The Perry County Commission has stated in its 2026 minutes that the county has no planning and zoning, and it publishes no county building permit for rural land. What the county does regulate is development in mapped floodplains, under its 2014 Flood Plain Management Ordinance, and installation work in county road right-of-way. Septic permits come straight from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, and inside Perryville the City’s building inspectors issue permits under the 2021 International Codes.
Perry County building department: who handles permitting
The three-member County Commission oversees roads, health services, the transfer station and planning, and meets in the historic courthouse, 15 W. Ste. Maries St., Perryville, on Mondays at 9 a.m. and Thursdays at 1 p.m. (573-547-4242). In July and August 2026, when residents raised data centers, a commissioner explained that the county is limited in how it can deal with data center developers because it has no planning and zoning, and that establishing planning and zoning would take a vote of the people.
| Place | Who permits building work |
|---|---|
| Perryville (8,593) | City building inspectors / zoning administrators, City Hall, 215 N. West St.; 573-547-2594. Applications and inspection requests through the City’s online portal |
| Altenburg (324), Frohna (242), Longtown (92) | None of the three publishes a building code or permit form online; ask the city or town hall before building |
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Perryville codes and permit fees
Perryville’s code (Title 15) adopts the 2021 International Building, Residential, Fire, Fuel Gas, Mechanical, Plumbing, Existing Building and Swimming Pool & Spa Codes and the 2023 National Electrical Code; the 2021 Residential Code governs one- and two-family homes. Plan review is free, and many applications can be filed and paid online, though some forms must still be emailed or brought to City Hall.
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| New house | $0.07 per sq ft of finished space, at least $50 and no more than $175 |
| Residential alteration | $15 for the first $5,000 of value plus $1 per $1,000 after that |
| Commercial new building or remodel | $0.07 per sq ft of finished space, $100 minimum, $400 maximum |
| Electrical, mechanical or plumbing permit, each | $15 residential, $30 commercial, $75 industrial |
| Shed, deck or other accessory structure | $15 |
| Demolition / excavation / boring | $10 / $20 / $25 |
| Driveway curb cut | $75 residential, $125 commercial |
| Certificate of occupancy | $25 |
| Water tap, 3/4 inch / 1 inch (Ordinance 6865, April 7, 2026) | $665 / $825 |
| Sewer connection, 3/4 inch / 1 inch line | $890 / $1,333 |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Because the house fee is capped, a 2,000 sq ft finished home pays the $140 calculated fee (2,000 × $0.07), while a 3,000 sq ft home pays the $175 maximum.
Floodplain, septic and road rules in rural Perry County
Floodplain: Perry County takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program, and its flood maps are dated August 2, 2011. Development in a mapped flood hazard area falls under the county’s 2014 Flood Plain Management Ordinance, administered by the county floodplain manager, whom the State Emergency Management Agency lists at 401 W. North St., Suite 2, Perryville (573-547-4000). In July 2026 the County Clerk told the Commission it may be asked to amend the ordinance because the State Emergency Management Agency has updated its model floodplain ordinance. Perryville has its own floodplain administrator; FEMA shows no special flood hazard area in Altenburg, Frohna or Longtown.
Septic systems: there is no county septic program. Request an application number from the state health department’s Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program (573-751-6095 ext. 5) before installing or repairing a system; the department says some single-family residential lots may be exempt, but work should not begin until a permit is issued or the exemption is confirmed. The department suspended its septic permit application fees on August 28, 2026, after a change to RSMo 701.046, until it sets new fees.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →County roads: the county has an order governing infrastructure installed along county roads, and in January 2026 the Commission noted it can fine installers who skip that permitting process; contact the Commission before cutting into a county road right-of-way.
Planning a rural project in Perry County
Inside the city, apply to Perryville’s building inspectors; outside it there is no county building permit.
Ask the county floodplain manager whether the parcel is in a mapped flood area before grading or building.
Request it from the state health department’s online form, or ask the department to confirm whether a single-family lot is exempt, before any septic work.
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
Perry County permit FAQs
Rather not deal with the Perry County building department?
Get a free quote →Does Perry County, Missouri issue building permits?
No county building permit is published for rural land, and the Commission has said the county has no planning and zoning. Floodplain development and work in county road right-of-way are regulated.
How much is a building permit for a new house in Perryville?
$0.07 per sq ft of finished space, with a $50 minimum and a $175 maximum; plan review is free.
Who issues septic permits in Perry County?
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, which has had its septic application fees suspended since August 28, 2026.
What codes does Perryville use?
The 2021 International Codes, including the 2021 International Residential Code for houses, and the 2023 National Electrical Code (city code Title 15).
Can Perry County control where a data center is built?
Only in limited ways, the Commission has said, because the county has no planning and zoning. Residents asked it to consider a moratorium in August and September 2026; a commissioner cited lawsuits other communities faced over moratoriums as a concern.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Perry County permit search and official resources
- Perry County Commissioners
- Perry County Commission meetings
- Perry County Commission minutes
- SEMA emergency and floodplain contacts, Perry County
- FEMA Community Status Book: Missouri
- Missouri DHSS septic (OWTS) permit process
- City of Perryville building code information
- City of Perryville fee schedule
- City of Perryville applications and permits
- City of Perryville online permit and inspection portal (iWorQ)
- City of Perryville code, Title 15 (technical codes adopted)
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Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Perry County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.