Scott County’s own answer to “how do I get a building permit?” is to go to the city the property is in, and, for land outside every city limit, to call the County Clerk’s office at the courthouse in Benton (573-545-3549). The county publishes no building code or county permit fee. In unincorporated areas the county does require a floodplain permit in mapped flood areas, issued through its Emergency Management Director, and the Scott County Health Department in Sikeston handles septic permits.
Scott County building department: who handles permitting
The courthouse is at 131 S. Winchester St., Benton, and the County Commission meets there on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 8:30. In October 2026 its agendas carried the consolidation of 911 and dispatch and the Kelso solar project as standing items. Fourteen cities and villages lie at least partly in the county; Sikeston and Scott City are the largest of them.
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Get a free quote →| Place | Who permits building work |
|---|---|
| Sikeston (14,062; the rest of the city is in New Madrid County) | City Department of Community Development, City Hall, 105 E. Center St.; 573-475-3743. 2018 International Codes and 2017 National Electrical Code |
| Scott City (4,593) | City building inspector at City Hall; 2015 International Building Code and 2011 National Electrical Code; a city contractor’s licence costs $25 a year |
| Chaffee (3,017) | City permits under the 2003 International Building and Plumbing Codes, with fees set in the city code |
| Miner (894) | City building inspector appointed by the board of aldermen; 2018 International Codes adopted May 8, 2023; fees in the city fee schedule |
| Benton (919) | The county seat publishes no permit rules online; City Hall, 21 W. North St., 573-545-3558 |
| Oran (1,195), Morley (668), Kelso (551), Blodgett (222), Vanduser (186), Diehlstadt (156), Haywood City (137), Commerce (42) | None of these towns publishes a building code or permit form online; ask the city or village hall before building |
| Cape Girardeau | Its Scott County part has no Census residents; the City’s Inspection Services Division permits all city land |
City permit fees in Scott City and Chaffee
The two codified fee schedules below show how differently neighboring towns charge. Scott City’s fees include up to two inspections for each item; further inspections cost $15 each.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| City and work | Fee |
|---|---|
| Scott City: new building or addition | $0.10 per sq ft, $40 minimum |
| Scott City: remodeling | $40 up to $3,000 of value; then $40 plus $3 per $1,000 to $10,000; $61 plus $2 per $1,000 to $50,000; $144 plus $1 per $1,000 to $100,000; $191 plus $0.51 per $1,000 above that |
| Scott City: pool or deck / fence | $20 / $25 |
| Scott City: electrical or plumbing permit | $25 each |
| Chaffee: new structure or addition up to 2,500 sq ft | $20 plus $0.05 per sq ft |
| Chaffee: 2,501 to 10,000 sq ft | Printed in city code Sec. 500.020 as “$125.00 plus $0.045 per square feet”; the code does not say whether the square-foot charge counts the whole building or only the area over 2,500 sq ft, so ask the city |
| Chaffee: permit pulled after work starts | Fee doubled |
Scott City exempts reshingling, siding, painting, flooring and direct-fit window replacement when no structure is changed. Its permits last 12 months, work must start within 6 months, and a $500 renewal penalty applies to permits not finished on time. In Scott City a 2,000 sq ft house costs $200 (2,000 × $0.10); in Chaffee the same house costs $120 ($20 plus 2,000 × $0.05).
Floodplain, address and septic rules on county land
Floodplain permits: Scott County takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program with flood maps dated June 5, 2012, and so do Benton, Blodgett, Chaffee, Commerce, Diehlstadt, Haywood City, Miner, Morley, Oran, Scott City, Sikeston and Vanduser; FEMA lists Kelso as not participating. For a floodplain permit on unincorporated land, call the county Emergency Management Director (573-545-3549) with the owner’s name, the parcel number, any elevation information for the property and its 911 address.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →911 addresses: new addresses come from the 911 Emergency Services Board at the courthouse (573-475-3780). County Ordinance 060627 requires the number on the front of a building near the door; a building more than 50 ft from the road must also show it on a post, fence, wall or mailbox at the property line, in contrasting figures at least 3 inches high.
Septic systems: the Scott County Health Department, 102 Grove Estates Ct., Sikeston (573-471-4044), issues on-site sewage permits under a contract with the state health department.
Starting a project in Scott County
A Sikeston or Benton mailing address does not mean city limits; confirm before applying.
Apply to that city: Sikeston’s Community Development, Scott City’s building inspector or the town hall.
Call the County Clerk’s office about permits, get a 911 address, and request a floodplain permit if the land is in a mapped flood area.
Apply to the Health Department in Sikeston before installing 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 Scott County building department?
Get a free quote →Scott County permit FAQs
Where do I get a building permit in Scott County, Missouri?
From the city where the property lies. Outside city limits, the county Assessor’s office tells owners to contact the County Clerk’s office at 573-545-3549.
How do I get a floodplain permit in rural Scott County?
Call the Emergency Management Director at 573-545-3549 with the owner’s name, parcel number, elevation information and the 911 address.
What is the Scott County Health Department phone number for septic permits?
573-471-4044, at 102 Grove Estates Ct., Sikeston.
How much is a building permit in Scott City?
New buildings and additions are $0.10 per sq ft with a $40 minimum, including up to two inspections per item.
Who permits building work in Sikeston?
The City’s Department of Community Development at City Hall, 105 E. Center St. (573-475-3743), for both the Scott County and New Madrid County parts of the city.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Scott County permit search and official resources
- Scott County Assessor FAQ (building permits outside city limits)
- Scott County Emergency Management (floodplain permits and 911 addresses)
- Scott County Commission meeting agendas
- Scott County courthouse directory
- SEMA emergency and floodplain contacts, Scott County
- FEMA Community Status Book: Missouri
- Missouri DHSS septic (OWTS) permit authority by county
- City of Sikeston Community Development
- Scott City code of ordinances
- Scott City licenses and permits
- City of Chaffee code of ordinances
- City of Miner building code chapter
Inspections are where schedules slip.
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Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Scott County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.