Commission says the county has no planning and zoning, and it publishes no building code or county building permit, so a house or barn on unincorporated land needs no county building permit. Inside a town, ask that town: the City of Macon’s Code Enforcement office (660-395-2632) issues construction permits and inspects new work. On rural land, septic systems are permitted directly by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, and work in a county road right-of-way goes through the Commission.
Macon County building department: who handles permitting
The Macon County Commission meets in the courthouse at 101 E. Washington St., Suite B, Macon, every Monday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (660-395-9053). It sets county policy and oversees county roads and bridges, but it does not run a building department, and its own answer to whether the county has planning and zoning is no. Permits for construction therefore depend on where the lot is. Town populations below are Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates.
| Place | Who permits building work |
|---|---|
| Macon (5,532) | City Code Enforcement office, 106 W. Bourke St.; 660-395-2632, Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. (closed noon–1 p.m.). The Code Enforcement official issues construction permits and inspects new construction and major renovations |
| La Plata (1,251) | The published sources do not say; the City’s website posts no permit forms or ordinances. City Hall, 113 S. Gex St.; (660) 332-7166 |
| Bevier (625), Atlanta (370), Callao (245), New Cambria (150) | The published sources do not say, and none of these cities has its own website. Phone numbers from the county directory: Bevier 660-773-5314, Atlanta 660-239-4890, Callao 660-768-5414, New Cambria 660-384-2991 |
| Elmer (51), Ethel (47), South Gifford (23) | The published sources do not say. County directory: Elmer 660-825-2361, Ethel 660-486-3347, Village of South Gifford 660-332-7347 |
| Unincorporated Macon County | No county building permit or zoning; septic permits from DHSS; county road and right-of-way questions to the Commission and Road and Bridge |
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →A Macon or La Plata mailing address does not mean the lot is inside city limits. The county’s online GIS map, run through the Assessor’s office (660-385-2416), shows parcel lines.
What still needs approval on unincorporated land
Approvals that still apply
- Onsite sewage system: a construction permit from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services before a septic system is built or modified
- Work in a county road right-of-way, including culverts and ditches: talk to the Commission first; damaging a county road, culvert or ditch without lawful authority is prosecuted under a Commission order
- Fences along county roads: the Commission asks owners to contact it first so the right-of-way is kept clear
No county permit
- County building permit or inspection
- County zoning approval, rezoning or setback check
- County floodplain development permit (the county is outside the flood insurance program)
Building in the City of Macon
The county seat is the one Macon County town that publishes its permit process. The City’s Code Enforcement office takes two kinds of building permit application:
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →- New construction: every new house, commercial building and detached accessory building.
- General construction or renovation: roofing, sidewalks, carports, sheds and any work that changes the structure of an existing building.
No work may start before the permit is issued, and an application that needs a variance or special use goes to a Macon Planning and Zoning hearing. The City allows up to 3 business days to process and review an application. Its inspections of new construction cover footings, concrete, plumbing, structure and the final building, and commercial buildings need a certificate of occupancy inspection before anyone moves in. Call Code Enforcement to book an inspection. The City also publishes driveway and excavation, sign, storm-water drainage, rezoning, variance and special use forms.
Septic, roads and flood rules in Macon County
Septic systems: the state’s list of onsite wastewater authorities puts Macon County under the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) itself, so DHSS issues the construction permit. Ask for an application number through the department’s online OWTS Application Number Request Form, or call (573) 751-6095 ext. 5. DHSS says that from August 28, 2026, after changes to section 701.046 RSMo, its onsite sewage application fees are temporarily suspended until new fee standards take effect.
Roads: the county Road and Bridge Department, based at its shop at 706 Atterberry St., Atlanta (660-239-4255), maintains about 900 miles of unincorporated roads. Two areas are run by their own boards instead: the Hudson Special Road District, which covers about 41 miles around the City of Macon, and the LaPlata Special Road District, about 51 miles around La Plata. Most county road right-of-way is 60 ft wide, with exceptions; the Commission or the Assessor can confirm a particular road.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Fences: Macon County voters adopted the Local Option Fence Law in April 1986, so where either of two neighbors needs a boundary fence, both share in building and keeping it up.
Flood insurance: FEMA’s Community Status Book lists Macon County itself in its section of communities not in the National Flood Insurance Program, with a sanction date of January 18, 1985, so the county issues no floodplain permits. Bevier, Elmer, Ethel, La Plata and New Cambria appear in the same section. The cities of Macon and Callao take part, with flood maps dated November 17, 2005; their floodplain administrators are the Macon Code Enforcement office and Callao’s city office at 202 W. 2nd St. (660-768-5414).
Large projects: since August 2025 the Commission has met with the developer of a solar project planned for the La Plata area along Highway 63 about a road use agreement covering county roads.
Steps for building in Macon County
Use the county GIS map or ask the Assessor; a town address can sit outside the town.
In Macon, apply to Code Enforcement and allow up to 3 business days; elsewhere, call the city or village office listed above.
Request a DHSS application number before the house plans are final, since the system design depends on the site.
Talk to the Commission about culverts and county right-of-way; in the Hudson or LaPlata special road districts, contact that district.
Both cities take part in the flood insurance program and name a floodplain administrator; the county does not.
Rather not deal with the Macon County building department?
Get a free quote →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
Macon County permit FAQs
Does Macon County issue building permits?
No. The county has no planning and zoning and no building department. Building permits come from towns that issue them, such as the City of Macon.
Who issues building permits in the City of Macon?
The City’s Code Enforcement office at 106 W. Bourke St. (660-395-2632). Allow up to 3 business days for review.
Do I need a permit for a septic system in rural Macon County?
Yes. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services issues onsite sewage construction permits in Macon County; call (573) 751-6095 ext. 5 or use its online application number request form.
Is there a county floodplain permit?
No. FEMA lists Macon County as not participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, so the county issues no floodplain permits. The cities of Macon and Callao do take part.
How wide is a county road right-of-way?
Most county road right-of-way in Macon County is 60 ft, with some exceptions. Contact the Commission before building a fence along a county road.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Who maintains the roads near Macon and La Plata?
The Hudson Special Road District around the City of Macon and the LaPlata Special Road District around La Plata, each with its own board; the county Road and Bridge Department handles the rest of the unincorporated roads.
Macon County permit search and official resources
- Macon County Commission (no county planning and zoning)
- Macon County Road and Bridge Department and special road districts
- Macon County contact directory, including city offices
- Macon County Commission minutes
- City of Macon inspections and permits
- City of Macon forms, permits and applications
- City of La Plata
- Missouri DHSS onsite wastewater construction permit process
- FEMA Community Status Book: Missouri
Inspections are where schedules slip.
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Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Macon County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.