Ozark, Missouri Building Permit Guide

Ozark permits are issued by the City’s Planning & Development Department, whose building official is Community Development Director Randall Whitman, and are applied for and paid in the SmartGov portal. Under the fee schedule adopted for 2026 (Ordinance 25-075), a new house or duplex costs $0.25 per square foot under roof plus a $20 technology fee and a $196 plan review fee, and sewer connection fees rose on January 1, 2026.

What requires a building permit in Ozark?

The City says its ordinances require permits for new construction, plumbing, electrical and HVAC work, signs, commercial fences, accessory buildings and some remodeling projects. Its list of building permit types includes:

Public Works issues the grading/land disturbance, right-of-way, street or curb cut, driveway approach and water and sewer connection permits through the same portal.

Ozark building department: who handles permitting

Planning & Development oversees subdivision, zoning, building codes and nuisance abatement, issues building permits and runs building inspections and code compliance. Its Building Department approves and inspects all new private construction, and Randall Whitman, the Community Development Director, is the building official. Commercial plans and new business occupancies are also reviewed by the Ozark Fire District and Public Works.

The City warns that it never asks for permit or licence payments by wire transfer; pay in SmartGov or in person.

Ozark online filing, plans and licences

Create a SmartGov account (verify the email first), choose Apply, pick the department and permit, and enter the address and project details. Required plans and photos must be uploaded as one combined document, not sheet by sheet; incomplete applications are not processed, and the City allows up to 10 business days for review. Payment is due once review is complete.

New house or duplex: submit a scaled site plan with setbacks to the foundation, a full drafted plan set (footing and foundation with girders and double-joist layout, floor plan, all elevations, engineered material specifications), and the square footage, bedrooms, bathrooms, heat type, electric service size and location, gas meter location, lumber sizes, valuation and zoning. Engineered truss specifications go to the Building Department.

Contractors: contractors apply for a City contractor licence ($52) in SmartGov under the Licensing Department and upload the documents listed for their licence type; a new business also needs a business registration ($45).

Moving a business into an existing building: request a site visit (417-581-2407) so the building inspector can decide whether a design professional is needed and which permit applies (Commercial Alteration or Redevelopment Review, $204). The Fire District and Public Works review life safety and backflow assemblies, and the business registration is released only after the certificate of occupancy.

Ozark permit fees (2026)

The Board of Aldermen adopted the 2026 fee study as Ordinance 25-075 (Bill 3698), effective January 1, 2026.

For example, a 2,000 sq ft house under roof pays 2,000 × $0.25 = $500, plus the $20 technology fee and $196 plan review, or $716, before inspection, utility and impact fees for the scope of work. The City’s older single-family handout still quotes a $130 re-inspection fee; the 2026 schedule sets $219. Applicants also pay the cost of any third-party architectural, engineering, stormwater or traffic review the City requires ($154 an hour for third-party architectural review).

Larger meters cost more, and construction outside city limits pays twice the impact rate. A 5/8-inch water meter is listed at $442.78, subject to change.

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work in Ozark

The Building Department enforces the City’s plumbing, electrical, mechanical and fire codes and issues trade permits for single-family, duplex, multi-family, commercial and industrial work. The 2026 schedule lists separate residential electrical ($89), mechanical ($89) and plumbing ($145) inspection fees. Ozark’s house requirements include carbon monoxide detectors where there is an attached garage or gas appliance, and a 4-inch schedule 40 sewer line at least 3 ft deep with no 90-degree turns or saddle taps. Fire sprinkler systems need their own permit ($213), and commercial work also has fire hood ($185) and sprinkler ($252) inspections.

Alliance handles electrical permit expediting for contractors here. More on this: who pulls the electrical permit.

How to get an Ozark building permit

Ozark inspections

Schedule inspections in SmartGov. The City’s single-family handout says requests made before 7:00 a.m. are inspected the same day and later requests the next working day. A new house is inspected at the footing, foundation walls or piers, under-slab plumbing, thickened slab, pre-backfill (basement homes), sewer, temporary electric, joists, structural framing, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas line test, permanent electric service, insulation, drywall and final for occupancy, plus any others required. A permit expires if no inspection is made within 180 days. All fees and penalties must be paid before a certificate of occupancy is issued.

Local Ozark rules

Accessory buildings: all accessory structures together may cover no more than 35 percent of the lot’s permitted building coverage, there may be no more than three on a lot, and none may exceed two-thirds of the main building’s coverage. Gable or hip roofs are limited to 16 ft and flat or single-slope roofs to 12 ft.

Floodplain: Ozark takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program, with flood maps effective November 2, 2023. Development in a flood hazard area needs a separate floodplain development permit ($99), and new or substantially improved homes must have the lowest floor, including any basement, 1 ft above the base flood elevation. A representative of Planning & Development appointed by the Mayor serves as floodplain administrator. The City Code also has a chapter protecting the Smallin Cave recharge area and the Finley River watershed.

Signs: a new business may hang a grand-opening banner for 30 days without a permit; permanent wall signs and window or door decals need a sign permit.

Ozark building codes

Title V of the Ozark City Code (Ordinance 19-004, January 22, 2019) adopts the 2018 International Building and Residential codes and the other 2018 ICC codes with the 2017 National Electrical Code. Local amendments set a 20 psf ground snow load, delete the garage sprinkler and testing rules, and let builders of four or fewer attached units choose separation instead of sprinklers.

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

Ozark permit FAQ

Who issues building permits in Ozark?

The City’s Planning & Development Department at 203 E. Brick St. (417-581-5976), through the SmartGov portal, for property inside city limits.

How much is a building permit for a new house in Ozark?

$0.25 per square foot under roof plus a $20 technology fee and $196 plan review, so $716 for 2,000 sq ft, before inspection, water and sewer fees.

How long does review take?

The City allows up to 10 business days for review of an application.

Do I need a permit for a shed, deck or pool?

Yes. Accessory structures ($126), decks ($124) and pools ($89 above-ground, $185 in-ground) are permitted through SmartGov.

How long is a permit valid?

The City’s handout says a permit is active for 180 days and expires if no inspection is made within that time; renewing a residential permit costs $77.

What does it cost to connect a new house to sewer?

Since January 1, 2026 the sewer connection fee for a 5/8-inch meter is $2,691.98, plus a $100 water impact fee.

Ozark 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.

• Ozark Planning & Development
• Ozark Building Department
• Ozark SmartGov permit portal
• Ozark 2026 Planning and Development fees (Ordinance 25-075)
• Ozark building, water impact and sewer connection fees
• Ozark Ordinance 25-088, sewer connection fees
• Ozark permit forms and resources
• Ozark single-family residential permit information
• Ozark accessory structure and detached garage permit information
• Ozark list of permit and licence types
• Ozark steps before moving a business into a building
• Ozark City Code (eCode360)

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