Phelps County, Missouri Building Permit Guide

Phelps County does not issue building permits and has no planning and zoning; in 2026 the County Commission told residents that zoning would have to go to a public vote. What the county does require is a floodplain development permit for any development in a mapped A or AE flood zone, approved by the Commission at its Tuesday and Thursday meetings. Septic permits have come from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services since October 1, 2024, and Rolla and St. James permit building work in town.

Phelps County building department: who handles permitting

The County Commission meets on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, 9:00 a.m. to noon, in the Commission Hearing Room of the courthouse at 200 N. Main St., Suite 105, Rolla; the room is reached through the Recorder’s office. The County Clerk’s number is 573-458-6115. Town populations below are Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates.

Floodplain, septic and road rules in rural Phelps County

Floodplain development permits: the county’s floodplain management ordinance covers every numbered and unnumbered A zone and AE zone on the flood map dated February 20, 2008. No development may take place there without a floodplain development permit, and each structure needs its own permit. The ordinance names the Presiding Commissioner as floodplain administrator, and on August 27, 2026 the Commission approved a contract with the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) for floodplain administrative services. SEMA’s directory lists the county’s floodplain contact at MRPC, 4 Industrial Dr., St. James (573-265-2993). The Commission reviews and votes on each application, and in September 2026 it put the number at about 6 to 12 a year.

Septic systems: the Phelps/Maries County Health Department stopped issuing onsite wastewater construction permits in Phelps County on October 1, 2024 (county Ordinance 2024-09-10). DHSS now issues them directly (573-751-6095, ext. 5). The health department notes that certain residential properties may be exempt from state permitting; DHSS asks that work not begin until a permit is issued or the exemption is confirmed. DHSS suspended its application fees on August 28, 2026, after a change to RSMo 701.046, until new fee standards take effect; it has published no end date.

Roads and driveways: the county’s road specifications, in effect since June 1, 2007, require driveway culverts of at least 15 inches in diameter with at least 12 inches of cover, and each culvert’s design and location must be approved by the County Highway Superintendent before it is built. The Road Department’s number is 573-426-3864.

Data centers: residents asked the Commission for a data-center moratorium through the summer of 2026. On August 25, 2026 the Commission said that, on its attorney’s advice, it would not adopt one unless a data center is confirmed for the county, and in September it repeated that without planning and zoning it has no authority to regulate them.

Building on rural land in Phelps County

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

Phelps County permit FAQs

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Phelps County?

No county building permit exists, and the county has no planning and zoning. A floodplain development permit is required for development in a mapped A or AE flood zone.

How high must a new house sit in a Phelps County flood zone?

The lowest floor, including any basement, must be at least 2 feet above the base flood elevation.

Who issues septic permits in Phelps County?

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, since the county health department stopped issuing them on October 1, 2024.

What does a building permit for a house cost in St. James?

Section 500.110 of the city code charges a new one- or two-family home 0.075% of its actual construction cost. Other residential work pays flat fees from $15 (up to $2,500) to $75 (up to $100,000), and 0.075% of the whole cost above $100,000.

Has Phelps County adopted a data-center moratorium?

No. In August 2026 the Commission said it would not adopt one unless a data center is confirmed for the county.

Phelps County permit search and official resources

• Phelps County Commission
• Phelps County Floodplain Management Ordinance (amended 2016)
• Phelps County Commission minutes
• Phelps County Road Specifications
• Phelps/Maries County Health Department environmental services
• DHSS onsite wastewater construction permit process
• SEMA emergency management and floodplain contacts: Phelps County
• FEMA Community Status Book: Missouri
• City of St. James Zoning & Codes
• St. James City Code on eCode360

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