Marshall, Missouri Building Permit Guide

Inside Marshall, building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are issued by the City’s Inspection Department, which since 2025 has used the Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) for plan review and inspection services. Applications go through the online Citizen Portal or the office at 214 N. Lafayette Ave., work is checked against the 2021 International Codes and 2020 National Electrical Code, and the City says a permit takes about a week on average.

What requires a permit in Marshall?

The 2021 building code adopted by the City requires a permit before anyone constructs, enlarges, alters, repairs, moves or demolishes a building or changes its occupancy, and the City has warned contractors that starting first can double the fee. The Citizen Portal and the City’s forms cover:

Marshall building department: who handles permitting

The City Inspection Department is the code enforcement agency named in Marshall’s 2021 building code, and the City’s Code Official is also its floodplain administrator. On May 20, 2025 the City Council approved Resolution 2025-12, a service agreement with the Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS), whose building official described its plan review and inspection services to the Council; an IBTS representative began holding Tuesday office hours at City Hall, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on February 3, 2026.

Applying in Marshall: the Citizen Portal

The Citizen Portal lets applicants apply for permits, request inspections, file complaints and track requests after registering an account. Each permit type in its directory links a checklist and a reference copy of the paper application; the online form replaces the PDF. Applications can also be emailed, faxed or mailed on request, or brought in during walk-in hours.

The City’s building permit checklist asks for:

• A property survey or plot plan and a site plan of the proposed work.
• Two sets of plans for each building, plus plans of existing conditions.
• An architect or engineer where the code official requires one.
• The property address, owner and general contractor, and the names of the City-licensed electrical, plumbing and mechanical contractors and every subcontractor.
• A written description of the work and the permit fee, which is based on the project’s total square footage.

Some permits are issued at the counter; others go to the code official for review, which averages about a week and takes longer in busy seasons.

Marshall permit fees

Ordinance 8736 (March 6, 2023), which adopted the 2021 building code, bases building permit fees on a table of square-foot construction costs by occupancy group and construction type. For one- and two-family homes the table runs from $166.68 per sq ft for type IA construction to $130.58 for type VB, unfinished basements are $23.20 per sq ft, and its note says to calculate per 1,000 sq ft to establish the permit fee. The figures are construction costs, not the fee; the ordinance does not print the rate applied to them, so the Inspection Department quotes the building permit fee.

Starting work before the permit is issued brings an additional fee equal to or greater than the permit fee. Water, sewer and electric impact fees are set by Marshall Municipal Utilities, not the Inspection Department. In March 2026 a proposed fee schedule for third-party inspection and permitting was discussed at Council, and the permit fee schedule was referred to two Council committees; the Inspection Department quotes the current fee.

Electricians, plumbers and contractors in Marshall

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are separate permit types in the Citizen Portal, and the checklist asks for the City-licensed contractor for each trade. Marshall licenses electricians in two classes through its Board of Examiners of Electricians: since May 2024 a Class I licence needs four years and 7,200 hours as a Class II journeyman, a written exam and an interview with the board. Since September 2025 a master plumber’s licence requires proof of a current State of Missouri master plumber’s licence or of passing the International Code Council’s Master Plumber Examination, and an appearance before the Board of Examiners of Plumbers.

Contractors and subcontractors need a City business licence ($50 on the posted requirements sheet), applied for online or on paper, with a workers’ compensation certificate if they have any employees. A contractor with a business location in Marshall also needs a certificate of occupancy for it, approved by the City inspector.

How to get a Marshall building permit

Marshall inspections

General contractors, homeowners and other permit holders are responsible for scheduling inspections as the work progresses so the Inspection Department can check it against the permit drawings and the codes. Inspections are booked in the Citizen Portal after logging in, using the permit or application number shown on the account dashboard. Electrical fees that cannot be worked out in advance are due before the certificate of occupancy is issued.

Local Marshall rules

Floodplain: Marshall is in the National Flood Insurance Program on flood maps dated January 16, 2013. The Code Official is the floodplain administrator, development in A and AE zones needs a floodplain development permit, and new or substantially improved homes must have the lowest floor, including the basement, 1 foot above the base flood elevation.

Vacant and abandoned property: owners register vacant or abandoned buildings with the City through the portal. On August 18, 2026 the Council passed Ordinance 8951, replacing the 2021 registration ordinance with new rules on intent, performance benchmarks and fees.

Business occupancy: a new business needs a certificate of occupancy for its location, whether a home, office, storefront or, in some cases, a mobile unit.

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

Marshall building permit FAQ

Who issues building permits in Marshall?

The City of Marshall Inspection Department, with plan review and inspection services provided under the City’s 2025 agreement with IBTS.

How do I apply for a permit in Marshall?

Register on the Citizen Portal and apply online, or bring the application to 214 N. Lafayette Ave. during walk-in hours.

How much do trade permits cost in Marshall?

They are itemized (for example $2 per plumbing fixture and $10 or $15 per air conditioner), with a $10 minimum and $200 maximum per permit.

How long does a Marshall building permit take?

About one week on average, longer in busy seasons; some permits are issued when you apply.

Which codes does Marshall enforce?

The 2021 International Building, Residential, Fire, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Energy Conservation, Existing Building, Property Maintenance and Private Sewage Disposal Codes and the 2020 National Electrical Code.

What happens if I start work without a permit?

The City adds a fee equal to or greater than the permit fee, which can double the cost.

Marshall permit search and official resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Marshall City Inspection Department
• Marshall building permit checklist (how to apply)
• Marshall Citizen Portal (permits and inspections)
• Marshall current codes list
• Marshall permit fee schedules
• Marshall Ordinance 8736, 2021 International Building Code and fee table
• Marshall Ordinance 8742, 2021 plumbing code and fees
• Marshall Ordinance 8741, 2021 mechanical code and fees
• Marshall City Code, electrical permits and fees
• Marshall Ordinance 8895, master plumber licensing
• Marshall notice on fees for work without a permit
• Marshall business and contractor licences
• Marshall City Council minutes, May 20, 2025 (IBTS agreement)
• Marshall City Code Chapter 420, floodplain management

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