For land outside city limits, Pemiscot County’s permit office is its Emergency Services department at the Justice Center, 800 Ward Ave., Caruthersville (573-333-4101): its Floodplain Administrator handles floodplain permits, and the same office assigns 911 addresses. The county publishes no building code; Caruthersville, Hayti and Steele issue building permits under their own codes, and the state health department permits septic systems.
Pemiscot County building department: who handles permitting
The County Commission meets on Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. in its first-floor office at the courthouse in Caruthersville; the County Clerk’s office is at 573-333-4203. Eleven towns lie at least partly in the county.
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Get a free quote →| Place | Who permits building work |
|---|---|
| Caruthersville (5,211) | City Code Enforcement Officer, who acts as building official and inspects electrical, plumbing, gas and construction work. 2003 International Building Code, 2006 International Residential and Plumbing Codes, 2005 National Electrical Code; yearly city licences for eight contractor trades. City floodplain contact per SEMA: 1400 Ward Ave., 573-333-2353 |
| Hayti (2,277) | City Code Enforcement Officer, the building official and floodplain administrator; 2006 International Codes and the 1999 National Electrical Code. Floodplain contact per SEMA: 300 E. Broadway, 573-359-4173 |
| Steele (1,692) | City Building Inspector / Code Enforcement Officer; the code names the BOCA Basic Building and Plumbing Codes, “2009 Edition” (council vote of December 5, 2016). Floodplain contact per SEMA: 101 S. Walnut St., 573-695-3690 |
| Hayti Heights (466), Cooter (319), Wardell (283), Holland (181), Pascola (82), Homestown (67), Bragg City (63) | No town code or permit form is published online; ask the town hall before building. City floodplain contacts listed by SEMA: Hayti Heights 573-359-1608, Cooter 573-695-4812, Wardell 573-628-3500, Holland 573-695-4967, Homestown 573-628-3769, Bragg City 573-344-2696; SEMA lists none for Pascola |
| Portageville (no residents in this county) | New Madrid County city; its Building Permits & Inspections office covers all city land |
City building permit fees in Caruthersville, Hayti and Steele
Each city sets fees by construction cost in its code:
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| City and work | Fee |
|---|---|
| Caruthersville: $600 to $10,000 of cost | $10 to $37.50 in $1,000 steps (for example $32.50 for $7,001 to $8,000) |
| Caruthersville: $10,001 to $25,000 / over $25,000 | $37.50 plus $2 per thousand / $67.50 plus $1.50 per thousand |
| Caruthersville: plumbing, electrical or gas inspection | $10 each; smoke detector inspection $3 |
| Hayti: residential | $5 per $1,000 of cost from $1,000 to $5,000, plus $3 per $1,000 above $5,000 |
| Hayti: commercial or industrial | $7 per $1,000 from $1,000 to $5,000, plus $4 per $1,000 above $5,000 |
| Steele: new construction or alterations | $20 for $1,000 to $5,000 of cost, plus $2 for each additional $1,000 |
Caruthersville needs no permit for repainting, shingling or replacing carpet, and a $7,500 job there costs $32.50. A plumber working in Caruthersville must post a $2,000 bond with the city licence.
Floodplain, 911 address and septic rules on county land
Floodplain permits: call the Floodplain Administrator at Emergency Services (573-333-4101) with the owner’s name, the parcel number, any elevation information for the property and its 911 address. Pemiscot County has taken part in the National Flood Insurance Program since 1982, and its current flood maps are dated February 5, 2003; Bragg City, Caruthersville, Cooter, Hayti, Hayti Heights, Holland, Homestown, Steele and Wardell also take part, and FEMA does not list Pascola.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →911 addresses: Emergency Services runs the county’s 911 center and its GIS mapping for all addressing; ask the Emergency Management Director at the Justice Center.
Septic systems: the state health department’s Onsite Wastewater Treatment program (573-751-6095 ext. 5) is the permitting authority for Pemiscot County. Its application fee has been suspended since August 28, 2026, while new fees are set.
Starting a project in Pemiscot County
Check whether the lot is inside Caruthersville, Hayti, Steele or another town, or on county land.
Apply to that city’s code enforcement officer or town hall, and make sure each contractor holds the city licence where one is required.
Get a 911 address and, in a mapped flood zone, a floodplain permit from Emergency Services.
Request a state application number before installing or repairing a system.
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
Rather not deal with the Pemiscot County building department?
Get a free quote →Pemiscot County permit FAQs
Does Pemiscot County, Missouri issue building permits?
No general building permit is published for county land; the county handles floodplain permits and 911 addresses, and the cities issue building permits.
How do I get a floodplain permit in Pemiscot County?
Call the Floodplain Administrator at 573-333-4101 with the owner’s name, parcel number, elevation information and the 911 address.
Which building code does Caruthersville use?
The 2003 International Building Code, the 2006 International Residential and Plumbing Codes and the 2005 National Electrical Code.
How much is a building permit in Steele?
$20 for work costing $1,000 to $5,000, plus $2 for each additional $1,000.
Who issues septic permits in Pemiscot County?
The state health department’s onsite wastewater program, whose application fee is suspended from August 28, 2026 until new fees are set.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Pemiscot County permit search and official resources
- Pemiscot County Clerk (floodplain permit and 911 address answers)
- Pemiscot County Emergency Services
- Pemiscot County Commission
- Missouri DHSS septic (OWTS) permit authority by county
- SEMA emergency and floodplain contacts, Pemiscot County
- FEMA Community Status Book: Missouri
- City of Caruthersville code of ordinances
- City of Hayti code of ordinances
- City of Steele code of ordinances
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Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Pemiscot County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.