Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri Building Permit Guide

Under a county ordinance adopted January 1, 1986, Ste. Genevieve County requires a building permit before construction starts in the unincorporated county. There is no fee: the County Assessor’s office at the courthouse, 55 S. Third St., Room 4 (573-883-2333 ext. 4), issues it to anyone who stops by or calls, and the site is checked against the flood maps before construction starts. Septic systems need a separate permit from the County Health Department.

Ste. Genevieve County building department: who handles permitting

The county permit comes from the Assessor, who is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. The County Commission (55 S. Third St., Room 1; 573-883-5589 ext. 2) meets Monday and Thursday mornings and handles county roads.

City of Ste. Genevieve permits

The city adopted the 2021 International Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Fire, Existing Building and Property Maintenance Codes, with local amendments, on February 27, 2025 (Ordinance 4582), together with new permit fees loaded into CloudPermit. The city code requires a construction permit to:

• install, alter or modify an electrical, plumbing or mechanical system where the cost is over $500;
• enlarge a building’s capacity or affect a bearing wall or the roof;
• put up any fence in the city.

Applications go to the City Clerk with two sets of plans, signed by the owner, architect or contractor, and the building inspector checks them against the adopted codes before the permit is issued. Work must begin within 6 months and finish within 1 year, with one 6-month extension on written request. The city also has historic preservation, floodplain and grading chapters in its code, so a project in the historic district or a flood area can need more than a building permit.

Floodplain, septic and address rules

Floodplain: Ste. Genevieve County and the cities of Ste. Genevieve and St. Mary take part in the National Flood Insurance Program, with flood maps dated February 15, 2019; FEMA lists Bloomsdale among communities not in the program. The State Emergency Management Agency lists a county commissioner at the courthouse (573-883-5589) as the county floodplain administrator.

Septic systems: the Ste. Genevieve County Health Department, 115 Basler Drive (573-883-7411), issues on-site sewage permits for the state health department. Its forms include the construction permit application, a certification form for work without an on-site inspection, a holding tank agreement, a watertight test form and a variance request. The state suspended septic permit application fees on August 28, 2026 until it sets new fees, so ask the department whether any fee applies before paying online.

911 addresses: the county’s Emergency Management Agency (295 Brooks Dr.; 573-883-3866) lists 911 address assignment among its services, and its page directs owners who need a new E911 address to the St. Francois County 911 Center (573-431-7842).

Building on county land, step by step

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

Ste. Genevieve County permit FAQs

Is there a fee for a Ste. Genevieve County building permit?

No. The county ordinance of January 1, 1986 requires the permit, but the Assessor’s office issues it free of charge.

Does the county check flood zones before issuing a permit?

Yes. In the Assessor’s words, “verification must be made prior to the start of construction to avoid building in a flood zone”; the county floodplain administrator is a county commissioner (573-883-5589).

Which building codes apply in the City of Ste. Genevieve?

The 2021 International Code Council codes with local amendments, adopted February 27, 2025, and the 2020 National Electrical Code.

Who handles septic permits?

The Ste. Genevieve County Health Department at 115 Basler Drive (573-883-7411).

Do I need a permit in Bloomsdale?

Yes. Any new building or addition needs a $25 permit from the Board of Aldermen, valid for one year.

Ste. Genevieve County permit search and official resources

• Ste. Genevieve County Assessor (county building permits)
• Ste. Genevieve County Commission
• Ste. Genevieve County Commission agendas and minutes
• Ste. Genevieve County Emergency Management (911 addresses)
• Ste. Genevieve County Health Department onsite sewage
• SEMA emergency and floodplain contacts, Ste. Genevieve County
• FEMA Community Status Book: Missouri
• City of Ste. Genevieve 2021 building code adoption
• City of Ste. Genevieve code of ordinances
• City of Bloomsdale code of ordinances
• City of St. Mary ordinances
• City of St. Mary Ordinance 816: 2006 codes and permit fees

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