Miller County government, at the courthouse on Highway 52 in Tuscumbia, lists no planning, zoning or building office. The county itself issues no building permit, but on rural land a state septic permit from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, floodplain review in mapped flood areas and, inside the Lake Ozark Fire Protection District, the district’s own building permit can all apply. Eldon, Lake Ozark and Osage Beach issue building permits inside their limits.
Miller County building department: who handles permitting
The county’s offices are the elected row offices, the Health Center, GIS and the Sheriff; none is a building or zoning office. Questions about county roads and county property go to the County Commission (Presiding Commissioner 573-369-1900; County Clerk 573-369-1910). In September 2026 the Commission adopted an ordinance on placing signs on county property, and it has met with MoDOT about road approaches. Town populations below are Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates for the part of each place in Miller County.
Fire protection districts: the Lake Ozark Fire Protection District (573-365-3380) requires its own permit before a home is built, wiring is upgraded or a dock is added in its district, and posts residential and commercial building permit applications with its submittal requirements. In March 2026 the County Commission heard a complaint about the district’s inspections on a housing project and held calls on fire protection district statutes and on fire codes with the district’s chief, and in June 2026 the Rocky Mount Fire Protection District met the Commission about its updated code policies. Ask your fire district whether it requires a permit before you build.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Place | Who permits building work |
|---|---|
| Eldon (4,785) | City Building Department (Codes), City Hall, 101 S. Oak St.; 573-392-2291. Enforces the 2012 International Building Code and also oversees plumbing, mechanical and electrical work |
| Lake Ozark (2,169; 78 in Camden County) | City building inspector, 3162 Bagnell Dam Blvd.; 573-365-5378. Residential work is handled entirely by the city inspector; commercial inspections are done with the Lake Ozark Fire Protection District |
| Osage Beach (413; 4,666 in Camden County) | City Building Department, 1000 City Parkway; 573-302-2030. Residential permits are processed in 5 to 10 business days |
| St. Elizabeth (435) | The published sources do not say; the town’s business line is 573-493-2224 |
| Iberia (722), Tuscumbia (192), Olean (121), Brumley (72), Bagnell (43) | The published sources do not say; ask the town |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Building permit fees in Eldon and Osage Beach
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Eldon, house or duplex: project value up to $15,000 | $50 |
| Eldon, house or duplex: $15,001 to $25,000 | $100 |
| Eldon, house or duplex: $25,000 and over | $150 plus $2.50 per additional $1,000 |
| Eldon, homes built to sell or rent (investment property) | From $125 (up to $25,000) to $500 (over $500,000) |
| Eldon, commercial | From $375 (up to $100,000) upward by project value |
| Eldon, plan review | 35% of the permit fee, added to it |
| Osage Beach, single-family: value up to $20,000 | $40 |
| Osage Beach, single-family: over $20,000 | $40 plus $2 per additional $1,000 |
Eldon’s permit-fee web page still lists a $120 commercial minimum; the City Code, amended in 2020, sets $375, and the code is the adopted figure. Eldon also counts decks, roofing, siding, fencing, pools, signs, electrical and gas-line work as stand-alone projects with their own permit, and it requires a survey by an accredited company before any new-construction permit is issued.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Septic and flood rules on rural land
Septic systems: the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is the septic permitting authority for Miller County. Ask for an application number through its online request form (573-751-6095 ext. 5) and wait for the permit, or a confirmed exemption, before installing or repairing a system. The state has suspended its septic application fees from August 28, 2026 until new fees are set under the amended RSMo 701.046. The county Health Center can be reached at 573-369-2359.
Floodplains: Miller County takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program, with flood maps dated April 18, 2018, as do Brumley, Eldon, Lake Ozark and Osage Beach. FEMA lists Bagnell, Iberia, Olean and St. Elizabeth as not participating and lists Tuscumbia as a withdrawn community, dated July 22, 2025. The state emergency management agency’s contact list gives the county’s floodplain contact at 1999 Highway 52, Tuscumbia (573-369-2341).
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
Miller County permit FAQs
Rather not deal with the Miller County building department?
Get a free quote →Do I need a county building permit in rural Miller County?
The county lists no building, zoning or planning office and publishes no county building permit; check septic and floodplain rules, and ask your fire protection district, since the Lake Ozark district issues its own building permits.
Who issues septic permits in Miller County?
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Onsite Wastewater Program; request an application number online or call 573-751-6095 ext. 5.
How much is a building permit in Eldon?
For a house or duplex, $50, $100 or $150 depending on project value, plus $2.50 for each additional $1,000 on larger projects and a 35% plan review fee.
Who issues permits at the Lake of the Ozarks part of the county?
Lake Ozark and Osage Beach each run their own building departments, and the Lake Ozark Fire Protection District issues building permits in its district; the county lists no building permit of its own.
Is Tuscumbia in the flood insurance program?
No. FEMA lists Tuscumbia as a withdrawn community, dated July 22, 2025; Miller County itself and Brumley, Eldon, Lake Ozark and Osage Beach take part.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Miller County permit search and official resources
- Miller County government offices and phone numbers
- Miller County Commission minutes
- Missouri DHSS onsite wastewater construction permit process
- FEMA Community Status Book: Missouri
- SEMA floodplain and emergency contacts: Miller County
- City of Eldon building department
- Eldon City Code, Chapter 500 Building Regulations
- City of Osage Beach permits and fees
- City of Lake Ozark building inspections
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Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Miller County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.