Barry County, MO - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Covers the unincorporated townships and villages listed on the county website; incorporated cities have their own programs

Department

Barry County Planning Office (under the Board of Commissioners)

Address

700 Main Street, Cassville, MO 65625

Phone

(417) 847-2561

Email

Not publicly listed , the general contact channel is the courthouse reception desk

Website

https://www.barrycountymo.gov/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Determine whether the project needs a zoning permit, a soil erosion permit, land division clearance, or a different review and collect the supporting site plan and civil engineering documents referenced on the fee schedule
2. File the appropriate application along with the fee specified for that project type (the schedule covers decks/porches, accessory buildings, land splits, special uses, etc.)
3. Planning and soil erosion staff review the paperwork and coordinate any inspections that the schedule ties to the project (some permit types include up to 10 inspection windows)
4. Once all reviews and inspections are approved, the Planning Office issues the permit; the validity windows below control how long that permit remains active

Typical processing time: The fee schedule ties some permit categories (e.g., subdivisions) to a multi-inspection plan with an initial block of up to 10 inspections; no firm calendar time is published

Source: Barry County Planning Office (under the Board of Commissioners)

General Requirements

The schedule lists zoning permits for decks/porches/signs/farm buildings; any other new building, detached building over 200 sq. ft., or lean-to needs the “other construction” permit, plus stormwater or soil erosion permits for acreage-based projects

Required Documents

• When a permit is required: The schedule lists zoning permits for decks/porches/signs/farm buildings; any other new building, detached building over 200 sq. ft., or lean-to needs the “other construction” permit, plus stormwater or soil erosion permits for acreage-based projects
• Required documents: Plans on file for zoning and soil erosion (site plan with setbacks, easements, ingress/egress, etc.); master plan, zoning ordinance, and map purchases are available through the fee schedule
• Permit validity/expiration: Soil erosion and zoning permits are valid for 12 months (extendable by the Planning Office), and land division permits expire after 6 months once recorded; the fee schedule explains these durations
• Owner-builder rules if available: Not spelled out in the public documents; contact the Planning Office for owner-built submittals
• Contractor license requirements: Not publicly listed on the fee schedule
• Building code adopted: Not stated in the published fee schedule; the Planning Office references adopted zoning and master plans

Permit validity

Soil erosion and zoning permits are valid for 12 months (extendable by the Planning Office), and land division permits expire after 6 months once recorded; the fee schedule explains these durations

Building code

Not stated in the published fee schedule; the Planning Office references adopted zoning and master plans

Owner-builder

Not spelled out in the public documents; contact the Planning Office for owner-built submittals

Contractor requirements

Not publicly listed on the fee schedule

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$25 for permits such as decks/porches; other construction starts at $50

Plan check fee

Embedded within the project type fee (e.g., $150 up to 10 acres for plat developments) with the possibility of extra per-acre charges

Permit fee formula

Valuation-based fees apply to soil erosion permits ($100 up to 10 acres for single-family; per-acre charges for larger tracts); zoning permit fees are flat ($25 or $50 for specified categories). Land division, appeals, rezoning, and documents have fixed fees

Reinspection fee

After-the-fact work triggers a $250 surcharge; the detailed reinspection schedule is handled through the Planning Office’s fee rules

Payment note

Payable through the Planning Office when the application is submitted; check with staff for acceptable payment methods

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Barry County Planning Office (under the Board of Commissioners) to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Not detailed publicly; plan to coordinate with the Planning Office when the permit is issued ()

Inspection hours

Not published

Typical inspection sequence: Soil erosion permits list up to 10 inspections by type (site, erosion controls, etc.); exact sequencing is assigned by County staff

Additional Resources

• Building code: Not stated in the published fee schedule; the Planning Office references adopted zoning and master plans
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• License lookup guide: Missouri Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Missouri Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Missouri hub: Missouri Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Barry County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Barry County, MO?

The schedule lists zoning permits for decks/porches/signs/farm buildings; any other new building, detached building over 200 sq. ft., or lean-to needs the “other construction” permit, plus stormwater or soil erosion permits for acreage-based projects

How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Barry County, MO?

The minimum permit fee is $25 for permits such as decks/porches; other construction starts at $50. Fees are calculated as: Valuation-based fees apply to soil erosion permits ($100 up to 10 acres for single-family; per-acre charges for larger tracts); zoning permit fees are flat ($25 or $50 for specified categories). Land division, appeals, rezoning, and documents have fixed fees. Plan check fee: Embedded within the project type fee (e.g., $150 up to 10 acres for plat developments) with the possibility of extra per-acre charges.

How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Barry County, MO?

1. Determine whether the project needs a zoning permit, a soil erosion permit, land division clearance, or a different review and collect the supporting site plan and civil engineering documents referenced on the fee schedule 2. File the appropriate application along with the fee specified for that project type (the schedule covers decks/porches, accessory buildings, land splits, special uses, etc.) 3. Planning and soil erosion staff review the paperwork and coordinate any inspections that the schedule ties to the project (some permit types include up to 10 inspection windows) 4. Once all reviews and inspections are approved, the Planning Office issues the permit; the validity windows below control how long that permit remains active

How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Barry County, MO?

Typical processing time is The fee schedule ties some permit categories (e.g., subdivisions) to a multi-inspection plan with an initial block of up to 10 inspections; no firm calendar time is published.

What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Barry County, MO?

The following work is generally exempt: No public exempt-work list is published in the fee schedule; inquiries must go through Barry County Planning (marked as “thin public info”).

How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Barry County, MO?

Inspections can be scheduled via: Not detailed publicly; plan to coordinate with the Planning Office when the permit is issued.